Myrtle Beach Goes Green: How to Recycle Right!
If you live in Myrtle Beach, you might be eager to get involved in recycling but unsure of where to start. No worries! We’re here to break down how you can do your part to keep our beautiful beaches clean and our community green. Recycling isn’t just good for the environment; it can also be a simple part of your routine.
Understanding the Recycling Process
First things first, all the recyclables from our area get sent to the Materials Recycling Facility, commonly referred to as MRF. This incredible facility can handle a whopping 30,000 tons of materials each year! At MRF, the cool folks there hand-sort and package our recycled materials before sending them off to factories that re-process them into new products.
But wait! Here’s where it gets a tad confusing. The MRF doesn’t accept individual drop-offs. Instead, they work with various smaller recycling centers around Horry County. If you’re a resident in non-urban areas, you can use one of the 25 recycling convenience centers managed by Horry County. These centers are specifically set up for folks who don’t have access to their own recycling programs.
Recycling in Myrtle Beach
For those of us in the heart of Myrtle Beach, recycling services are offered right at the Jake Abraham Transfer Station, located at 3221 Mr. Joe White Ave. City residents living in homes can enjoy curbside collection, which includes waste, yard debris, and, of course, recycling! The monthly fee for this service is about $30.80—not too shabby for keeping our paradise clean!
If you’re living in a condo or an apartment, recycling can be a bit trickier, as the city doesn’t handle dumpster collection for these complexes. It’s up to the property owners to provide private recycling collection services. If your place can’t provide this service, or if you just love taking a little stroll, you can always drop off your recyclables at the Jake Abraham Transfer Station yourself!
Drop-off Hours
The transfer station is open during the following hours: from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Tuesday through Friday, and on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Just remember, when you head out to recycle, bring along proof of your address within the city limits. This can be a current utility bill, your driver’s license, or a parking decal—easy peasy!
What Can You Recycle?
When it comes to what you can toss in the recycling, Myrtle Beach is fairly accommodating. The city accepts a variety of materials including:
- #1 and #2 plastic bottles and jugs
- Aluminum and tin cans
- Cardboard boxes (just remember to remove any tape or packaging!)
- Catalogs, magazines, newspapers
- Clean paper bags
- Empty aerosol cans (without caps)
- Glass bottles and jars (without lids)
- Office and school paper
- Junk mail
- Paperback and telephone books
School Recycling Programs
And don’t forget about the young ones! All Horry County public schools are on board with recycling too. They offer recycling bins in the classrooms as well as cafeteria bins to instill good habits at an early age. These bins are ready to collect everything from paper to clean food containers, making it easy for students to chip in!
Join the Effort!
So there you have it, Myrtle Beach! Being part of the recycling movement is easier than you think. By making a few small changes, we can all do our part to limit waste and keep our lovely community looking its best. Grab that recycled goodness, and let’s keep Myrtle Beach beautiful!
