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

County ordinance defines RECYCLABLE MATERIAL as 'raw or processed material that can be recovered from a waste stream for reuse or repurpose,' and specifies that 'in York County, accepted recyclable material is subject to market availability and operational capabilities,' with the acceptable list set by department policy rather than fixed in the code itself (§ 50.02). A CONVENIENCE CENTER is defined as a site the county establishes 'throughout the county for the collection, recycling and disposal of household solid waste and recyclable materials.' Under § 50.07, those centers and the county's roadside containers may be used 'only by residents of the unincorporated area of the county' (or, by interlocal agreement, residents of a participating municipality) and only 'for the collection, storage, handling, separation, treatment, reduction, recycling and disposal of permitted household solid waste.' Deposits are allowed only 'during usual business hours,' and 'the use of convenience centers by private garbage collectors is prohibited.' Recyclables that are marketable move through the York County Material Recovery Facility (MRF).

Under § 50.33(B)(9), any hauler, municipality or business delivering recyclable material to the MRF pays a $50-per-ton tipping fee with a $5 minimum charge per load, but the MRF 'will only accept material generated and/or collected within York County,' and acceptance is 'subject to an agreement approved by the Public Works Director or his/her designee.'