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More Than a Few "Recycle Guys" in South Carolina

Graphic: Recycle Guys

From the state that brought us the "Recycle Guys," it should be of no surprise to see South Carolina taking the lead in promoting recycling and waste reduction. In 2004 alone, the state's Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) recycled more than 541,000 pounds of recyclables and recruited seven South Carolina organizations to become WasteWise partners. Winner of seven awards since joining WasteWise in 2000, DHEC excels as both a partner and endorser. Because of their tremendous efforts, DHEC was inducted into the WasteWise Hall of Fame, the highest honor awarded to WasteWise partners, in 2005.

EPA's Matt Hale (far left), Director of the Office of Solid Waste, OSW (renamed Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, ORCR, on January 18, 2009), and Thomas Dunne (far right), then-Acting Administrator of the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, present the WasteWise Hall of Fame Award to DHEC's Eric Melaro, Program Coordinator (second from left); Pat Walker, Bureau Chief (third from left); C. Earl Hunter, Commissioner (third from right); and Robert King, Deputy Commissioner (second from right).

DHEC employees recycle a wide variety of materials, ranging from paper products and electronics to automobile parts and pallets. Since 2001, DHEC's recycling rate has increased by more than 80 percent per employee. Furthermore, DHEC has maintained, and in some cases increased, the amount of material recycled each year and avoided disposal fees of more than $8,600 in 2004 alone.

DHEC also has developed innovative ways to reduce its employees' waste. For example, at one facility's 2003 and 2004 winter festivities, staff used reusable dinnerware and utensils for the holiday luncheon. Each employee that brought in a reusable item received a large, reusable mug. Many employees still use these mugs today.

As a WasteWise endorser, DHEC recruits other organizations to join WasteWise, offers educational workshops, and provides technical assistance through its Business Recycling Assistance Program (B-RAP) Exit EPA , a partnership created to promote waste reduction, recycling, recycling market development, and buying recycled to businesses and industry statewide. B-RAP offers a variety of free and helpful tools including an informative Web site, the South Carolina Materials Exchange Exit EPA , an electronic newsletter, and a number of fact sheets and other publications.

In 2003, DHEC played an instrumental role in developing the South Carolina Resource Conservation Challenge (SC RCC) Exit EPA , which is modeled after our own nationwide Resource Conservation Challenge. SC RCC encourages taxpayer-supported organizations to conserve natural resources, protect the environment, and save money. That same year, South Carolina became the first state to join the WasteWise States Campaign, a program where Waste Wise works with state agencies to promote waste reduction to local organizations.

"DHEC has made a clear commitment to waste reduction and recycling, and we are proud of our accomplishments," states Eric Melaro, program coordinator of DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling. "We look forward to not only the continued growth of our internal programs, but also the success of others through the SC RCC and B-RAP."

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