Throwing recyclables into the wrong container? What a waste. People around the world are trying to live in increasingly sustainable ways. From reducing carbon emissions to changing eating habits, there’s a range of ways to do your part for our planet — and you can start by recycling in Columbia.
Today is Global Recycling Day, so we decided to break down some of the details about recycling. Pro tip: Use this interactive map to help you find recycling locations across the state. It showcases what you can recycle in each county and drop-off centers.
For quick access, check out the recycling information for Lexington County and Richland County. When visiting the county website, scroll down for recycling info specific to cities within the county, like Columbia, Irmo, and Cayce.
Say hello to the Waste Wizard
The free, local solid waste/recycling website has three cool features:
- Type in your address and get your garbage + recycling schedule (with optional notifications to remind you when to wheel out your carts).
- Type in an item and it will tell you where to put it — in the trash, recycling, compost bin, or a special drop-off site.
- Test your recycling skills with the sorting game — see where items like metal hangers, old CDs, and motor oil should go.
Recycling cheat sheet
Fun fact: Recycling is hyper-localized, so just because it has a recycling symbol on it doesn’t mean it’s recyclable here. Here are the general rules for our area:
- Do recycle: Aluminum + steel cans (not crushed); brown, green, and clear glass (bottles, jars, etc.); and cardboard + paperboard (flattened), paper, hard plastics, and magazines
- Treat: Rinse food and drink containers before recycling.
- Don’t recycle: The “Dirty Dozen” (hazardous or non-recyclable items)
Here is a go-to guide for recycling hard-to-manage items like batteries, oils, appliances, paints, and more. When in doubt, use the handy waste wizard for your specific county + items.
