Mount Pleasant, SC Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cardboard prep rule
- Break down, fit loosely in cart
- Applies to
- Cardboard mixed with household garbage
- Bulk cardboard instead
- Recycling center, § 50.24(A)
- Uncollected trigger
- "Improper debris", § 50.20(A)(2)
- Fine range
- $25 to $500 and/or 30 days
Summary
When cardboard is disposed of with household garbage rather than taken to a recycling center, Mount Pleasant requires the boxes to be broken down and to fit loosely in the town-issued roll-cart, under § 50.24(B). Because this rule sits in the § 50.99(B) penalty range, violating it is punishable by fine, jail time, or a civil penalty.
(B) If being disposed of with household garbage, cardboard boxes must be broken down and fit loosely in the town-issued roll-cart.
Full Breakdown
Section 50.24(B) governs the smaller-scale case that (A) does not cover: cardboard mixed in with regular household garbage rather than hauled to a recycling center in bulk. It requires the boxes to be broken down flat and to fit loosely, not jammed, into the town-issued 64- or 95-gallon roll-out container described in § 50.20(A). That container rule matters here because § 50.20(A)(2) treats anything that isn't properly prepared household garbage, including overstuffed or improperly packed material, as "improper debris," and a container with improper debris will not be collected until the problem is fixed. In practice the two subsections of § 50.24 work together: large volumes of cardboard bypass the cart altogether and go to a recycling center under (A), while smaller amounts riding along with regular trash must be flattened and loosely packed under (B) so the cart's lid can close and the automated collection arm can lift it without spillage.
Violations & Fines
A violation of § 50.24(B) falls under § 50.99(B): a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $500, imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or both, and/or a civil penalty of up to $1,000, with each day of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense. Short of a fine, an improperly packed cart simply goes uncollected under § 50.20(A)(2) until it is fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to break down cardboard boxes before putting them in my trash cart?
What if my broken-down cardboard still doesn't fit in the cart?
Will Mount Pleasant skip my cart if the cardboard isn't broken down?
What's the penalty for violating the cardboard preparation rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mount Pleasant
Compare Mount Pleasant to another location·View the South Carolina trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.