Lexington County Solid Waste Management provides education outreach to schools, community groups and individuals interested in learning about recycling and responsible waste disposal. For information on the programs below or other recycling/solid waste related issues, contact the Recycling Coordinator at (803) 785-3340. 

County Environmental Education Programs

 Green Steps Environmental Education 

Green Steps is an environmental education initiative that encourages individual schools to take steps toward becoming more environmentally responsible. Each year, participating schools work on projects in three categories (1) Conserve, (2) Protect and (3) Restore. Schools that successfully complete two model-quality projects in each category for more than one year are recognized as "certified" Green Steps Schools.  Mentors from the public and private sectors offer guidance and resources in planning, executing and evaluating the success of school projects. Lexington County Solid Waste Management is a Green Steps partner and provides assistance for participating schools.  For additional information, please go to the Green Steps website.

Learn more about the Environmental Education Association of South Carolina (EEASC), who is a sponsor of the Green Steps School program Here. 

2022-2023 Green Steps Schools in Lexington County

• Beechwood Middle School (Conserve & Restore)
• East Point Academy Elementary (Re-Certified) 
• Glenforest School (Protect)
• HERO Homeschool (Conserve, Protect and Restore)
• Irmo Middle School (Re-Certified) 
• Leaphart Elementary School (Re-Certified) 
• Pleasant Hill Elementary School (Re-Certified)
• Piney Woods (New) 
• Saxe Gotha Elementary School (Restore) 

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE SCHOOLS/INDIVIDUALS IN LEXINGTON COUNTY WHO WON AWARDS FOR THEIR WORK: 

• EEASC 2023 CONSERVE School of the Year Award: Leaphart Elementary
• EEASC 2023 PROTECT School of the Year Award: East Point Academy Elementary
• EEASC 2023 RESTORE School of the Year Award: Irmo Middle School
• EEASC 2023 Outstanding Youth Award: Emma McCaffrey, Batesburg-Leesville High School, Senior
• EEASC 2023 Mentor of the Year Award: Jay Keck, South Carolina Wildlife Federation, Lexington County School Mentor
• 2023 County of Lexington Storm Drain Project Awareness Award: River Bluff High School

2022-2023 SCHOOLS WITH NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE: 

• Batesburg-Leesville High School a new Green Steps Schools Program participant, working towards Sustaining Projects
• Gilbert High School FFA Team placed 3rd in the FFA portion of the State Envirothon Competition
• Gilbert High School FFA Equestrian Team placed 1st at the South Carolina Horse Evaluation Competition and team member Kaitlyn DeCarlis earning the High Individual Award
• Lakeside Middle School for starting a recycling program
• Piney Woods Elementary for forming a "Green Team" to foster environmental education
• White Knoll Elementary School for starting a recycling program

Facilities Tour 

Lexington County Solid Waste Management offers a multi-faceted field trip that can be customized especially for your class or group. Offered at the Edmund Landfill, you can see a working recycling/municipal solid waste collection station, compost and mulch grinding facility, oil recycling operation, transfer station and landfill with multiple cells. These tours are limited and do require a reservation at least 1 month in advance. email recycling@lex-co.com for more information. 

Recycling and Solid Waste Education Presentations

What's the difference in a collection station, transfer station and a landfill? What can you recycle in Lexington County and how should you prepare your recyclables? The Lexington County Recycling Coordinator explains this and more in presentations designed especially for your group. Especially good for schools, civic groups and neighborhood associations. Email recycling@lex-co.com for more information.