South Carolina Department of Commerce

Sophie Leone • April 23, 2024

South Carolina Department of Commerce

The South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) is a state cabinet agency dedicated to ensuring South Carolina’s sustainable advantage and to increasing choices for all South Carolinians by creating economic opportunities. To achieve these goals, S.C. Commerce:


  • Recruits companies across a wide spectrum of industries — advanced energy, aerospace, automotive, headquarters, life sciences, manufacturing and others — to the state.
  • Supports South Carolina’s existing industry through supply chain solutions, emergency management resources, recycling market connections and much more.
  • Supports South Carolina’s business ecosystem to facilitate the creation of new businesses and technology within the state.
  • Provides incentives to qualifying companies and communities to promote economic development across the entire state.


South Carolina’s economic success is built on the state’s infrastructure, innovative capabilities, educated workforce and dedication to its environment, which is home to some of the most diverse ecosystems in the United States. There are over 300 recycling businesses currently in South Carolina, and the industry is experiencing a period of immense growth. From 2019 to 2023, companies in the state’s recycling industry announced capital investments totaling $6.6 billion, representing over 5,000 new jobs. More updates on South Carolina’s recycling industry can be found in the South Carolina Department of Commerce 2023 Annual Report.


S.C. Commerce works to ensure the health of the state’s environment through expansive recycling efforts. To encourage companies to prioritize sustainable operations, the state offers Green Initiative Credits. These credits are used to reward qualified recycling facilities, incentivize the installation of solar energy systems and more. Another sustainability initiative, the Recycling Markets Directory, allows manufacturers in South Carolina to find recycling within their area and keep valuable materials in motion.


NERC is pleased to welcome the South Carolina Department of Commerce to its team of Supporting Advisory Members. We look forward to working with S.C. Commerce and providing the necessary tools and support to help grow their ever-expanding recycling market.


For more information about the South Carolina Department of Commerce click here

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NERC launches hub to promote PCR demand

By Antoinette Smith | Resource Recycling, Inc. • April 15, 2026
The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) has created a PCR Material Demand Hub to help organizations prioritize purchases of PCR content and help strengthen domestic recycling markets. The site features resources for federal, state and local government procurement, material- and product-specific resources, and certification and standards for recycled content, including: Government procurement directory for recycled content and environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) Downloadable guides to buying products with PCR content, identifying and buying plastic products containing PCR, environmentally preferable purchasing specifications “Green” product directories from the US EPA, APR, SCS Global Services, the Environmental Paper Network and Intertek Electronics procurement tool for devices containing PCR plastic User manual for the EPA Recycled Content (ReCon) Tool and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Equivalencies calculator The Northeastern US has been hit especially hard by recent closures of PET reclaiming capacity, with fourth-quarter 2025 recycled commodity prices in the region reaching five-year lows . Evergreen Recycling in New York and Ohio, Alpek in Pennsylvania and Phoenix Technologies in Ohio all reduced capacity, citing lackluster demand among the factors. In line with recent short-term and long-term recommendations from industry stakeholders, the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) Demand Champions Program outlines three distinct actions to ensure the consistent demand required to scale up the recycling industry: commit to using PCR secure long-term PCR supply agreements expand PCR adoption into non-standard formats or specify PCR in purchased goods APR owns Resource Recycling, Inc., publisher of Plastics Recycling Update. Read article on Resource Recycling.

Envipco

By Sophie Leone • April 13, 2026
As a leader in vending machine technology, Envipco has over four decades of experience providing customized recycling solutions. Envipco was founded on the desire to support and recover material reuse of beverage containers. This founding idea has been their motivation for forty years as they work to help their customers become sustainable and make recycling easier for everyone. Their continuous investment in innovative technology solutions for drink packaging recycling has made them a driving force in the industry. Located worldwide, Envipco offers a wide range of solutions and services. Their versatile range of Reverse Vending Machines are designed to fit in varying environments and are customizable to fit seamlessly into their surroundings. Their smallest machine, the Compact, accepts PET bottles and cans and is ideal for a location that processes less than 400 containers per day. On the higher end, their largest machine, the Quantum, accepts containers in bulk and is capable of processing over 100 containers per minute. “At Envipco, our mission has always been to make recycling easier, more accessible, and more effective. We’re proud to join NERC and work alongside organizations that share our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and a cleaner future.” Tina Bergers, VP Americas, Envipco NERC is excited to welcome Envipco to our international base of members. We look forward to supporting their vision for a cleaner world for future generations. For more information on Envipco visit.

Maryland PaintCare Program Becomes 13th State-Wide Paint Recycling Program

By PaintCare • March 31, 2026
Marylanders can now recycle their leftover paint with PaintCare ! PaintCare is a nonprofit organization that plans and operates paint stewardship programs in states that have passed the paint stewardship law. The Maryland PaintCare program launched on April 1, 2026, making it the thirteenth jurisdiction to pass paint stewardship legislation. With the addition of Maryland, PaintCare now serves one-third of the U.S. population. PaintCare operates a network of over 100 drop-off sites across the state where households and businesses can recycle their leftover paint at no additional cost. Most drop-off sites are located at local paint retailers, making it convenient for Marylanders to responsibly dispose of their leftover paint. To find a drop-off site near you, visit the drop-off site locator on PaintCare’s website. PaintCare offers a large volume pickup (LVP) service, which provides free pickups of 100 gallons or more of eligible paint products. Those with large quantities of paint are encouraged to use this service to responsibly dispose of leftover paint. Large volume pickups can be requested through the large volume pickup request form. The paint stewardship law requires a fee, called the PaintCare fee, to be added to the purchase price of new paint. The fee is based on container size and funds all aspects of the program. This includes paint collection and recycling, consumer education, and program administration. The PaintCare fee in Maryland is as follows: