Beaufort Co. trash-dumping convenience centers phasing out entry stickers. Here’s why

Evan McKenna

Beaufort County’s convenience center program will make a small but significant shift — rather than a vehicle decal sticker, newcomers will drop off their trash and recycling with the help of a wallet-sized plastic card.

Veterans to the program won’t need to scratch their stickers off their car windshield, though. Following the transition, the stickers will still be accepted at convenience centers across the county.

The change, which takes place this month, comes in response to residents’ feedback that the vehicle decal system was challenging for households with multiple cars, according to a press release sent from the county.

Beginning in late January, the new decal cards will be issued to all new applicants for Beaufort County’s trash and recycling drop-off program. Sticker decals will still be accepted at convenience centers following the change.
Beginning in late January, the new decal cards will be issued to all new applicants for Beaufort County’s trash and recycling drop-off program. Sticker decals will still be accepted at convenience centers following the change.

The new cards will not be registered to a specific vehicle and can be shared by multiple household members. Households can also share access via a digital copy of the card, which is provided to applicants with a valid email access.

Requests for new entry decals can be found on Beaufort County’s website. Any property owner with a “livable dwelling unit” on the property is eligible for the program, according to county spokesperson Chris Ophardt.

All new applicants will receive the new cards, Ophardt said.

Made a requirement in early 2021, decal stickers allow residents into the county’s convenience centers, which act as trash and recycling drop-off stations for Beaufort County property owners. The stickers were implemented to prevent unlawful dumping from private contractors and out-of-county residents, which has cost the county thousands of dollars in extra disposal fees, according to previous reporting from The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.

A truck pulls into the Beaufort County Convenience Center on Simmonsville Road on Monday, April 20, 2020, as a sign informs those entering that they must be Beaufort County residents to use the facility.
A truck pulls into the Beaufort County Convenience Center on Simmonsville Road on Monday, April 20, 2020, as a sign informs those entering that they must be Beaufort County residents to use the facility.

Other rules within the program will remain the same following the change:

  • Households are limited to three visits per week to any county convenience center.

  • Renters within single-family homes should request decals from the property owner.

  • Commercial properties or residents of large apartment complexes are not eligible for decals.

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