A Note from Jane

I will be retiring at the end of July. What an honor it has been to work for Sonoco Recycling for the past 25 years sharing sustainability information during field studies at Sonoco’s Recycling Education Center, at local community events, for schools statewide, on our Sonoco Recycling Education page, and in our monthly E-Letters.

In June, I was selected by SCDNR for the 2020 South Carolina Environmental Awareness Award. What a wonderful surprise!

So many of you have been such great partners over the years, and I hope to continue working with you as I volunteer for the Environmental Education Association of SC. Starting August 1, you can contact me here.

Have a great summer!

Jane Hiller

Education Director, Sonoco Recycling

Recycling

Paper and Packaging use TikTok to remind us to empty, flatten and recycle cardboard boxes.

Governor Henry McMaster recently signed a new law cracking down on tire recyclers who violate state regulations after 1 million scrap tires were abandoned by the owners of the Viva Recycling plant in Moncks Corner. South Carolina spent nearly $3.3 million to clean up the site.

Buy Recycled

Making Barbie dolls from ocean plastic may not put a dent in the problem, but it does bring awareness that the problem exists.

Upcycled Art

Joe Rush told the BBC that he was commissioned by musicMagpie, a British retailer that sells secondhand electronics, to create a massive Mount Rushmore-style sculpture depicting the world leaders who gathered recently for the G-7 summit. The goal of the folk art called “Mount RecycleMore” is to call attention to the environmental problems caused by electronic waste.
Check here for local information on recycling electronic waste.

Compost

It is easy enough to set up backyard composting, but having a personal compost bin is only feasible for people with at least a little bit of outdoor space. Apartment dwellers might want to try a fermentation method called “bokashi.” Randall Isherwood at Gardeners Outpost in Columbia can help you get started.

Beyond Waste Reduction

Contests

Each year the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) receives hundreds of images showcasing the beauty of South Carolina's landscapes and wildlife for the annual amateur photography contest. Check out the winning photographs here.

Richland County Stormwater Management is asking residents for help marking storm drains. Participating neighborhoods will be entered into a contest to have one of their storm drains painted by a local artist. Learn more here. Or, contact: Chenille Williams

Climate Change

A forecast has been released that reports global warming and resulting climate change may be coming faster than previously predicted, according to a new World Meteorological Organization. (AP News)

Development

West Columbia has been awarded the 2021 S.C. Community Development Association Award of Excellence for its River District Redevelopment Project, which promoted redevelopment, added public parking, and increased green space and connectivity.

Energy Star Buildings

Columbia ranks No. 9 in mid-size cities across the U.S. with the most Energy Star certified buildings. More than 31 buildings were certified by the EPA last year, saving landlords $2.6 million in energy costs.

Electric Vehicles

Ford officially recently rolled out its all-electric F150 pickup.
Volvo plans to invest $118M to build its new battery-operated Polestar 3 in South Carolina.

Foods

Epicurious announced it has stopped publishing recipes featuring beef. The food publication cited a rise in beef consumption and its role as “one of the world’s worst climate offenders” for making the shift.

Grants

PalmettoPride awarded a Big Belly compactor combo for trash and recycling to Palmetto Trail as part of their 2021 Litter Prevention Grant. Check it out at the Peak to Prosperity Passage.
Columbia has been selected as one of four U.S. cities to receive a grant from the Arbor Day Foundation and Bank of America.

Media

Natural Awakenings magazine was named the South Carolina Business of the Year by the Environmental Education Association of SC (EEASC) for their efforts to keep citizens up to date on environmental opportunities in the Midlands.

The Post and Courier’s project, Rising Waters, was named a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in local reporting. The series chronicled how climate change is wreaking havoc in the Lowcountry. Check out the whole package online

Outdoor Fun

Explore 20,000 acres at Congaree National Park. Free to the public and open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., hike the various trails and keep an eye out for endangered and protected species like the red-cockaded woodpecker.
Check out the 3-mile stretch of the Saluda Riverwalk between the I-26 and I-126 interchange, plus the Saluda River junction is now officially open. The Riverwalk has parking (off Candi Lane) and restroom facilities. A grand opening is planned for later this summer.
Visit the newly opened Page Ellington Park, the 20-acre public park in the Bull Street District. The park includes walking/running trails, a 2-acre pond, and a dog park. (WIS)
Follow the City of Forest Acres plans for a half-acre waterfront park.

Sustainability

The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated consumers’ focus on sustainability and willingness to pay out of their own pockets — or even take a pay cut — for a sustainable future, according to a new IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) survey of more than 14,000 consumers in nine countries. Read more here.

Upcoming Events

JULY 13
SCWF Free Zoom Class
Dr. Robert Carter of the Museum of York County will explore the history and ecology of Carolina grasslands and efforts to maintain and restore the remaining prairies. Details and registration here.
Time: 12-1pm

JULY 17

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off for Lexington County
residents only (no businesses)
Time: 9am-3pm
Location: Summit Collection and Recycling Center
Details here. For more information contact Laura Anne Hunt

JULY 24
Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off for Richland County
residents only (no businesses)
Time: 8 am-Noon
Location: Columbia Place Mall, 7201 Two Notch Road
Details here. For more information, call 803.576.2440

AUGUST 18
Midlands Green Business Event
Join Richland County and Midlands Green Business members at the Jim Hamilton L.B. Owens airport to learn about rain garden installations and take a tour of the rain garden at the airport. This event is for current and potential Midlands Green Business members. For more information, contact Chenille Williams.
Time: 3pm