Recycling materials & recovery markets in South Carolina
With 350+ recycling-affiliated companies across the state, South Carolina has built a strong network of businesses supporting material recovery and sustainable operations. From manufacturing scrap to consumer materials, companies across South Carolina are creating new opportunities through recycling innovation and reuse.
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Paper recycling in South Carolina
South Carolina has a strong paper recovery network that helps businesses recycle office paper, cardboard, packaging materials and other fiber products while supporting more sustainable operations.
More than 80 companies operate within the state’s paper recycling value chain, supporting approximately 3,000 jobs across collection, processing and manufacturing. Recovered paper materials are transformed into products used in packaging, consumer goods and industrial applications.
The state’s paper mills consume more than 1.2 million tons of recycled cardboard annually to produce new paperboard and packaging materials. Companies including Sonoco, Smurfit Westrock, Greif and Cascades continue to strengthen South Carolina’s paper recycling and manufacturing infrastructure through large-scale processing and production operations across the state.
Plastics recycling in South Carolina
South Carolina has a strong plastics recycling industry that supports manufacturers, packaging companies and commercial operations across the region. Businesses can work with recycling partners to recover plastic materials generated through manufacturing processes, packaging operations and consumer products.
Across the Carolinas, the plastics recycling industry supports more than 3,500 jobs and has the capacity to process more than 750 million pounds of plastic bottles annually. This established recovery network helps create reliable end markets for recycled materials while supporting continued investment and growth across the industry.
Companies including Palmetto Synthetics, US Fibers and Sun Fibers help transform recycled PET plastics into materials used in new consumer, industrial and manufacturing applications, reinforcing South Carolina’s role in the circular plastics economy.
Glass recycling in South Carolina
Restaurants, bars, hospitality businesses and commercial facilities generate much of the recyclable glass collected across South Carolina. Through local recycling programs, commercial collection services and material recovery facilities, glass bottles and containers can be recovered and repurposed for new uses.
Glass recycling continues to evolve across the region through both large-scale processing operations and innovative reuse initiatives. Strategic Materials remains one of the largest glass recyclers serving the Southeast, while SC companies and organizations are finding new ways to recover and repurpose glass materials locally.
Examples across the state include crushed glass used in landscaping and infrastructure applications, recycled glass countertops and repurposed glass products created from recovered bottles. Companies such as Bricolage Dynamics in Greenville are also helping expand residential and commercial glass recycling efforts in South Carolina.
Food recycling in South Carolina
Food manufacturers, restaurants, universities, hospitals and other large facilities generate significant amounts of food and organic waste each year. Across South Carolina, businesses have access to composting facilities, food recovery partners and specialized processing operations that help divert organic materials from landfills and put them to beneficial use.
Through composting and other recovery processes, food waste can be converted into nutrient-rich soil amendments, landscaping materials and other reusable resources that support more sustainable operations and reduce disposal costs.
The state's growing food recovery infrastructure includes industrial composting operations and specialized facilities such as commercial food depackaging, helping expand the state’s ability to recover organic materials and strengthen the circular economy.
Looking for food waste reduction resources?
Explore guidance and statewide initiatives through South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.
Textile recycling in South Carolina
South Carolina has a long history as a leader in textile manufacturing and reclaimed fiber recycling, supporting a strong value chain connected to the automotive, construction, home furnishings and consumer goods industries. The state is home to some of the nation’s largest textile recyclers, helping extend the life of materials and support more sustainable manufacturing practices
Textile recyclers across the state recover polyester, nylon and other nonwoven materials that play an important role in the broader plastics and advanced materials recycling ecosystem. ReVive Fiber, formed through the merger of Leigh Fibers and Martex Fiber, is among the state’s leading companies helping process and repurpose recovered textile materials for new industrial and consumer applications.
Recovered textiles in SC are reused, remanufactured or processed into new fiber materials used in products such as insulation, automotive components, fabrics, wiping cloths and household goods.
Rubber & tire recycling in South Carolina
As the nation’s leading exporter of tires, South Carolina supports a strong network of tire recycling and recovery operations tied to its growing manufacturing sector.
Off-spec production tires, commercial scrap tires and end-of-life consumer tires are processed into a variety of reusable materials and industrial applications. Tire-derived fuel (TDF) remains one of the primary recovered products and is used by several industrial facilities as part of their energy operations.
Recovered tire materials are also repurposed into products such as playground surfacing, landscape mulch and crumb rubber used in asphalt and other applications, helping keep valuable materials in circulation and reducing landfill waste.
Looking for waste tire recycling resources or grant information?
Explore programs and guidance through the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.
Wood & biomass recycling in South Carolina
Wood waste generated from manufacturing, construction, shipping and forestry operations can be recovered and repurposed into a wide range of useful products and energy applications. Materials such as pallets, crates and scrap lumber are commonly refurbished, recycled into mulch and landscaping materials or processed into biomass fuel products.
As a major contributor to South Carolina’s economy, the forestry industry plays an important role in the state’s recycling and biomass sectors. Wood residuals and byproducts help support markets for compost, animal bedding, fuel pellets, biomass energy and other value-added products that keep materials in circulation and reduce landfill waste.
For businesses generating wood waste, recycling and recovery can also provide cost-saving opportunities while supporting more sustainable operations and resource management practices.
Petroleum, solvent & chemical recycling in South Carolina
Manufacturing growth across industries such as automotive, aerospace and advanced materials is driving increased demand for petroleum, solvent and chemical recovery services in South Carolina. Many manufacturers and OEMs now prioritize waste minimization, diversion reporting and closed-loop material management as part of their sustainability and operational goals.
Businesses across the state can work with recycling and recovery partners to manage used oil, antifreeze, solvents and other industrial materials generated through manufacturing and maintenance operations. Recovered materials may be reclaimed, re-refined or processed for reuse in industrial and energy applications.
SC’s network of recyclers and recovery providers supports the collection, transportation and processing of both non-hazardous and hazardous materials, helping businesses reduce waste, improve operational efficiency and support more sustainable manufacturing practices.
Carpet recycling in South Carolina
As a leader in carpet recycling across the Southeast, South Carolina supports a diverse network of companies with significant carpet recovery and recycling capacity.
Manufacturers with takeback programs, including Shaw and Interface, help recover and recycle commercial carpet materials, while residential nylon-based carpet collected through local recycling programs can be processed into new industrial materials and products.
Recovered carpet materials in SC are repurposed for use in applications such as automotive components and advanced manufacturing materials. Companies including Premix Composites continue to support the region’s carpet and plastics recovery infrastructure through innovative recycling and material processing operations.
Construction & demolition recycling in South Carolina
Construction and demolition (C&D) recycling plays an important role in supporting South Carolina’s growth and infrastructure needs. Materials such as concrete, asphalt, wood, metals and gypsum wallboard can be recovered and repurposed into new construction-related products and applications.
By diverting reusable materials from landfills, C&D recycling helps support more efficient resource use, reduce disposal costs and create new opportunities across the construction and materials recovery industries.
Electronics recycling in South Carolina
South Carolina’s electronics recycling infrastructure helps support the responsible recovery and recycling of computers, televisions, monitors, printers and other covered electronic devices.
The state’s Manufacturers Responsibility and Consumer Convenience Act established landfill restrictions for certain electronics while creating recycling obligations for manufacturers and recovery partners. Updated legislation in 2022 expanded collection convenience standards and strengthened support for local government recycling programs through the creation of the SC Electronics Clearinghouse.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to recycle electronics through approved collection programs and certified recycling facilities that help recover valuable materials and support responsible end-of-life management for electronic devices.
