What Horry County Solid Waste Authority does

Horry County Solid Waste Authority (SWA) is a South Carolina special purpose district wholly owned and controlled by Horry County Government, established in 2005 to provide integrated solid waste management for the county. It operates a lined landfill with a methane gas collection system at 1886 Highway 90 in Conway, a 40,000 square foot LEED-certified Material Recycling Facility (MRF) at 511 Three R Drive in Conway capable of processing 30,000 tons of recyclables annually, a Construction & Demolition Processing Facility, a permanent Household Hazardous Waste Facility, and a network of 25 Recycling Convenience Centers across unincorporated Horry County (with no city curbside service for incorporated municipalities handled separately by the cities themselves).

SWA's revenue is generated primarily through unit-priced disposal tipping fees at the landfill (MSW $47.50/ton, Yard Waste $22/ton, Mixed Construction $47.50/ton, Tires up to $400/ton, Special Waste $50/ton, plus a $150 contamination load fee), sale of processed recyclable commodities by the truckload, sale of landscape materials (compost $22/ton, enhanced compost $30/ton, natural mulch $22/ton, colored mulch $70/ton, glass aggregate $10/ton), sale of landfill methane as fuel to Santee Cooper for the Green Power Program (operational since September 2001), and a small subscription business commingle container rental at $38/month per 8-yard bin. Free disposal services are provided to Horry County residents at the HHW facility and MRF.

SWA serves a horizontal segmentation: unincorporated county residents (primary, via 25 convenience centers capped at 4 cubic yards/day by Ordinance #50-01), commercial haulers paying tipping fees, businesses using commingle recycling and free waste audits, K-12 schools through recycling programs, the Talkin' Trash competition since 2000 and grants up to $250 per school, and local governments and nonprofits through recycling grants up to $10,000 per organization. The authority is governed by a six-member Board of Directors with public meetings and operates under state solid waste regulations; it has no traditional equity ownership, no VC/PE involvement, and no disclosed financial statements.

Name

Horry County Solid Waste Authority

Legal name

Horry County Solid Waste Authority

Website

https://solidwasteauthority.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Horry County Solid Waste Authority is a South Carolina special purpose district that operates the county landfill, a 40,000 sq ft LEED-certified Materials Recycling Facility, a household hazardous waste facility, and 25 recycling convenience centers, serving unincorporated Horry County residents, businesses, schools, and commercial haulers with integrated disposal, recycling, composting, and methane-to-energy services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solid Waste Management Services

NAICS

Solid Waste Collection (562111), Waste Collection (5621), Waste Management and Remediation Services (562), Hazardous Waste Collection (562112), Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211), Waste Treatment and Disposal (56221)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Hazardous Waste Management (4955), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Municipal Solid Waste Collection (Residential/Commercial) (IMAIAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection & Transfer (BPALABAF), Waste Management & Hazardous Waste Compliance (RCRA, Universal Waste, Waste Characterization/Manifests) (EUAHABAC), Universal Waste Management (Batteries, Lamps, Mercury-Containing) (BPALAHAL), Organics (Food/Yard) Collection (Residential & Commercial) (EUAIAAAO)

Keywords

• Solid waste management
• Recycling services
• Landfill operations
• Household hazardous waste
• Food waste composting

Headquarters

HQ city

Conway

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Landfill Tipping Fees: Fee charged to all haulers disposing or recycling waste at the SWA facility on Highway 90. Current rates: MSW $47.50/ton, Yard Waste $22/ton, Mixed Construction $47.50/ton, Clean Wood $22/ton, Shingles $47.50/ton, Concrete/Brick/Asphalt $15/ton, Food Waste $22/ton, Tires $150/ton, Special Waste $50/ton, Contamination Load Fee $150/load.
2. Recycled Commodities Sales: SWA markets processed recyclable materials including cardboard, newspaper, office paper, HDPE-N, PET, aluminum, steel cans, scrap plastic (3-7), and waxed cardboard. Materials are marketed by the truckload (35,000-45,000 pounds) and require vendors to complete credit applications before quoting.
3. Compost and Mulch Sales: Sale of landscaping materials produced from processed waste: Compost $22/ton, Enhanced Compost (with food scrap nutrients) $30/ton, Natural Mulch $22/ton, Colored Mulch $70/ton, Glass Aggregate $10/ton.
4. Green Power Fuel Sales: SWA sells methane gas fuel to Santee Cooper from the landfill's gas collection system. Santee Cooper generates electricity which is distributed through Horry Electric Cooperative and Central Electric Power Cooperative lines.
5. Recycling Grants: SWA administers recycling grants to local organizations (governments, schools, businesses, nonprofits) up to $10,000 per organization. These are funded grants to expand waste reduction and recycling projects, not revenue-generating.
6. Business Recycling Container Rental: Businesses can lease 8-yard recycling containers for $38/month (plus tax) through the Commingle Recycling Program to recycle plastic bottles, metal cans, cardboard, and newspaper.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Horry County Solid Waste Authority (SWA) is a government special purpose district that provides integrated solid waste management for Horry County, South Carolina. It operates a lined landfill with methane gas collection, a 40,000 sq ft LEED-certified Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) processing 30,000 tons of recyclables annually, a Household Hazardous Waste Facility, a Construction & Demolition Processing Facility, and 25 Recycling Convenience Centers. It also runs a pilot Food Waste Composting program and generates renewable electricity through its Green Power Program with Santee Cooper.

Product overview

Horry County Solid Waste Authority operates as a fully integrated solid waste management organization providing multiple interconnected services. The core offerings include landfill management with methane-based Green Power electricity generation, a LEED-certified 40,000 square foot Material Recycling Facility (MRF) processing 30,000 tons annually, and a Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Supporting services include a Food Waste Composting Pilot Program, Construction & Demolition Recycling, and 25 Recycling Convenience Centers. Educational products include school programs, facility tours, and the Talkin' Trash competition for fourth graders. Community engagement programs feature The Store resale outlet, environmental scholarships, POP Art Contest, Recycling Student of the Year, Environmental Eagle Award, and Spotlight on Environmental Awareness recognition. Additional offerings include landscape materials sales (compost, mulch, glass aggregate) and a Recycling Grants Program supporting local organizations with up to $10,000 awards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Material Recycling Facility (MRF) A 40,000 square foot LEED-certified facility that processes and sorts recyclables from across Horry County, capable of processing 30,000 tons of recyclables annually. Accepts cardboard, newspaper, office paper, plastic bottles, metal cans, and glass jars at no charge for Horry County recyclables.
• Green Power Program A renewable energy initiative that collects methane gas from the landfill and sells it to Santee Cooper as fuel for electricity generation, which is then distributed through Horry Electric Cooperative and Central Electric Power Cooperative power lines to homes and businesses in Horry County.
• Household Hazardous Waste Facility A permanent facility accepting toxic, corrosive, reactive, and flammable household materials from Horry County residents at no cost. Open Tuesday and Thursday 8AM-1PM and Saturday 7AM-12PM. Accepts acids, aerosols, antifreeze, batteries, paints, pesticides, and solvents. Residents may dispose of maximum 20 gallons of paint per month.
• Food Waste Composting Program A pilot program offered at five recycling centers across the county that diverts food scraps from landfill disposal to composting facilities. Accepts fruits, vegetables, bread, dairy, coffee grounds, eggs, and cooked meats. Produces Enhanced Compost with added nutrients from food scraps.
• Construction & Demolition Recycling Processes cardboard, wood, metal, plastic, carpet and carpet padding for recycling from construction and demolition projects. Operates as a dedicated C&D Processing Facility accepting mixed construction waste ($47.50/ton), clean wood ($22/ton), shingles ($47.50/ton), and concrete/brick/asphalt ($15/ton).
• Recycling Convenience Centers A network of 25 convenience centers throughout Horry County providing recycling drop-off services for unincorporated area residents, limited to 4 cubic yards per day per Horry County Ordinance #50-01. Centers accept commingled recyclables, yard waste, and bulk items.
• Oyster Shell Recycling Pilot Program A pilot program at the SWA Landfill for recycling oyster shells to support coastal sustainability efforts in the Horry County region.
• The Store Resale Outlet A resale outlet operated in partnership with Horry County Council on Aging, offering donated items for reuse including furniture, household items, lawn/garden and building supplies. Located at 1874 Highway 90 in Conway.
• Landscape Materials Sales Sale of compost ($22/ton), Enhanced Compost ($30/ton), natural mulch ($22/ton), colored mulch red/brown/black ($70/ton), and glass aggregate ($10/ton) produced from processed waste, available at the landfill for landscaping and gardening.
• Recycled Commodities Sales Marketing of processed recyclable materials including cardboard, newspaper, office paper, HDPE-N, PET, aluminum, steel cans, scrap plastic (3-7), and waxed cardboard. Materials are sold by the truckload (35,000-45,000 pounds) and require vendors to complete credit applications before quoting.
• Business Commingle Recycling Container Rental Leased 8-yard recycling containers for businesses at $38/month plus tax, accepting plastic bottles, metal cans, cardboard, and newspaper under the Commingle Recycling Program.
• Landfill Disposal Services Main landfill operations at 1886 Highway 90, Conway, accepting MSW ($47.50/ton), yard waste ($22/ton), tires ($150/ton), special waste ($50/ton), and charging a contamination load fee of $150/load. Operating Monday-Friday 6AM-4:30PM, Saturday 6AM-12PM.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700 tons/day average household waste received, landfill capacity estimated until 2040
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Santee CoopercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2001Green Power Program partnership for renewable energy generation. SWA collects methane gas from the landfill and sells it as fuel to Santee Cooper, who owns and operates the generating equipment. The program generates electricity for homes and businesses throughout Horry County and started in September 2001.
• Horry Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2001Distribution partner in Green Power Program. Supplies power lines for Green Power electricity generated from SWA landfill methane to travel to homes and businesses in Horry County.
• Central Electric Power CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2001Distribution partner in Green Power Program. Supplies power lines for Green Power electricity generated from SWA landfill methane.
• Horry County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Long-standing partnership since 2000 for Talkin' Trash program. SWA provides classroom recycling bins, cafeteria recycling, 8-yard dumpsters, and school grants up to $250. Schools participate in waste reduction competition and educational field trips.
• Horry County Council on AgingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to operate The Store resale outlet at 1874 Highway 90. The store offers used items for reuse and is a joint initiative to save money while saving the environment.
• Clemson ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Smart Gardener Workshop held at SWA administration office. Educational collaboration for composting and gardening practices.
• Playcard Environmental CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on events including Baby Animal Day and Swampfest at the Playcard Environmental Center. SWA participates in community environmental education events.
• Conway National BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrop-off location for American flag retirement. Conway National Bank utilizes local patriotic organizations to conduct dignified flag retirement ceremonies. Flags can be dropped at any of CNB's 15 locations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Waste Management, Inc. Largest U.S. solid waste services company operating landfills, MRFs, and transfer stations nationally, including landfill-gas-to-energy projects. Comparable across every service line SWA offers but at vastly greater scale and as a publicly traded operator.
• GFL Environmental: Diversified environmental services company offering solid waste collection, landfill, recycling, and organics processing across the U.S. and Canada. Comparable end-to-end service mix including compost/ mulch sales.
• Casella Waste Systems: Regional integrated solid waste, recycling, and resource management operator in the Northeast U.S. Overlaps with SWA in landfill, MRF, organics, and recycling commodity marketing, but at regional commercial scale.
• Rumpke Consolidated Companies: Large family-owned regional integrated solid waste hauler operating landfills, MRFs, and recycling centers across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Comparable integrated service mix (landfill, recycling, organics, HHW) at meaningfully larger commercial scale.
• Republic Services: Second-largest U.S. solid waste and recycling company with landfill, MRF, and renewable energy operations. Direct overlap with SWA's integrated service portfolio (collection, processing, landfill gas) at national scale.
• Waste Connections: Major North American solid waste services provider with landfill, transfer, and recycling operations. Comparable integrated footprint and exposure to landfill-gas-to-energy economics.

Direct peers

• Berkeley County Solid Waste & Recycling: South Carolina county-level solid waste authority operating landfills, recycling drop-off centers, and HHW collection for unincorporated residents. Closely mirrors Horry County SWA's service mix and ordinance-based access model.
• New Hanover County Department of Environmental Management: Coastal North Carolina county-operated solid waste, recycling, and HHW program with landfill, convenience centers, and public education. Similar tourism-influenced coastal geography and integrated authority mission to Horry County SWA.
• Richland County Solid Waste & Recycling: Mid-size South Carolina county solid waste authority with landfill operations, MRF, convenience centers, and education programs. Directly comparable integrated service delivery and government-authority structure.
• Charleston County Environmental Management: Another South Carolina county-operated solid waste and recycling authority with landfill, MRF, convenience centers, and household hazardous waste services. Highly comparable in scope, regulatory structure, and operating model to Horry County SWA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCsPH19zcYfb6sVzN5T-OTrA
• Facebookfacebook.com/HorryCountySWA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Horry County Solid Waste Authority