Dive Brief:

• South Carolina's Charleston County is partnering with Sonoco, a recycling company and global packaging provider based in Hartsville, South Carolina, to process most of the region's recycling.

• The first segment of the contract between the two would cover the next year and a half. Sonoco would operate the county's deteriorating recycling center while concurrently establishing a single-stream recycling system for residents. The county will begin work on a new recycling center where Sonoco would move its operations over the next eight years.

• The County Council will meet to vote on a 10-year contract, establishing Sonoco as the operator of the county's recycling; the county's current contract with Republic Services is set to expire on January 31, 2014.

Dive Insight:

The final site where the new facility will be built is expected to be approved by the County Council within the next few weeks. Sonoco is also willing to collaborate with the county and other companies in using alternative technologies for solid waste. Income generated from the sale of recyclables would be split between the county and company.