South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

Be a 'Green' Traveler!

More and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental impacts of our daily actions. As a result, many people recycle at home, work and school. There are increasing numbers of alternative-fuel vehicles on the road. Energy conservation and water efficiency are terms that most of us have heard and many of us have practiced. Some of these changes are not only good for the environment, but also for our budgets.

Many of us, unfortunately, do not practice these same environmentally friendly behaviors while traveling – whether on vacation or during our daily commute. Did you know there are some basic things you can do to reduce your fuel consumption? "You hold the key, SC!" is a campaign designed to reduce the overall environmental impact of driving.

The Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling (Office) has compiled this Web page to assist you in becoming a "green" traveler.

Whether dining out, sightseeing, camping, staying at a hotel, planning your next vacation or getting there, the Office has prepared a series of "Green Travel" tip cards to help in protecting our environment while away from home.

One of the easiest things we can do is to recycle. Recycling opportunities are now available at the state’s four largest airports, all state parks and most welcome centers.

The Office – through its Green Hospitality Program – has worked with the S.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association to form the Green Hospitality Alliance – a program that certifies hotels, motels, restaurants and other hospitality facilities for their "green" practices. Do your part as a consumer and choose hospitality facilities that have adopted green practices.

Each of these programs and resources was developed to help lessen our environmental impact while away from home, work and school. Do your part – become a "green" traveler!

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Recycling on the Go

Recycling on the Go is designed to provide information and encourage recycling at South Carolina parks, welcome centers, stadiums, airports and other venues as well as special events. The goals of this initiative are to:

• encourage development of a recycling infrastructure for away from home collection;
• increase the amount of recyclables collected; and
• make recycling convenient.

One major initiative of the program was to provide recycling opportunities at the four major airports in South Carolina. Recycling containers were placed at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport in October 2008. Since then containers have been placed at Greenville-Spartanburg International, Charleston International and Myrtle Beach International.

In all, more than 100 containers were placed at the state’s four largest airports. Travelers have the opportunity to recycle aluminum cans, plastic bottles and newspapers. This program reaches more than 5 million visitors a year.

Another major initiative is the Recycling at the Park Partnership.

For more information, call 1-800-768-7348.

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Recycling at the Park Partnership

Recycling is a natural at state parks.

Now, thanks to a unique public-private partnership, South Carolina's state park system is the first in the country to offer recycling at each of its properties -- thereby helping to protect some of the state's most valuable natural resources.

The Recycling at the Park Partnership program, formally announced on April 12, 2010 as part of the 40th anniversary celebration of Earth Day, makes recycling as easy as possible for the more than 7 million annual visitors to South Carolina's state parks.

Depending on the park, visitors are able to recycle glass and plastic bottles, aluminum cans and newspapers. See what is recycled at each park. Additional recycling opportunities will be offered as possible for special events held at the parks.

Recycling at the Park is a partnership of the Office, the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, PalmettoPride and Sonoco Recycling, Inc.

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