Cherokee County provides residential curbside solid waste collection to eligible residential properties throughout the County. The Residential Solid Waste Collection, Service, and Fee Administration Policy establishes who is eligible for service, how the Residential Solid Waste Collection & Disposal Fee is administered, and the standards residents must follow when using the service.
The FAQs below provide a plain-language overview of the program. In the event of a conflict, the adopted County Policy controls.
Who is eligible for Cherokee County residential curbside collection?
Generally, qualifying residential dwellings located within Cherokee County are eligible for residential curbside collection unless the property or development falls within a category specifically excluded by County policy.
Eligibility is determined based on the property and Residential Service Unit, not simply the name or tax classification appearing on the property tax bill.
What is a Residential Service Unit?
A Residential Service Unit is an eligible residential dwelling or dwelling unit that is reasonably identifiable through Official Governmental Records and qualifies for County residential collection.
A single parcel may contain more than one Residential Service Unit.
Are single-family homes eligible?
Generally, yes. A single-family detached residence primarily used for residential purposes is eligible when it otherwise meets the requirements of the Policy.
Are rental homes eligible?
Yes. An otherwise eligible residence does not become ineligible simply because it is rented rather than owner-occupied.
Are mobile or manufactured homes eligible?
An individual mobile or manufactured home located outside a recognized Mobile Home Park may qualify as an individual Residential Service Unit.
What about mobile homes located inside a Mobile Home Park?
Individual units within a Recognized Mobile Home Park are not eligible for individual County residential curbside collection. The owner, operator, or responsible party for the development is responsible for arranging appropriate solid waste service.
What about RV parks and campgrounds?
Individual sites or units within a Recognized RV Park, campground, or similar development are not eligible for individual County residential curbside collection.
Simply having an RV or camper at an otherwise eligible residence does not make the property an RV Park.
Are duplexes eligible?
A duplex may contain two separate Residential Service Units. When both units independently qualify, each is treated as an eligible unit and the applicable Fee is assessed for each.
What about townhomes?
Individually parceled townhomes within developments containing fewer than the threshold established by County policy may qualify when they otherwise meet the eligibility requirements.
Recognized Townhome Developments containing 50 or more dwelling units are not eligible for individual County residential curbside collection.
Are apartment complexes eligible?
Recognized Apartment or Multi-Family Developments are not eligible for individual County residential curbside collection. The property owner, management entity, association, or other responsible party must arrange appropriate solid waste service.
Are businesses eligible?
No. Properties used primarily for commercial, business, professional, industrial, or other nonresidential purposes are not eligible for the County’s residential curbside collection program.
What about churches, nonprofits, schools, fire departments, and other tax-exempt properties?
Nonresidential tax-exempt properties are not eligible for residential curbside collection.
However, the presence of a bona fide qualifying residence on a tax-exempt property may be separately evaluated under the Policy.
What about a property that has both a residence and a business?
Mixed-use properties are reviewed based on their actual use, governmental records, and whether an independently identifiable qualifying Residential Service Unit exists.
The presence of living quarters on a primarily commercial property does not automatically make the property eligible for residential collection.
What is the Residential Solid Waste Collection & Disposal Fee?
The Residential Solid Waste Collection & Disposal Fee is an annual user fee established by Cherokee County to support residential curbside collection as well as all solid waste disposal functions carried out by Cherokee County such as the disposal of recycled goods, Construction and Demolition Landfill Operations, and operation of the MSW Landfill Post-Closure.
Is the Fee charged per property or per residence?
The Fee is generally assessed per eligible Residential Service Unit, not simply per tax parcel.
For example, if one parcel contains two independently eligible residences, the parcel may have two Residential Service Units and therefore two applicable Fees.
Is the Fee optional?
No. The Fee is based on the property’s eligibility for the residential collection program, not whether an individual resident chooses to use the service.
What if I don't use the County trash service?
Voluntary non-use does not eliminate the Fee from an otherwise eligible property.
What if I hire a private trash company?
Choosing to use a private waste hauler does not make an otherwise eligible property exempt from the County Fee.
What if I generate very little garbage?
The amount of garbage generated by an individual household does not determine eligibility. An otherwise eligible Residential Service Unit remains subject to the applicable Fee.
What if my house is vacant?
Temporary vacancy does not make an otherwise eligible residence ineligible.
This includes homes that are:
- Between tenants;
- Listed for sale;
- Seasonally occupied;
- Temporarily vacant while the owner lives elsewhere; or
- Undergoing ordinary repairs or renovation.
What if the residence is truly uninhabitable?
A property may become ineligible when the qualifying residential structure has been demolished, permanently removed, destroyed, lawfully determined to be uninhabitable, or otherwise rendered incapable of residential occupancy.
Cherokee County has a separate Request for Removal of Residential Solid Waste Collection & Disposal Fee process for these situations.
Does having the electricity or water turned off make a house uninhabitable?
No. Utility disconnection alone does not establish that a residential structure is uninhabitable.
The County considers the actual physical condition of the dwelling and applicable governmental documentation.
When does the County determine eligibility for the annual Fee?
Eligibility for the upcoming annual property tax billing cycle is determined based on County records as of December 11, 2026.
Property owners seeking a change based on an uninhabitable, destroyed, demolished, or removed residence should submit the required application and supporting documentation on or before June 30 for consideration for the upcoming annual billing cycle.
What if something changes between December 11th, 2026 and June 30th, 2027 (time at which the subsequent waiver for the next tax year is due)?
A change occurring after the applicable December 11th, 2026 eligibility determination date will generally be reflected in the next annual billing cycle.
This is different from correcting an assessment that was already incorrect as of December 11th, 2026
Can the County correct an actual billing or eligibility error?
Yes. Duplicate assessments, incorrect property associations, incorrect numbers of Residential Service Units, classification errors, and other authorized administrative errors may be corrected through the County’s Fee correction procedures.
How many roll carts do I receive?
Each eligible Residential Service Unit is provided one standard County-issued roll cart at no additional charge beyond the applicable Residential Solid Waste Collection & Disposal Fee.
Can I get more than one roll cart?
Yes. A resident may request up to two additional County-issued roll carts for an eligible Residential Service Unit.
Each additional cart costs $100.
Therefore, an eligible Residential Service Unit may have a maximum of:
1 standard cart + 2 additional carts = 3 County-issued roll carts.
Additional carts remain subject to County inventory and applicable administrative procedures.
If I pay $100 for an additional cart, do I own it?
No. The $100 is an additional-cart fee and does not constitute the purchase of the roll cart.
All County-issued roll carts remain the property of Cherokee County unless the County expressly transfers ownership in writing.
Does the cart belong to the resident or the property?
County-issued roll carts are assigned to the eligible Residential Service Unit or Service Location. They should remain at the assigned property and should not be taken with a resident when moving.
What if my County cart is damaged?
Cherokee County may repair or replace a County-issued cart damaged through ordinary use, normal wear, collection operations, or another circumstance determined not to be the resident’s responsibility.
What if I lose or intentionally damage my cart?
The County may assess an applicable replacement charge when a cart is lost, removed from its assigned property, intentionally or negligently damaged, destroyed through misuse, or damaged by prohibited materials.
Does having additional carts allow me to put out different types of trash?
No. Additional carts provide additional capacity for acceptable residential household garbage only.
They do not authorize disposal of construction debris, Bulk Waste, Cleanout Waste, commercial waste, prohibited materials, or other waste excluded from Standard Residential Collection Service.
Where should I place my roll cart?
Your roll cart should be placed at the approved Service Location or Collection Point for your residence.
Generally, the cart should:
- Be upright and reasonably stable;
- Have the lid substantially closed;
- Be accessible to collection employees;
- Have sufficient clearance for employees to safely reach, maneuver, empty, and return it;
- Be reasonably clear of vehicles, mailboxes, utility poles, fences, vegetation, drainage features, and other obstructions; and
- Not unnecessarily obstruct traffic, pedestrians, driveways, drainage, mail delivery, or other lawful roadway use.
Does my cart have to be a certain number of feet from the road?
The Policy uses a safe-access standard rather than a universal fixed-distance requirement.
Cherokee County contains many different roadway conditions, including narrow shoulders, ditches, high-speed roads, private roads, and rural roadways. The appropriate placement depends on the location.
The cart must be positioned where collection employees can safely and reasonably access it.
Should I put my cart in a drainage ditch?
No. Carts should not be placed in drainage ditches, drainage channels, culvert openings, or other locations where they may obstruct drainage, overturn, become inaccessible, or create a roadway hazard.
Do I need to leave space around my cart?
Yes. Leave sufficient space around the cart for employees to safely reach, maneuver, empty, and return it.
Remember: Cherokee County’s collection crews physically handle and maneuver the roll carts. The County’s system does not depend solely on an automated collection arm.
What if I have multiple carts?
Authorized carts should be arranged so employees can safely access and maneuver each cart.
Do not tightly group carts against vehicles, fences, mailboxes, utility poles, other objects, or each other in a manner that prevents safe access.
When should I put my cart out?
Residents should place their cart at the approved Collection Point by the County-established placement deadline for their scheduled Collection Day.
The collection truck does not arrive at a guaranteed time of day.
A truck arriving at 2:00 p.m. one week does not mean it will arrive at 2:00 p.m. the following week.
Can I leave my cart at the roadway all week?
Residents should remove carts from the immediate roadway collection area within a reasonable period following collection UNLESS Cherokee County has put out any type of delayed service notice.
Carts should not be permanently stored in the traveled roadway or in a location creating a traffic, drainage, pedestrian, or public-safety hazard.
What is the residential curbside service intended to collect?
Standard Residential Collection Service is intended for ordinary household Municipal Solid Waste generated through normal day-to-day residential activity.
What CAN I put in my roll cart?
Examples generally include:
- Bagged household garbage;
- Food waste and ordinary kitchen refuse;
- Non-recyclable household packaging;
- Paper and similar ordinary household waste;
- Small disposable household items that safely fit inside the cart; and
- Other ordinary household Municipal Solid Waste accepted by Cherokee County.
Should my household garbage be bagged?
Yes, when reasonably necessary.
Household garbage should be securely bagged when necessary to prevent loose waste, leaks, litter, odors, unsanitary conditions, or unnecessary employee exposure.
Clean, nonhazardous items that do not reasonably require bagging may be placed directly in the cart if they are otherwise acceptable.
Does everything have to fit inside my cart?
Yes. Standard Residential Collection Service is cart-based service.
Waste should fit entirely within an authorized roll cart, and the lid should be capable of closing substantially over the contents.
Can I leave extra bags beside my cart?
No. Bags, boxes, loose garbage, or other waste placed beside, behind, or on top of the cart are not part of Standard Residential Collection Service unless Cherokee County specifically authorizes another collection program.
If your household routinely needs additional capacity, you may request up to two additional County-issued roll carts for the applicable fee.
Can I put drywall or remodeling debris in my cart if it fits?
No.
Construction and Demolition Debris is not accepted through Standard Residential Collection Service, even if the material physically fits inside the roll cart.
What are some examples of things I CANNOT put in my cart?
Prohibited or excluded materials include items such as:
- Drywall;
- Lumber;
- Roofing/shingles;
- Flooring;
- Concrete, brick, block, stone, and dirt;
- Furniture;
- Mattresses and box springs;
- Appliances;
- Tires;
- Automotive parts;
- Motor oil, fuels, antifreeze, and automotive fluids;
- Paints, solvents, pesticides, and regulated chemicals;
- Propane or compressed-gas cylinders;
- Hot ashes or burning materials;
- Hazardous materials;
- Certain batteries;
- Medical waste, exposed sharps, and biohazardous materials;
- Limbs, brush, logs, and stumps;
- Dead animals;
- Commercial or organizational waste;
- Cleanout Waste; and
- Items that are too large, heavy, sharp, unstable, leaking, or otherwise unsafe for employees to handle.
Can I put furniture or a mattress beside my cart?
No. Furniture, mattresses, appliances, and similar Bulk Waste are not included in Standard Residential Collection Service.
What about yard waste?
Limbs, brush, logs, stumps, and other excluded yard or land-clearing materials should not be placed in the residential roll cart.
Other County disposal options may be available depending on the type of material.
Where do I take items that cannot go in my roll cart?
Some materials that cannot be collected through residential curbside service may be accepted at the Cherokee County Landfill, a Cherokee County Recycling location, or another designated facility, depending on the material.
Applicable facility rules, hours, fees, and material restrictions still apply.
Will the County pick up trash from a whole-house cleanout?
Not as part of Standard Residential Collection Service.
Whole-house cleanouts and extraordinary accumulated quantities of waste are considered outside normal weekly household collection.
What about an eviction or rental-property cleanout?
Waste generated through evictions, rental-property turnovers, foreclosures, move-outs, estate cleanouts, and similar activities may constitute Cleanout Waste and is not part of Standard Residential Collection Service when it substantially exceeds ordinary household garbage.
Can I divide a large cleanout into smaller amounts and put it out over several weeks?
Dividing excluded waste into smaller quantities does not change the character of the waste.
Construction debris remains construction debris, Bulk Waste remains Bulk Waste, and Cleanout Waste does not become ordinary household garbage simply because it is divided among several collection weeks.
What should I do with excess or cleanout waste?
Depending on the material, residents may need to use an appropriate County facility, private waste hauler, dumpster service, or another lawful disposal method.
Can my cart be too heavy for collection?
Yes.
A cart may be left uncollected when it is loaded to a weight that prevents employees from safely maneuvering or emptying it.
Residents are responsible for reducing the weight before presenting the cart again.
What if items are sticking out of my cart?
The lid should be capable of closing substantially over the contents. Materials should not protrude in a manner that creates a safety hazard or prevents safe collection.
What if my cart is blocked by a vehicle?
Employees are not required to move vehicles, trailers, equipment, or other personal property to access a cart.
The cart should be accessible when the collection crew arrives.
What else can make my cart inaccessible?
Examples may include:
- Parked vehicles;
- Trailers or equipment;
- Locked gates;
- Fences;
- Heavy vegetation;
- Construction materials;
- Unsafe ground conditions;
- Other carts or objects blocking access; or
Loose or aggressive animals.
Will the crew sort through my cart and remove something that shouldn't be in it?
No.
County employees are not required to sort through garbage, remove prohibited items, unload excess material, reduce the weight of an overloaded cart, move personal property, or otherwise correct a condition that is the resident’s responsibility.
What happens if my cart cannot be collected?
If a cart is noncompliant or cannot be safely serviced, the County may leave it uncollected.
Correct the problem and properly present the cart on your next applicable Collection Day.
There is no separate reinstatement process or waiting period.
What if I had drywall in my cart one week but remove it before the next collection?
Once the prohibited material or unsafe condition is corrected, normal collection resumes.
The County is concerned with whether the cart is compliant when it is presented for collection, not punishing a resident for a corrected issue from the previous week.
What if I have a loose dog near my cart?
Residents are responsible for keeping dogs and other animals sufficiently controlled and separated from collection employees.
The County may decline or defer collection when an animal creates a reasonable safety concern.
Will County trucks travel every private road or driveway?
No.
Eligibility for residential service does not guarantee that a County collection vehicle will travel every private road, driveway, easement, or access route.
Road width, surface condition, bridges, overhead clearance, turnarounds, traffic, drainage, terrain, property conditions, and employee/equipment safety may all affect where collection can occur.
What if the County cannot safely get its truck to my house?
Cherokee County may establish an Alternative Collection Point at a location where the cart can be safely and reasonably serviced.
Does an Alternative Collection Point mean I am no longer eligible?
No.
An Alternative Collection Point changes where the County provides the service, not the property’s underlying eligibility.
What if I physically cannot move my cart to the normal Collection Point?
Cherokee County may consider reasonable collection accommodations when a resident cannot comply with ordinary cart-placement requirements because of a documented disability, physical limitation, unusual property condition, or another circumstance recognized by the County.
Any accommodation remains subject to operational feasibility and employee safety and may require documentation or periodic verification.
Is my collection time the same every week?
No.
Your scheduled Collection Day establishes the day of service, but not a guaranteed time of day.
Routes, traffic, equipment, staffing, weather, disposal operations, and other circumstances can change the time the truck reaches your property.
What is considered a true Missed Collection?
Generally, a County Missed Collection occurs when:
- The authorized cart was presented by the required time;
- It was at the approved Collection Point;
- It was properly placed and accessible;
- It contained acceptable material;
- It complied with capacity and safety requirements;
- No unsafe condition prevented collection; and
The County otherwise serviced the applicable route but failed to collect the compliant cart.
What is NOT considered a County Missed Collection?
A cart is generally not considered a Missed Collection attributable to the County when it was:
- Put out too late;
- At the wrong location;
- Blocked or inaccessible;
- Overloaded or too heavy;
- Improperly placed;
- Containing prohibited material;
- Unsafe to handle;
- Prevented from collection by an animal or other unsafe condition; or
- Otherwise noncompliant when the crew arrived.
Will the County come back the same day if my cart wasn't compliant?
Not necessarily.
If non-collection resulted from a condition that was the resident’s responsibility, correct the problem and present the cart properly on the next applicable Collection Day.
What if the County actually missed my compliant cart?
Residents should report a suspected Missed Collection to the Public Works Department so the County can review the route and circumstances and determine the appropriate response.
Can I apply to have the Fee removed if my residence cannot be lived in?
Yes, when the property may no longer contain an eligible Residential Service Unit because the residence has been:
- Demolished;
- Permanently removed;
- Destroyed;
- Lawfully determined to be uninhabitable; or
- Otherwise rendered incapable of residential occupancy under the County’s standards.
Is this a hardship waiver?
No.
The process determines whether an eligible Residential Service Unit actually exists. It is not a hardship exemption or discretionary waiver of a valid Fee.
What documentation will I need?
Depending on the circumstances, documentation may include current photographs and applicable Official Governmental Records such as:
- Condemnation documentation;
- An Order prohibiting occupancy;
- Building Codes documentation with accompanying inspection report;
- A demolition permit;
- Mobile/manufactured-home removal documentation;
- Governmental disaster documentation; or
- Other reliable governmental records establishing the condition or removal of the dwelling.
If my house is approved as uninhabitable, is that approval permanent?
Not necessarily.
If the structure remains standing, the County may require annual reverification before the June 30, 2027 eligibility determination date to establish that it remains incapable of residential occupancy.
A dwelling that has actually been demolished or permanently removed generally does not require annual uninhabitable-status reverification while County records continue to show that no qualifying dwelling exists.
What happens if I repair or reoccupy the house?
The property may again become eligible for residential collection and the applicable Fee.
Property owners should notify Cherokee County when a dwelling previously determined uninhabitable is repaired, reconstructed, replaced, reoccupied, or otherwise restored to residential use.
What if I think the County has my property classified incorrectly?
Start by requesting an Eligibility Review.
This gives County staff an opportunity to review the property records and correct an obvious error without requiring a formal appeal.
What should I provide with an Eligibility Review?
Provide the property address and TMS number, explain what you believe is incorrect, identify the classification you believe should apply, and provide supporting documentation.
What types of errors can be corrected?
Examples may include:
- Wrong property or TMS;
- Duplicate Fee;
- Incorrect property use;
- Incorrect number of Residential Service Units;
- Incorrect Mobile Home Park or RV Park classification;
- Fee assessed when no qualifying residential dwelling exists;
- Failure to recognize a qualifying dwelling;
- Mapping/address error; or
- Another incorrect application of the eligibility standards.
What if I disagree with the County's Eligibility Review decision?
After completing the initial review and receiving an eligibility determination, the property owner may submit a Formal Eligibility Appeal.
How long do I have to appeal?
A Formal Eligibility Appeal must generally be submitted within 30 calendar days following notice of the County’s eligibility determination.
Who decides the formal appeal?
The County Administrator or authorized designee reviews the formal appeal and administrative record and may affirm, reverse, modify, or return the matter for additional administrative review.
Can I appeal because I don't want to pay the Fee?
No.
An appeal determines whether Cherokee County correctly applied the adopted eligibility standards.
It cannot be used to obtain a hardship exemption, voluntary opt-out, special exception, or different treatment simply because a property owner disagrees with the Fee.
Does filing an appeal stop the Fee?
No. Filing an appeal does not automatically suspend the property’s existing eligibility classification or Fee while the appeal is pending.
If the appeal establishes that a correction is warranted, any authorized billing correction will be processed according to County policy and applicable financial procedures.
If my property isn't eligible for curbside collection, does that mean I can't use any County solid waste services?
Not necessarily.
Eligibility for residential curbside collection is separate from eligibility to use County Recycling Facilities across the county, the Construction and Demolition Landfill, the Municipal Solid Waste Roll Off containers at the Cherokee County Landfill, the limb and brush disposal site at the landfill, and other County solid waste programs.
Each facility or program has its own rules concerning eligible users, accepted materials, fees, hours, and disposal requirements.
Cherokee County residents that are bringing regular household recyclables, limb and brush, construction and demolition debris, and household garbage to county facilities may do so at no charge. This service is included in the Cherokee County Solid Waste Collection & Disposal Annual User Fee.
Where can I find information about landfill and recycling locations?
For current information about:
Collection schedules • Landfill services • Recycling locations • Hours • Fees • Acceptable materials • Forms • Residential solid waste policies
visit cherokeecountysc.gov and select Public Works under Government Services.
For questions concerning residential curbside collection or any other solid waste questions, residents may also contact the Cherokee County Public Works Department at (864) 487-2536.