South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

We promote and protect the health of the public and the environment.

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Recycling Grants Overview

DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling (Office) is responsible for assisting counties, municipalities, schools as well as colleges and universities of South Carolina in achieving their source reduction and recycling goals. There are five grant programs that are offered through the Solid Waste Trust Fund, including solid waste, used motor oil, waste tire, college/university as well as school grants. Since the grant programs began in FY94, about $61 million have been awarded including $4.4 million in FY07.

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Grant Funding for Colleges and Universities

Collegiate Recycling Grant Program

The Collegiate Recycling Grant Program is funded by a two cents per quart fee on motor oil, collected at the wholesale level. This is a competitive grant program that is available to public and private colleges and universities throughout the state. This grant must fund solid waste reduction and recycling activities including, but not limited to, brochures, roll-off containers, public education materials, etc. All projects are required to include a used oil awareness project because of the funding source. Award amounts may vary based on availability of funds.

For more information, e-mail Sharon Thompson, coordinator of the Collegiate Recycling Grant Program for the Office. Applications for the FY10 Collegiate Recycling Grant Program have closed.

• Cycle: Annual
• Eligible Applicants: Any public or private college, university or technical college
• Award Amounts: Competitive
• Scope: All projects must directly promote the success of solid waste reduction and recycling. Funds must be used for equipment, supplies or educational material for new recycling programs or to expand existing programs.  

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Grant Funding for K-12 Schools

Recycling Education Grant Program

The Recycling Education Grant Program is funded from a two cent per gallon fee on motor oil sold at the wholesale level. The grant program is available to schools to promote awareness of solid waste issues, including the need to reduce the solid waste we generate, and to recycle whenever we can. All projects are required to include a used oil awareness project because of the funding source. Any K-12 public or private school may apply on its own or school districts may apply on behalf of their schools. Applications must be completed by school or district staff. Grant awards are competitive, funding is limited and awards may vary from year to year. For more information, e-mail Sharon Thompson, coordinator of the Recycling Education Grant Program for the Office. 

Applications for the 2010 Recycling Education Grant program are now available. Click here for a copy of the application. Schools will be eligible for up to $2,500 and applications will be accepted now through October 9, 2009. Priority will be given to schools that have never received funding.

Eligible projects include:

• Containers - Classroom or outdoor bins used to collect recyclables.
• Composting - This may include supplies for composting projects and/or vermi-composting projects. 
• "Action for a cleaner tomorrow" Lesson Supplies - This may include supplies to support lessons from Action for a Cleaner Tomorrow. 
• Recycling Club Supplies - This may include supplies to support recycling related activities of the Club. 

SPECIAL NOTE: Grant projects must include an activity that stresses the importance of recycling used motor oil. This is because the grant funding comes from the Petroleum Fund. Recent examples from other applicants include poster and essay contests as well as community awareness projects. The Office provides the "Take Action: Recycle Used Motor Oil Tool Kit" that is designed for teachers to introduce used motor oil recycling into the classroom. For teachers who have received a grant, any of the activities or lessons provided in this tool kit can be used to meet the used motor oil awareness requirement. Click here to view the tool kit.

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Grant Funding for Local Governments

Solid Waste Grant Program

The Solid Waste Grant Program is funded by fees on appliances and lead-acid batteries. These items have a $2 fee that is charged upon purchase at the retail level. The fees generated from the sale of these items fund general solid waste projects, such as building recycling centers or buying recycling equipment. This grant program is made available to counties or municipalities in South Carolina based upon need as determined using information contained in the Solid Waste Annual Report. For more information, e-mail Tina Lindler, coordinator of the Solid Waste Grant Program for the Office. Applications for the FY10 Solid Waste Grant Program have closed.

• Cycle: Annual
• Eligible Applicants: Eligibility is determined annually.
• Award Amounts: Competitive
• Scope: Varies annually.

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The Used Oil Grant Program

The Used Oil Grant Programs are funded by a two cents per quart fee, collected at the wholesale level. This money is used to pay counties and municipalities for the implementation of programs associated with the proper disposal of used oil by do-it-yourself oil changers. These projects include education programs as well as collection, disposal or recycling programs. For more information, e-mail Sharon Thompson, coordinator of the Used Oil Grant Program for the Office. Applications for the FY10 Used Oil Grant Program have closed.

• Cycle: Annual
• Eligible Applicants: Counties, cities, towns or regions within South Carolina.
• Award Amounts: Competitive
• Scope: Establish, expansion and continued operation of used motor oil collection programs for do-it-yourselfer oil changers. This is to include programs related to the collection of used motor oil, oil filters, oil bottles and oil/gasoline mixture.

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The Waste Tire Grant Program

The Waste Tire Grant Program is funded by fees placed on new tires. Every new tire sold in South Carolina has a $2 fee placed on it that is collected at the retail level. Fifty cents of the fee goes to the Office and is used for grants to counties or local governments. Waste tire grants are used only for the collection or recycling of waste tires. For more information, e-mail Stefanie Vandiver, coordinator of the Waste Tire Grant Program for the Office. Applications for the FY10 Waste Tire Grant Program have closed.

• Cycle: Annual with mid-year applications accepted for automobile dismantlers or stockpile remediations.
• Eligible Applicants: Counties, cities, towns or regions within South Carolina.
• Award Amounts: Competitive
• Scope: Collection and recycling of waste tires as well as remediation of waste tire dump sites.

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For more information about recycling in South Carolina, please call 1-800-768-7348.

This Web page was last updated on July 1, 2009.