S.C. officers will increase litter law enforcement this June
COLUMBIA - With the arrival of summer travel and tourism, June presents the perfect opportunity to launch a focused effort to protect South Carolina's roadsides and natural spaces from litter. Zero Tolerance for Litter is a statewide initiative led by PalmettoPride and the South Carolina Litter Control Association to raise public awareness around the state's litter laws.
Throughout June, officers from local and state agencies will increase enforcement of litter laws and educate the public about the consequences of littering. By combining enforcement with outreach, the initiative aims to promote cleaner communities and long-term litter prevention across the Palmetto State.
South Carolina is known for its natural beauty and attracts tourists from around the world every year. Tourism is South Carolina's largest industry and generates an average of $29 billion a year for our state's economy. The tourism and travel sector has grown by 65% in the past decade. We want visitors to continue returning to South Carolina and contributing to our local and state economies. Simultaneously, we want South Carolinians to continue to capitalize on all the beauty this state has to offer. To ensure this, we must protect our state's iconic environmental landscapes that set it apart. We urge all South Carolinians to take personal responsibility by making a simple yet impactful choice: Do not litter.
"PalmettoPride is a driving force in the fight to keep South Carolina clean and beautiful," said Lt. Gov. Pamela S. Evette. "The Zero Tolerance for Litter Campaign sends a clear message that littering and illegal dumping will not be ignored. This effort reminds us that protecting our environment is a shared responsibility, and it starts with each of us choosing to respect our communities and state."
While PalmettoPride strives year-round to influence behavior around litter through education programs and public awareness campaigns, strong enforcement of litter laws provides a vital legal tool to support our ongoing efforts. Zero Tolerance for Litter targets three key misdemeanor violations: littering, illegal dumping and operating an unsecured load. SC Code of Laws 16-11-700 defines litter as any trash that is improperly thrown on public or private property without permission. Generally, littering refers to the improper disposal of trash below 15 pounds, and illegal dumping refers to the improper disposal of trash above 15 pounds. The maximum penalty for littering includes up to a $100 base fine, eight hours of community service and 30 days of imprisonment. For illegal dumping, the penalties increase significantly, with up to a $1,000 base fine, up to 32 hours of community service and one year of imprisonment.
SC Code of Laws 56-5-4100 and 48-53-10 require vehicles to have properly secured loads with tight coverings to prevent debris from falling onto roadways. Failing to comply can lead to serious environmental, safety and legal consequences. Unsecured loads are a significant source of roadside litter - an estimated 20% of litter along highways comes from items that fall off vehicles. Nationally, debris on roadways contributes to approximately 50,000 preventable accidents, 10,000 injuries and 125 deaths each year. In concurrence with Zero Tolerance for Litter Month, National Secure Your Load Day is annually observed on June 6, placing a national spotlight on the dangers associated with unsecured loads. In South Carolina, the penalties for violating 56-5-4100 and 48-53-10 are $100 and $200, respectively.
PalmettoPride continues to work through every step of the legal system to strengthen the impact of South Carolina's litter laws and penalties. According to a 2023 study, an overwhelming majority of South Carolina officers and magistrate judges favor a flexible, tiered fine structure for littering infractions, where officers have a better-defined criteria for ticketing and judges have more authority for adjudication. Act 214, which was passed in 2018, updated SC Code of Laws 16-11-700. The law gives courts more flexibility in handling litter cases by making it easier to assign community service for litter pickup without supervision. It also categorizes violations and defines litter more clearly, ensuring penalties match the severity of the offense.
The same 2023 study found littering offenses that reach South Carolina courts obtain a guilty verdict 87% of the time. Still, PalmettoPride regularly provides training to magistrate and municipal court judges to increase awareness of litter laws and to promote the specific assignment of litter-gathering labor as a community service penalty across all offenses, not just littering. Additionally, PalmettoPride works directly with law enforcement agencies and, in 2024, awarded $90,732 in grants to support litter control efforts, funding surveillance equipment, signage, community tarp giveaways and illegal dumpsite cleanups.
PalmettoPride also provides programmatic support for SCLCA, which provides essential training and resources to 48 member agencies.
"This initiative isn't just about writing tickets. It's about keeping our roads and communities clean and protecting what makes our state so special," said Samuel H. Ford, president of South Carolina Litter Control Association. "When law enforcement, local leaders and everyday people work together, we're making it clear that littering will not be tolerated in our state."
The Zero Tolerance for Litter campaign's impact is made possible through our longstanding and numerable enforcement partnerships with the S.C. Governor's Office, the S.C. General Assembly, the S.C. Judicial Branch, the S.C. Department of Transportation, the S.C. Department of Public Safety, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, the S.C. Forestry Commission, the S.C. Sheriffs' Association and affiliate organizations of Keep South Carolina Beautiful.
"Enforcing South Carolina's litter laws requires strong partnerships at every level," said PalmettoPride Executive Director Sarah Lyles. "From local law enforcement to state agencies, working together allows us to amplify our efforts, hold offenders accountable and ultimately protect the beauty and integrity of our communities."