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York County, SC Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Curbside recycling: None; drop-off at convenience centers only
MRF tipping fee: $50 per ton, $5 minimum per load
MRF source limit: Material must originate in York County
Access hours: Usual business hours only (§ 50.07)
Private haulers: Barred from using county convenience centers

Summary

York County runs no curbside recycling truck for the unincorporated area. Residents haul recyclable material to county convenience centers, where accepted items depend on market conditions and department policy. A County Material Recovery Facility processes recyclables from haulers and businesses for $50 per ton, but it accepts only material actually generated or collected inside York County.

City-specific rules exist: Rock Hill has its own recycling rules rules that differ from York County's county-level regulations. If you live in Rock Hill, check the city-specific page instead.

RECYCLABLE MATERIAL. Raw or processed material that can be recovered from a waste stream for reuse or repurpose. In York County, accepted recyclable material is subject to market availability and operational capabilities. Acceptable materials are included in the policies and procedures of the department. ... CONVENIENCE CENTERS. Centers established by the county throughout the county for the collection, recycling and disposal of household solid waste and recyclable materials. ... (9) For recyclable material delivered to the York County Material Recovery Facility by all providers, including, but not limited to municipalities, commercial haulers and businesses, the tipping fee shall be $50 per ton, with a minimum charge of $5 per load. (a) The York County Material Recovery Facility will only accept material generated and/or collected within York County.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-49: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 3925, passed 6-16-25).

Full Breakdown

02). ' Recyclables that are marketable move through the York County Material Recovery Facility (MRF). '

Violations & Fines

Scavenging, sorting or disturbing material left at a convenience center is a separate offense under § 50.08(B), and any violation of Chapter 50's collection and recycling rules is enforced under § 50.06 and § 50.99, which adopt S.C. Code § 16-11-700 by reference: a violator 'shall be guilty of a misdemeanor or a felony, according to the nature of the offense,' with fines or imprisonment set by that statute. County manager staff and all county law enforcement officers may enforce Chapter 50.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does York County pick up recycling at the curb?

No. Unincorporated York County has no curbside recycling truck. Residents bring recyclable material to a county convenience center themselves, where it is collected for the York County Material Recovery Facility. Convenience centers accept recyclables only during posted business hours, and only from county residents or, under an interlocal agreement, residents of a participating municipality.

What can I recycle at a York County convenience center?

The accepted list changes with market conditions because § 50.02 defines recyclable material as whatever 'can be recovered from a waste stream for reuse or repurpose' subject to 'market availability and operational capabilities.' The county sets the current list through department policy rather than the ordinance itself, so check with a convenience center attendant before hauling unusual materials.

Is there a fee to drop off recyclables?

Individual residents dropping off ordinary household recyclables at a convenience center are not separately billed. The $50-per-ton MRF tipping fee under § 50.33(B)(9) applies to haulers, municipalities and businesses delivering bulk recyclable loads to the York County Material Recovery Facility, not to a resident's routine convenience-center visit.

Can I bring recyclables from another county to York County?

No. The York County Material Recovery Facility 'will only accept material generated and/or collected within York County' under § 50.33(B)(9)(a), and § 50.09 separately bars nonresidents from depositing waste in county facilities without a special permit from the county manager's office.

Sources & Official References

[1]York County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 50: Solid Waste

Other rules in York County

Collection ScheduleSome Restrictions Bulk Item DisposalHeavy Restrictions Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome Restrictions Illegal DumpingSome Restrictions Yard Waste CollectionSome Restrictions Dumpster RulesSome Restrictions Pickup Rules & SchedulesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome Restrictions

All York County rules

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Recycling Rules in Cities Across York County

Rock Hill, SC