Electronics recycling in Charleston, SC (and why you can't trash a TV)
South Carolina bans covered electronics from landfills. Here's the state law, the free Charleston County drop-off, and where the program may still change.
In South Carolina, you can't put a TV in the trash
South Carolina bans covered electronics from landfills under §48-60-90, effective July 1, 2011. Covered devices include desktop and laptop computers, monitors, printers, and televisions with screens 9 inches and larger. Throwing them in with household garbage isn't a legal disposal route in SC.
Recycling them is free to consumers
The statute requires manufacturer recovery at no charge to consumers, and local governments on the state contract may not charge a consumer fee. In Charleston County, covered electronics are accepted free at the convenience centers (Zone 9). One thing worth confirming: how the county handles older CRT (tube) TVs and monitors, since those are sometimes handled differently than flat-panel devices — check current CRT/TV handling with the county.
The ban is firm; the logistics may shift
South Carolina's environmental agency (the Department of Environmental Services) is running a 2026 e-scrap stakeholder workgroup, so the program's collection logistics could change. The underlying rule — that covered electronics don't go in the landfill — stays in place.
Sources
- South Carolina General Assembly — Electronic Waste Recycling Act (Bill 4093, §48-60-90)
- South Carolina Department of Environmental Services — Electronics Recycling
Frequently asked questions
Can I throw away a TV in South Carolina?
No. South Carolina law (§48-60-90, effective July 1, 2011) bans covered electronics — including TVs with screens 9 inches and larger, computers, monitors, and printers — from disposal in landfills. In Charleston County they're accepted free at the convenience centers (Zone 9).
Is electronics recycling free in Charleston?
Yes for residents. The state law requires manufacturer recovery at no charge to consumers, and local governments on the state contract may not charge a consumer fee. Charleston County accepts covered electronics free at its convenience centers. Confirm CRT TV and monitor handling with the county, since older tube devices are sometimes handled differently.
What electronics are covered by the SC landfill ban?
Desktop and laptop computers, monitors, printers, and televisions with screens 9 inches or larger. The ban has been in effect since July 1, 2011.
Could the rules change?
The landfill ban itself is firm, but South Carolina's environmental agency (DES) is running a 2026 e-scrap stakeholder workgroup, so the program's logistics could change. The requirement not to landfill covered electronics stays.
How TRUKKIT fits
TRUKKIT is Charleston's own on-demand hauling and junk removal marketplace — a licensed property broker that connects you with vetted local TRUKKERs when a load is bigger than these resident and curbside rules allow. Most relevant TRUKKIT help: Charleston junk removal & e-waste hauling. TRUKKIT LLC appears in FMCSA records as a property broker under USDOT #4556389, MC-01810359.