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PalmettoPride’s enforcement programs are designed to aide officers across the state in the enforcement of litter laws. We provide tools and resources to assist officers and environmental enforcement teams including training and safety, equipment grants and consultation on community service programs.

South Carolina Litter Commission

On April 2, 2015, the Take Palmetto Pride Where You Live Act was enacted into law as Act 8; an initiative spearheaded by SC Representative Gilda-Cobb-Hunter.  This Act brought twelve organizations together which formed the South Carolina Litter Commission to establish strategic plans, recommend initiatives for litter removal, reduction and prevention; methods to expand litter awareness and techniques on how to evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing programs and campaigns in the state.   

Enforcement Partners and Roles

Litter is a big problem, but from public awareness campaigns to increased ticketing and sentencing efforts, our partnerships make progress possible.

  • The SC Governor’s Office issues an annual proclamation declaring Zero Tolerance for Litter Month, reinforcing the state’s commitment to cleanliness and encouraging active participation from agencies in litter prevention and elimination. PalmettoPride works alongside Lt. Governor Pamela Evette to promote the #GrabaBagSC campaign, which encourages South Carolinians to grab a bag, rally friends and family, put on safety gear and head outside for a chance to enjoy the outdoors while making a difference in their communities. 
  • The SC General Assembly plays a key role in the litter prevention by enacting legislation to strengthen SC’s litter laws, such as Act 214 of 2018. We see significant progress towards our mission in areas where elected officials champion litter pickup and prevention.
  • The SC Judicial Branch is essential in adjudicating litter violations and litter-gathering labor community service programs. In South Carolina, both Magistrate Courts and Municipal Courts handle litter violations. The courts fit the penalty to the individual crime. Judges may decide to forego fines in exchange for the offender completing any assigned number of litter-gathering labor hours or forego community service hours for higher fines. A 2023 study found that, in South Carolina, violators of SC litter laws are found guilty 81% of the time.
  • The SC Department of Public Safety-State Transport Police actively enforce litter laws, particularly on state highways, with a focus on identifying and ticketing drivers violating littering, illegal transport, and unsecured load violations.
  • The SC Department of Transportation works to keep our roads free of debris by coordinating regular statewide litter pickups along state-maintained roads and coordinating the Adopt-a-Highway program in partnership with PalmettoPride.
  • The SC Department of Natural Resources officers, also known as Game Wardens issue citations and warnings for littering violations, especially in areas where natural resources are being impacted. SCDNR officers actively patrol state parks, forests, and waterways, enforcing litter laws and other environmental regulations.
  • The SC Department of Environmental Services officers primarily address tire dumpsites, which pose a significant threat to our environment. Tires collect rainwater and provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes that transmit illnesses. These piles also are a fire hazard. Tire fires, which are extremely difficult to extinguish, release toxic air pollutants and generate oil that can contaminate the ground and surface water.
  • The SC Forestry Commission rangers enforce littering and illegal dumping violations on state forest property.
  • The SC Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon services supervises probationers ordered by the General Sessions Court to perform litter-gathering labor community service.
  • The SC Department of Corrections has nine state institutions with specific inmate labor/litter pickup crews. PalmettoPride also partners with the SCDC through our Tree Grant program.
  • The SC Sheriffs’ Association annually participates in the Zero Tolerance for Litter campaign, educating member organizations about SC’s litter laws and the importance of enforcing them for a more beautiful South Carolina.
  • The SC Trucking Association offers continuing education on litter laws and securing loads to members.
  • The Palmetto Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) works to effectively implement South Carolina’s waste hauling regulations and aims to mitigate the waste hauling industry’s impact on this statistic by ensuring that all loads and coverings are securely attached.
  • The SC Municipal Court Administration Association and the SC Summary Court Judges Association are working to increase the penalties assigned to littering, illegal dumping, and unsecured load tickets and to promote the assignment of litter-gathering labor for other violations that allow for community service as a penalty.
  • The SC Association of Counties and the Municipal Association of SC promote litter prevention and control initiatives in SC’s 46 counties and 270 municipalities, respectively.
  • Organized in 1987, the South Carolina Litter Control Association (SCLCA) is a professional organization that promotes litter enforcement, protects the environment and helps to heighten public awareness of the problems associated with litter.
  • Affiliates in the Keep South Carolina Beautiful network regularly collaborate with local law enforcement agencies in public awareness and litter pickup events.