Recycling on Isle of Palms is simple and helps protect the island’s natural beauty. Here’s what you need to know:
- Single-Stream Recycling: Combine paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and glass in the blue cart – no sorting needed.
- Prohibited Items: Avoid single-use plastic bags, Styrofoam, food-contaminated items, and hazardous materials like batteries and paint.
- Glass Recycling: Use drop-off locations at Carmen R. Bunch Park or Isle of Palms Marina for better recycling results.
- Pickup Schedule: Recycling is collected every other Thursday. Place carts curbside after 5:00 p.m. the night before and remove them by 9:00 a.m. the following day.
- Fines for Rule Violations: A $100 fine applies for using banned items like plastic straws or balloons.
In 2023, the community recycled 8 tons of glass and diverted 8 tons of food scraps from landfills. Whether you’re a resident or visitor, following these guidelines ensures the island stays clean and enjoyable.
What Can and Cannot Be Recycled
Isle of Palms Recycling Guide: What to Recycle and What to Avoid
Accepted Materials for Single-Stream Recycling
The Isle of Palms’ recycling program is designed to make recycling as straightforward as possible. It accepts a variety of materials, including paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, aluminum and steel cans, and glass items.
"Single stream recycling means all recyclable items may be placed together in the bin without sorting." – City of Isle of Palms
To make the most of your recycling cart, rinse out containers and flatten cardboard to save space. Always place recyclables loose in the cart – never bundle them in plastic bags.
Now, let’s go over what should not go into your recycling cart.
Items That Don’t Belong in Recycling Bins
While many materials are accepted, others require special handling. Avoid placing plastic bags, Styrofoam, or food-contaminated items in your recycling cart. Plastic bags can clog sorting machines, and Styrofoam isn’t accepted for curbside recycling.
Hazardous materials like batteries, motor oil, paint, and chemicals need to be taken to specific Charleston County disposal sites. Yard waste, including grass clippings, leaves, and small branches, should be collected separately in paper bags or containers.
Although glass is accepted in the blue recycling carts, the city encourages residents to use drop-off locations at Carmen R. Bunch Park or the Isle of Palms Marina. This ensures the glass is effectively recycled instead of being discarded due to breakage or contamination. In fact, in 2023, these collection points helped recycle about 8 tons of glass .
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Preparing Recycling for Pickup
How to Prepare Your Recycling Cart
Getting your recycling cart ready is simple but important for smooth processing and pickup.
Start by rinsing out any containers like yogurt tubs, jars, or cans to remove leftover food residue. Flatten cardboard and paperboard boxes to save space, and if you have large appliance boxes, cut them down so they fit inside the cart with the lid closed. Always place recyclables loose in the cart – don’t bag them, as this can interfere with proper sorting. For rigid plastic clamshells, make sure to remove any plastic film or aluminum before recycling.
Once everything is packed correctly, you’re ready to follow the pickup schedule.
Recycling Pickup Schedule
Staying on schedule helps keep Isle of Palms clean and enjoyable for everyone.
Curbside recycling is collected every other Thursday in Isle of Palms. Make sure your blue 95-gallon roll cart is at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Position the cart with the handles facing your house and leave at least 3 feet of space from any obstacles. After your recycling is picked up, bring the cart back in by 9:00 a.m. the next day.
If your pickup day falls on a major holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas, expect a one-day delay in service. For any missed pickups, call Charleston County Environmental Management at 720-7111 within 48 hours.
Other Recycling and Waste Disposal Options
If certain items don’t belong in your curbside bins, there are dedicated services and drop-off options available to handle them properly.
Drop-Off Locations for Hazardous Materials
Items like batteries, paint, motor oil, and electronics should never go in curbside bins. Instead, take them to designated Charleston County collection sites or participate in the annual Household Hazardous Materials event (check the City Calendar for updated dates). For year-round disposal, the Bees Ferry Landfill, located at 1344 Bees Ferry Road in Charleston, is a reliable option. This facility accepts electronics, chemicals, and scrap metal.
In 2023, the community made impressive strides in recycling, diverting about 8 tons of glass and another 8 tons of food scraps from landfills through drop-off programs.
For larger items and yard debris that don’t fit within curbside collection guidelines, make note of the following schedules and requirements.
Yard Debris and Bulk Waste Collection
The Isle of Palms offers specific services to manage yard debris and bulk waste beyond hazardous materials.
Yard waste is collected weekly from Wednesday through Friday during the off-peak season (August 30, 2025, through May 29, 2026). During the peak summer season, collection happens only on Wednesdays. Be sure to use paper bags or containers for yard debris, as plastic bags are not allowed. Limbs and logs should not exceed 4 feet in length or 4 inches in diameter.
For bulk waste, the city picks up items like furniture, mattresses, and large appliances (such as refrigerators, washers, and dishwashers) directly from the curb. However, items like tires, auto parts, roofing shingles, and construction debris from contractors are not included in this service. For those, you’ll need to contact Charleston County for proper disposal instructions. When placing debris at the curb, ensure it doesn’t block water meters, stormwater boxes, or fire hydrants.
Recycling for Vacation Rental Guests
If you’re staying at a vacation rental on Isle of Palms, recycling is designed to be effortless and convenient.
How Vacation Rentals Support Recycling
Many vacation rentals, including Aerie at 715 Ocean, are equipped with large blue 95-gallon roll-out carts for recycling. The island uses a single-stream recycling system, meaning you can toss all accepted items – like paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and glass – into the same cart. No sorting needed!
Recycling pickups follow the island’s every-other-Thursday schedule. For details on when and where to place your cart, check the schedule outlined earlier. Beyond recycling, there are other ways to cut down on waste during your visit.
Tips for Reducing Waste During Your Stay
Simple adjustments can make a big difference in reducing waste. The gourmet kitchen and outdoor grilling areas in many rentals make it easy to prepare meals using reusable dishware, cutting down on single-use plastics.
For glass bottles and jars, while they can go in the curbside bin, you can ensure they’re fully recycled by dropping them off at Carmen R. Bunch Park (near Harris Teeter) or the Isle of Palms Marina at 41st Avenue. In 2023, the community recycled about 8 tons of glass through a partnership with Fisher Recycling.
If composting interests you, the Smart Composting program allows you to drop off food scraps at the Marina or Carmen R. Bunch Park (sign-up required). This program successfully diverted 8 tons of food scraps from landfills in 2023. For questions about recycling guidelines or missed pickups, Charleston County can be reached at 720-7111.
Conclusion
Recycling on Isle of Palms is simple and accessible for both residents and vacationers. Thanks to the single-stream system, you can toss all accepted recyclables into the blue cart – no sorting required. Just make sure to follow the scheduled pickup times.
These straightforward steps have a big impact. In 2023, the community’s recycling efforts, as part of the "IOPThrives!" Community Enrichment Plan, played a key role in reducing landfill waste and safeguarding the island’s coastal environment.
For glass bottles and jars, you can drop them off at Carmen R. Bunch Park or the Isle of Palms Marina. These locations partner with Fisher Recycling to ensure proper recycling. If composting is more your thing, the Smart Composting program (sign-up needed) at these same spots makes it easy to drop off food scraps. Whether you’re staying at a vacation rental like Aerie at 715 Ocean or just visiting for the day, these programs make it easy to support the island’s eco-friendly initiatives.
Even small changes make a difference. For example, after installing cigarette butt canisters and signage, smoking-related beach litter dropped from 21% in 2022 to 16% in 2023.
