South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

Various professional development opportunities for solid waste and recycling professionals as well as teachers and environmental educators are provided by DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling (Office). All trainings are provided at no cost. Check out the different opportunities.

Local Government Recycling Professionals Certification

The S.C. Recycling Professionals Certification Program is a comprehensive professional development program targeting local government recycling coordinators and solid waste directors.

The goal of the program is to provide these professionals with the background, information and tools to make recycling programs grow and improve as well as become more cost competitive and sustainable. A variety of recycling topics are covered as noted in the Foreword of the training manual.

In order to be designated a Certified S.C. Recycling Professional, one must:

• complete the certification course (75 percent attendance required) offered by the Office; and
• pass course exam with a score of 75 or better.

The designation of Certified S.C. Recycling Professional lasts three years from passing the exam.

In order to maintain designation as a Certified S.C. Recycling Professional, one must provide proof of receiving a minimum of 45 contact hours (i.e., actual time spent in trainings, workshops, Webinars, seminars, etc.) of recycling-related professional development every three years. A form to document contact hours is available.

• Acceptable contact hours will be determined by the Office.
• A maximum of 10 contact hours will be allowed for any one event (e.g., a conference).

If certification lapses, one must complete the certification course and pass course exam as detailed above. There will be no challenging of the exam. Participants must attend the certification course to attempt the exam.

When the program is offered, it is at NO COST to local government recycling professionals. To request additional information, call 1-800-768-7348.

Already certified? Download the form to document additional contact hours.

Collegiate Recycling Professionals Certification

The S.C. Collegiate Recycling Professionals Certification Program is a comprehensive professional development program targeting college and university recycling coordinators.

The goal of the program is to provide these professionals with the background, information and tools to make recycling programs grow and improve as well as become more cost competitive and sustainable on college campuses. A variety of recycling topics are covered as noted in the Foreword of the training manual.

In order to be designated a Certified S.C. Collegiate Recycling Professional, one must:

• complete the certification course (75 percent attendance required) offered by the Office; and
• pass course exam with a score of 75 or better.

The designation of Certified S.C. Collegiate Recycling Professional lasts three years from passing the exam.

In order to maintain designation as a Certified S.C. Collegiate Recycling Professional, one must provide proof of receiving a minimum of 45 contact hours (i.e., actual time spent in trainings, workshops, Webinars, seminars, etc.) of recycling-related professional development every three years. A form to document contact hours is available.

• Acceptable contact hours will be determined by the Office.
• A maximum of 10 contact hours will be allowed for any one event (e.g., a conference).

If certification lapses, one must complete the certification course and pass course exam as detailed above. There will be no challenging of the exam. Participants must attend the certification course to attempt the exam.

When the program is offered, it is at NO COST to college and university recycling professionals. To request additional information, call 1-800-768-7348.

Already certified? Download the form to document additional contact hours.

Recycling Center Attendant Training

Recycling Center Attendant Trainings are available to local governments to ensure that best management practices are used and attendants have the latest information and customer service skills.

The training, which is offered at NO COST, can be customized to each county or city's recycling program. Each attendant is given a certificate of completion and eligible to be a Recycling Attendant of the Year for the county.

Contact the Office to schedule a complimentary training.

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Teacher and Environmental Educator Training

"Action for a cleaner tomorrow" ("Action") is an activity-based, interdisciplinary curriculum supplement that can serve as a starting place for introducing basic environmental education in the classroom.

Training for this national, award-winning curriculum supplement is available at NO COST to teachers, schools and school districts across South Carolina.

In a three-hour session, you'll see how the curriculum supplement works. Each teacher completing the workshop will receive a copy of the curriculum supplement for use in the classroom. Additional material also is available to support "Action" including posters, activity books and videos.

The current edition, featuring 32 lessons, is the best of the best -- the most frequently used lessons by teachers in the past 19 years. Each lesson provides the learning objective and background as well as teacher preparation time. View "Recycling 101" -- a sample lesson from "Action."

Contact the Office or call 1-800-768-7348 to schedule a training or learn more about the "Action" training and workshops.