Beaufort County volunteers collect more than 5,600 pounds of debris at zero‑waste cleanup
April 24, 2026 | Beaufort County, South Carolina
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About 430 volunteers turned out for a Beaufort County community cleanup that organizers said recovered more than 5,600 pounds of debris and tested the county’s new industrial composting pilot.
"We had 430 volunteers, and we collected over 5,600 pounds of debris," said a county staff member leading the event. Organizers said the composting pilot — which solid waste program manager Victoria Hoffman has worked on for years — made it possible to use compostable sandwich and cookie bags and to minimize landfill waste.
Deputy County Administrator Nicole Wood, who said she has been on the job about six months, thanked volunteers for covering more than 30 miles of roadway and urged continued community involvement. "I can't tell you how incredible this event is," Wood said.
Christopher Campbell, chair of the Keep Beaufort County Beautiful Committee, urged residents to press local council members to support plastic‑reduction efforts and noted the program's outreach ahead of the July 4 celebrations. "We're working on trying to reduce our plastic waste and reduce some of the Styrofoam type things," Campbell said.
Beaufort County staff thanked more than 25 county departments and 17 sponsors who supported the event, and named partners including Firehouse Subs (which provided compostable lunches), Clemson Extension, Port Royal Sound Foundation and SCDNR. The transcript also lists "SCDS" and "South Carolina Department Environmental Services" among partners; organizers did not clarify that abbreviation during remarks.
Bradley Harriott, Beaufort County director of public works, thanked employees and partners and highlighted recent cooperation with DNR on an abandoned and derelict boat removal program. Harriott said the cleanup drew about 25–30 more volunteers than last year and thanked Valentina and others who helped make the event a zero‑waste effort.
Organizers said the pilot composting program is a significant step toward countywide waste reductions and encouraged attendees to visit education booths and learn how to dispose of materials correctly. They also said they hope to make the event biannual to grow participation.
No policy votes or formal county actions were taken at the event; it was described throughout as a volunteer and partnership‑driven community cleanup.
"We had 430 volunteers, and we collected over 5,600 pounds of debris," said a county staff member leading the event. Organizers said the composting pilot — which solid waste program manager Victoria Hoffman has worked on for years — made it possible to use compostable sandwich and cookie bags and to minimize landfill waste.
Deputy County Administrator Nicole Wood, who said she has been on the job about six months, thanked volunteers for covering more than 30 miles of roadway and urged continued community involvement. "I can't tell you how incredible this event is," Wood said.
Christopher Campbell, chair of the Keep Beaufort County Beautiful Committee, urged residents to press local council members to support plastic‑reduction efforts and noted the program's outreach ahead of the July 4 celebrations. "We're working on trying to reduce our plastic waste and reduce some of the Styrofoam type things," Campbell said.
Beaufort County staff thanked more than 25 county departments and 17 sponsors who supported the event, and named partners including Firehouse Subs (which provided compostable lunches), Clemson Extension, Port Royal Sound Foundation and SCDNR. The transcript also lists "SCDS" and "South Carolina Department Environmental Services" among partners; organizers did not clarify that abbreviation during remarks.
Bradley Harriott, Beaufort County director of public works, thanked employees and partners and highlighted recent cooperation with DNR on an abandoned and derelict boat removal program. Harriott said the cleanup drew about 25–30 more volunteers than last year and thanked Valentina and others who helped make the event a zero‑waste effort.
Organizers said the pilot composting program is a significant step toward countywide waste reductions and encouraged attendees to visit education booths and learn how to dispose of materials correctly. They also said they hope to make the event biannual to grow participation.
No policy votes or formal county actions were taken at the event; it was described throughout as a volunteer and partnership‑driven community cleanup.
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