Greenville County, SC Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Mandatory recycling
- No; voluntary drop-off
- Paper accepted
- Mixed paper, cardboard, cartons
- Plastics accepted
- All bottles, jugs, containers
- Metal accepted
- Cans and scrap metal
- Requirement
- Must be clean recyclables
Summary
Greenville County has no mandatory recycling ordinance, but operates free drop-off recycling at its Residential Waste & Recycling Centers, dropoff sites and Twin Chimneys Landfill. Accepted materials include mixed paper, cardboard, all plastic bottles/jugs/containers, and metal/aluminum cans; recyclables must be clean.
All plastic bottles, jugs, and containers are accepted for recycling in Greenville County. Mixed paper is accepted in all Greenville County dropoff sites, Residential Waste and Recycling Centers, the Twin Chimneys Landfill. Metal containers and scrap metal are readily recyclable in Greenville County.
Full Breakdown
Recycling in Greenville County is voluntary drop-off rather than a mandated program. The county accepts mixed paper at all dropoff sites, Residential Waste & Recycling Centers and the Twin Chimneys Landfill, including newspaper, junk mail, magazines, envelopes, office paper and cereal boxes, but 'Carbon Paper, Tissues, Foiled Paper, Food Contaminated Paper' are not accepted. 'All plastic bottles, jugs, and containers are accepted,' while plastic bags, films, foam and food-storage containers are not. Metal containers and scrap metal, including aluminum and bi-metal cans, are accepted; paint cans and cooking pots are not. The county stresses that materials must be 'clean recyclables' to avoid contaminating whole loads. There is no county apartment-recycling mandate.
Violations & Fines
Recycling is voluntary, so there is no penalty for not recycling; contaminated loads may be rejected. Contact Solid Waste at 864.243.9672 for accepted-material questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is recycling required in Greenville County?
What plastics can I recycle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greenville County
Compare Greenville County to another location·View the South Carolina trash & recycling overview
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