Myrtle Beach and Horry County apartment owners, asset managers, and on-site property managers: you operate in one of the busiest tourism corridors in the Southeast, where overflowing enclosures and unsecured loads can quickly turn into code complaints, civil penalties, and headaches with haulers. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling program is engineered to align with Horry County’s flow-control and solid-waste ordinances and the City of Myrtle Beach’s updated solid waste rules, so residents get a modern doorstep amenity while you stay ahead of enforcement pressure from county and city inspectors.
Across Horry County, solid waste is governed by a county-wide Flow Control Ordinance and Solid Waste / Junk & Nuisance ordinances that require haulers and commercial accounts to use approved facilities operated by the Horry County Solid Waste Authority (SWA) and to keep properties free of junk, debris, and litter. Multifamily communities are treated as commercial customers and are expected to provide adequate disposal, prevent litter, and use licensed haulers – but there is no county-wide apartment recycling mandate with a specific unit threshold. Myrtle Beach and the other cities in the county run their own collection programs or franchise contracts, emphasizing proper set-out, container closure, and separation of materials, while the SWA provides county convenience centers and a robust recycling infrastructure that municipalities and private haulers can tap into.
- Protect NOI & Reputation: Avoid avoidable $100-per-violation civil penalties, license issues, and nuisance citations tied to overflowing containers, unsecured loads, and poor site conditions under Horry County’s solid waste enforcement provisions.
- Resident-First Convenience: Doorstep service that keeps residents out of dark, messy enclosures, reduces after-hours trips to dumpsters, and supports renewals, online reputation, and guest satisfaction in resort-style communities.
- Code-Smart Design: Container layouts, route design, and service frequencies planned around Horry County SWA flow-control rules, municipal set-out requirements, and inspector expectations for neat, well-managed sites.
- Hands-Off Compliance: We coordinate with city or franchise haulers, align with SWA facilities, implement resident education, and help you build documentation so your communities are inspection-ready across Myrtle Beach and greater Horry County.
At a Glance: City of Myrtle Beach vs. Horry County & Other Cities
City of Myrtle Beach (Inside City Limits)
- Mandate Type: Solid-waste & recycling requirements for all serviced accounts; no apartment-specific recycling mandate with a unit threshold.
- Applicability: Applies broadly to properties receiving City of Myrtle Beach Solid Waste & Recycling Division service – including multifamily, resort, and mixed-use sites – through Chapter 17, Solid Waste Management of the City Code and the City’s updated solid waste ordinance.
- Property Manager Duties: Keep waste and recycling containers closed, with no extra waste stacked on top; separate yard waste and bulk waste; follow set-out windows; keep enclosures and collection areas clean and accessible to residents and crews; and coordinate extra service during peak season.
- Program Duties: Provide residents with clear guidance on what goes in trash vs. recycling, where to place doorstep bags or carts, and collection times; post signage; and ensure valet trash & recycling operations are aligned with city rules so cart lids close and piles stay within volume limits.
- Key Myrtle Beach Links:
City of Myrtle Beach – Official Site · Updated Solid Waste Rules (Hang Tag Guidance) · Solid Waste & Recycling Division · Myrtle Beach Code of Ordinances (Solid Waste Management)
Horry County & Other Incorporated Cities
- Mandate Type: No county-wide apartment recycling mandate. Instead, Horry County relies on a combination of the Flow Control Ordinance, Solid Waste / Junk & Nuisance ordinances, and the Horry County Solid Waste Management Plan to regulate disposal, support recycling, and fund SWA facilities.
- Applicability: Flow-control and solid-waste ordinances apply to all solid waste generated within Horry County, directing it to approved public facilities and subjecting haulers and commercial properties to licensing, disposal, and nuisance requirements.
- Program Duties: Use licensed haulers, deliver waste to SWA-designated facilities, keep loads covered, prevent illegal dumping, and maintain containers and enclosures in a sanitary condition. Municipalities like Conway, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Aynor, Loris, and Atlantic Beach manage curbside programs or contracts that include recycling access for residents.
- Risk Profile: Civil penalties of around $100 per violation for haulers or generators who violate lawful notices or regulations; additional penalty fees for unsecured loads; potential injunctions, license suspension, or revocation for repeated violations; plus municipal nuisance and code enforcement actions for chronic overflow, junk, or debris.
- How National Doorstep Helps: We design valet trash & recycling programs that respect flow-control requirements, integrate with city or franchise haulers, keep enclosures within local expectations, and give residents a clean, convenient alternative to dragging bags through parking lots—all while building a documentation trail that shows good-faith compliance if a complaint or inspection occurs.
- Key County & SWA Links:
Horry County – Official Site · Horry County Solid Waste Authority (SWA) · Horry County Solid Waste Management Plan (2022 Draft) · SWA Residential & Municipal Recycling Programs
Horry County Cities & Apartment Recycling Mandates
Within Horry County, multifamily communities are generally treated as commercial solid-waste customers. The county uses flow-control and nuisance ordinances to regulate where waste goes and how sites are maintained, while cities and towns (Myrtle Beach, Conway, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Aynor, Loris, Atlantic Beach, and Briarcliffe Acres) manage their own collection programs or contracts and may offer curbside or drop-off recycling. None currently have a Dallas-style apartment recycling ordinance with a specific unit threshold and fine ladder that is written solely around multifamily recycling – but every jurisdiction expects clean, well-managed sites and can cite properties for solid-waste and nuisance violations.
| City / Town | Apartment Recycling Mandate? | Notes for Owners & Property Managers |
|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate Solid waste & recycling governed by Chapter 17 and updated solid waste ordinance. |
The City provides solid waste and recycling collection through its Solid Waste & Recycling Division. The updated ordinance emphasizes closed lids, separation of yard and bulk waste, and set-out time limits for all serviced accounts, including multifamily and resort communities. There is no separate multifamily recycling threshold, but properties can be cited for violations of solid waste rules and nuisance conditions. A structured valet trash & recycling program helps keep lids closed, piles within limits, and common areas inspection-ready. Key local links: Myrtle Beach Solid Waste & Recycling Division · Updated Solid Waste Ordinance overview |
| Conway | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Conway operates its own solid waste and recycling collection for residents and many multifamily communities, with separate carts for trash and recycling and published collection routes. Solid waste matters are governed in the City’s Health and Sanitation / Garbage and Waste Disposal chapters. Properties are expected to maintain adequate service levels and keep containers from overflowing. Key local links: City of Conway – Sanitation & Recycling · Solid Waste Collection Routes |
| North Myrtle Beach | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
North Myrtle Beach provides or franchises trash and recycling service and uses its code of ordinances to regulate set-out, container standards, and nuisance conditions. Multifamily communities are expected to provide sufficient capacity and maintain clean enclosures; recycling is typically available through city service or contracted haulers. Key local links: City of North Myrtle Beach – Official Site · SWA – Municipal Recycling Programs (includes NMB) |
| Surfside Beach | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Surfside Beach manages solid waste through its own Sanitation / Solid Waste articles, with curbside service and recycling options for many accounts. Multifamily communities are treated as commercial customers and must prevent overflowing containers and nuisances; recycling is voluntary but increasingly expected by residents and HOAs. Key local links: Town of Surfside Beach – Official Site · Sanitation Department |
| Loris | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Loris contracts with Jordan Waste and other providers for solid waste collection, including residential and business customers. Multifamily communities coordinate directly with haulers for trash and any optional recycling service. City code focuses on solid waste management and nuisance, not a dedicated multifamily recycling ordinance. Key local links: City of Loris – Sanitation Department |
| Aynor | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
The Town of Aynor relies on private haulers (such as GFL Environmental) for waste service. Solid waste matters are covered in the Town’s Health, Sanitation and Nuisances provisions, and multifamily properties work with haulers to add trash and optional recycling service. The focus is on clean, well-managed sites rather than a formal apartment recycling mandate. Key local links: Town of Aynor – Services & Waste Management |
| Atlantic Beach | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Atlantic Beach provides contracted trash service and has a community recycling dumpster near the Community Center on 32nd Avenue South for residents and visitors. Solid waste is regulated in the Town’s Garbage, Trash, and Refuse chapter. Multfamily and short-term rental properties are expected to keep areas clean and use the provided collection and recycling options. Key local links: Town of Atlantic Beach – Official Site · Garbage & Recycling Info |
| Unincorporated Horry County & HOAs | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Unincorporated areas rely on private haulers and SWA Convenience Centers. Ordinance 50-01 limits residents to specific daily volumes at convenience centers and requires proper use of facilities. Multifamily and HOA communities are expected to contract with haulers, keep loads covered, and maintain sites free of junk and debris to avoid nuisance enforcement. Key local links: SWA Recycling Centers & Convenience Sites |
Horry County Fines & Penalties Snapshot
- Flow Control & Solid Waste Enforcement: Horry County’s Flow Control Ordinance and Solid Waste / Junk & Nuisance ordinances give the County and SWA authority to enforce where waste is disposed and how it is handled, including at multifamily communities using commercial haulers.
- Civil Penalties per Violation: Under Horry County Code Section 10.5-28 (Solid Waste Enforcement), any person or hauler who violates a lawful notice, order, or regulation of the County or SWA may be subject to a civil penalty of $100.00 for each violation, plus allowable costs, upon conviction in ordinance court.
- Unsecured Loads & Litter at Landfills: Horry County’s solid waste ordinance (Sec. 10-17(b)) authorizes a $100 penalty fee per occurrence for repeat offenders who arrive at permitted landfills with uncovered or improperly secured loads, contributing to litter along roadways and at SWA facilities.
- Escalating Consequences for Repeat Violations: With three or more persistent violations, the County or SWA may seek injunctive relief in court; after multiple civil penalties, SWA may suspend or revoke a hauler’s license to collect, transport, or dispose of solid waste in Horry County for up to a year—an indirect but serious risk for properties relying on that hauler.
- Municipal Code & Quality-of-Life Courts: Cities like Myrtle Beach can issue code enforcement citations and pursue fines through municipal court for violations of solid waste ordinances (e.g., overfull carts, improper set-out, junk and debris), often with penalties in the “several hundred dollars per violation” range plus court costs, depending on local penalty provisions.
- Risk Management Tip for Property Managers: Maintain a paper trail: hauler contracts, SWA license confirmations, service logs, photos of container areas, contamination notices, and resident-education pieces. This documentation shows good-faith compliance if a complaint, inspection, or notice of violation is issued.
Myrtle Beach & Horry County Multifamily Compliance Checklist
| Task | Action / Requirement | Helpful Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction & Service Type | Verify whether your community is located inside a city (Myrtle Beach, Conway, NMB, Surfside, etc.) or in unincorporated Horry County. Identify if you are served by a city sanitation department, a private/franchise hauler, or if residents use SWA convenience centers. This determines which solid-waste and set-out rules apply. | Horry County GIS – Jurisdiction Lookup · SWA – Residential & Municipal Programs |
| ☑ Use Approved Haulers & Facilities | Confirm that your trash and recycling vendors are properly licensed and that waste is delivered to SWA-designated or DHEC-permitted facilities, consistent with Horry County’s flow-control requirements. For unincorporated properties, ensure residents are not bypassing rules by dumping at unapproved sites or misusing convenience centers. | SWA – Commercial & Hauler Information · SC DHEC – Solid Waste Permitting |
| ☑ Right-Size Containers & Pickup Frequency | Evaluate current container sizes, counts, and pickup frequencies for both trash and recycling. High-occupancy and seasonal communities in Myrtle Beach and coastal Horry County often need extra service during peak tourism months. Persistent overflow increases the risk of nuisance complaints and civil penalties. | Horry County Solid Waste Management Plan · SWA – Main Site |
| ☑ Keep Loads Covered & Enclosures Clean | Work with haulers and onsite teams to ensure all outgoing loads are properly tarped or covered when traveling to SWA facilities, and that enclosures remain free of scattered debris. Repeat issues with uncovered loads or litter may trigger additional $100 penalties and enforcement actions at SWA sites as well as county nuisance complaints. | SWA Board Minutes – Enforcement & Penalties Overview |
| ☑ Build in Recycling Access for Residents | Even without a formal apartment recycling mandate, residents increasingly expect on-site recycling. Coordinate with your city or hauler to add carts or dumpsters for single-stream or commingled recycling. National Doorstep can layer in valet recycling collection, making it as easy for residents to recycle as it is to throw away trash. | SWA – What & Where to Recycle · Municipal Recycling Programs |
| ☑ Resident Education & House Rules | Provide residents with move-in packets, signage, and digital reminders covering: what materials are accepted in recycling, where to set bags out for valet collection, how to handle bulky items and yard waste, and what behavior could lead to code enforcement visits. Reinforce expectations at renewal and during peak season. | Myrtle Beach – Updated Solid Waste Rules · SWA – Education Programs |
| ☑ Document Service, Issues & Corrections | Maintain a compliance file with service logs, photos, hauler invoices, SWA correspondence, code-enforcement notices, and internal inspection reports. When a nuisance complaint or violation notice is issued, respond quickly, correct the condition, and document the fix so future inspections see a clear pattern of corrective action. | Horry County – Nuisance Enforcement · Myrtle Beach – Report Code Violations |
Want to get out of the citation and $100-per-violation risk zone? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Myrtle Beach–area or Horry County property. We’ll review your current hauler setup, enclosure layout, and resident experience, then design a valet trash & recycling program and documentation package that aligns with Horry County’s solid waste rules, municipal ordinances, and the expectations of both residents and inspectors.
Interested in talking about how we can work together? Here's our contact info.
