Green Spaces Recycling Program

This program focuses on reducing the amount of waste generated in City parks by providing visitors with easily recognizable trash and recycling stations. The clearly marked recycling stations allowing visitors to recycle bottles and cans helping to reduce the amount of waste going to our local landfill.

In October 2009 25 bins were installed in the following parks: Marion Square, Hampton Park, White Point Garden and Water Front Park. The bins were funded by the $10,000 Nestle Waters NA "Recycle on the Go" grant.

In May 2010 KCB was awarded another $10,000 grant, this time from UPS. Keep Charleston Beautiful will use the awarded funds to expand the program into 5 more City parks: Bayview Soccer Complex, West Ashley Park, James Island Recreation Center, Bees Landing Recreation Center, and Harmon Field.

The City of Charleston's Department of Parks will maintain and empty the bins within the parks. The materials collected are taken to a Charleston County provided drop-site which is serviced by the County as needed.

Keep Charleston Beautiful is extremely excited about the Green Spaces Recycling program and looks to continue the instillation of recycling bins into every City park as funding becomes available.

Please help the Green Spaces program

KCB’s Green Spaces program is really taking off and we need your help to make sure this program is successful and can continue to grow. The most important thing you can do is make sure you put the right items in the right places. The other way you can help is to kindly and politely inform those who may be confused about what goes where.

Unfortunately we do experience contamination in our parks’ recycling bins. In some rare cases we find more trash in the recycling than recyclables. We need your help to fix this problem. Please take a moment to think about what you are placing in the recycling bin. If it belongs there go for it! We would love to help you recycle. If you are not sure try asking a friend or someone passing by, if that does not work chances are what your holding is not recyclable so go ahead and place it in the trash.

Before you place something in the recycling bin ask yourself these questions:

Is this glass, metal, or a plastic container? (If not it belongs in the trashcan.)

If it is one of the approved materials ask yourself if it’s suitable for recycling. Is the container empty? Have you removed the lid or top?

If you can say yes to all of these questions you are ready to recycle.

Here are a few of the most common NON-RECYCLABLE items found in our Green Spaces Recycling Bins:

Styrofoam
Fast Food bags and containers with left over food residue
Paper napkins, plates and other paper items
To-go/doggy bag containers with unwanted food
*Dog waste

*Dog waste is a serious contamination problem. When it is found in the recycling bins the bag is placed in the trash for the safety of both City and County crews who handle the recyclable materials. Remember it only takes one bag of dog litter to turn a whole bag of recycling into trash.
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Summary: What can you place in parks recycling bins?

- Plastic Containers 1-7 (Identified by the # found within the recycling symbol. Please remove lids and empty all contents out)

- Cans

- Glass Bottles

Thank you Keep America Beautiful, Nestle Waters North America, and The UPS Foundation without your support Green Spaces Recycling would not be possible.

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