Tidelines

Do you know… there are several ways to dispose of rubbish on the island?

SIPOA provides a refuse collection, recycling center and trash compactor at the SIPOA Maintenance area adjacent to the Community Garden at 2902 Seabrook Island Road.

• Garbage, household trash and recycling from single-family homes should be placed curbside no earlier than noon on the day prior to the scheduled pick-up day and no later than 7:00 am on the scheduled pickup day. Garbage and trash shall be placed in covered containers provided by SIPOA. Garbage, trash and recycling containers must be removed from the curb and stored where not visible from the street by the end of the day of pick up.

• Garbage and trash containers for single family and multifamily dwelling units, must be made wildlife-proof. Property owners/tenants must clean up any of their garbage or trash that has been scattered by wildlife or the elements. 

• The procedure for reporting any missed collection or requesting a new roll cart is to send an email to trash@sipoa.org.

• A garbage compactor is only available at the SIPOA Maintenance Facility/Recycling Center for the convenience of property owners and residents who will not be on Seabrook Island on refuse collection days and need to dispose of their kitchen garbage and inside house trash only. Trash and recycling should be put in the compactor or recycling bins and not left on the ground.

• SIPOA provides bulk item collection on monthly Brown and White Pickup days, usually the first Friday of the month. Bulk items may be left curbside no earlier than noon on the day prior and no later than 7:00 am on the pickup day.

• Hazardous waste such as old paint cans, electronics, batteries, fluorescent lights, and old yard or household chemicals may be taken to the Maintenance area on Brown and White Pickup days between 7:00 am and 2:00 pm. Hazardous materials must be handed directly to the attendant on duty. The materials may not be left on the ground.

• Yard debris is to be placed curbside between dawn Saturday and no later than 7:00 am on the scheduled day for collection and may not exceed four feet in length or four inches in diameter. All loose debris such as leaves and twigs are to be put into sturdy paper bags (not plastic bags) or placed in open-topped containers. Limbs and palm fronds must be neatly stacked. Yard debris may not be deposited on undeveloped lots or near storm water catch basins. For information about trash, recycling and yard debris collection click here. 

• Yard debris generated by contractors is not included for pick up by SIPOA.

• The compactor and recycling facility is not for use by contractors or commercial enterprises and is not for the disposal of construction trash, paint, harmful chemicals, or bulk trash items.

• Burning of trash, scrap lumber, debris, etc., is prohibited.

These are taken from SIPOA Rules and Regulations, Section VI. B and D.

Property owners should share this information with visitors and rental guests.

To review this entire series, go to tidelinesblog.com and click “Do You Know” at the top of the page.

–Tidelines Editors

Updated June 2026

Do you know… that you should not bag (in either plastic or paper) the recyclables you put in your recycling bin? Instead, keep them loose and free, not in bags or boxes, and items do not need to be sorted.

Recycling from single-family homes should be placed curbside no earlier than noon on the day before the scheduled pick-up day and no later than 7:00 am on the scheduled pickup day in a covered container provided by SIPOA. The container must be removed from the curb and stored where it is not mostly visible by the end of the day of pickup.

What can be recycled:

• Cardboard and paperboard; boxes should be flattened, and plastic packaging removed (Note: there is a separate container for cardboard. See image above.)
• Paper, including junk mail, envelopes (including window envelopes), newspaper, and almost all other paper that can be torn, will be accepted, but no shredded paper will be accepted, as it gums up the machines
• Plastic containers (#1-7) and all glass bottles and jars should be rinsed clean; the caps can be left on
• Cartons for milk, juice, ice cream, and soup, and paper cartons for eggs are accepted
• Aluminum, steel, and tin cans are also accepted

What cannot be recycled:

• No plastic bags or plastic wrap
• No aluminum foil or trays
• No loose shredded paper
• No scrap metal
• No Styrofoam packaging or containers
• No liquids or food waste
• No textiles (including clothing or shoes)
• No rope-like items (including holiday lights, hoses, cords, etc.)
• No hazardous or medical waste or diapers
• No propane tanks
• No construction debris
  

Bulk item pickup is provided by SIPOA regularly on Brown and White Pickup Day. A reminder of pickup dates is announced in advance. Bulk items may be left curbside no earlier than noon on the day before pickup and no later than 7:00 am on the day of pickup.

Hazardous waste such as old paint cans, electronics, batteries, fluorescent lights, oil, and old yard or household chemicals can be taken to the Maintenance area (adjacent to the Community Garden at 2902B Seabrook Island Road) on Brown and White Pickup Dates between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm. Hazardous materials must be handed directly to the attendant on duty. The materials cannot be left on the ground.

These are taken from SIPOA Rules and Regulations, Section VI.D, 1, 2, and 4.

For more information about recycling and dropping off these items at one of Charleston County’s eight staffed Convenience Centers, visit the Charleston County Environmental Management site.

Property owners should share this information with visitors and rental guests.

To review this entire series, go to tidelinesblog.com and click “Do You Know” at the top of the page.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: Tidelines)

Updated June 2026