CLEANER COMMUNITIES = STRONGER ECONOMY

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Linking Litter Prevention to Business Growth

South Carolina litter prevention is consequently more than an environmental goal — it is furthermore an economic strategy. Consequently, that was the message shared by Sarah Lyles, executive director of PalmettoPride, during a recent appearance on the business program Let’s Talk Business South Carolina. Furthermore, speaking with host Rick Jenkins, Lyles explained how the statewide organization works with businesses, volunteers, and government agencies. Therefore, its mission extends well beyond cleanup — it is additionally about building stronger, more competitive communities across the state.

Statewide Effort Built on Local Engagement

PalmettoPride traces its roots to the Governor’s Task Force on Litter. Furthermore, that task force was launched in 1997 to address growing concerns about roadside litter across South Carolina. Consequently, the organization later became a nonprofit. Therefore, it now coordinates litter prevention initiatives across every county in the state.

“Our mission is to create and implement statewide and local programs for litter control,” Lyles said. “We focus on four areas — education, enforcement, awareness and pickup.”

Furthermore, the organization works closely with affiliates of Keep America Beautiful. Consequently, it also coordinates efforts with Keep South Carolina Beautiful. Therefore, a statewide network now reaches every corner of the state. Additionally, local volunteers are the backbone of the entire program. Consequently, in 2025 alone, approximately 32,000 volunteers helped remove roughly 1.2 million pounds of litter. Furthermore, those efforts covered beaches, parks, and roadways across South Carolina.

South Carolina Litter Prevention Helps Attract Businesses

Lyles said South Carolina litter prevention also plays a direct role in economic development. Furthermore, companies considering relocating to South Carolina evaluate many factors. Consequently, the overall appearance and cleanliness of communities consistently ranks among them.

“There have been instances where businesses chose not to locate in a city because of litter issues,” Lyles said. “We’ve also seen companies decide to move to communities specifically because they are clean and well-maintained.”

Consequently, South Carolina’s natural assets — its beaches, mountains, and tourism destinations — contribute significantly to the state’s brand. Furthermore, excessive litter can undermine that image entirely. Therefore, prevention efforts are important for both quality of life and long-term economic competitiveness. Additionally, attorneys and business owners who serve clients in real estate, land use, and environmental law are furthermore seeing these community quality issues arise more frequently in their practices.

Population Growth Raises the Stakes

South Carolina’s population has grown by approximately 24 percent over the past two decades. Furthermore, the amount of litter collected has not increased at the same pace. Consequently, that trend suggests education and prevention efforts are helping reduce littering behavior across the state. Therefore, the statewide approach is working — but the challenge is consequently growing.

With projections showing the state could add another one million residents in the next 15 years, maintaining that progress will require continued collaboration. Furthermore, businesses, government agencies, and residents must all consequently play an active role. Therefore, the pressure on South Carolina litter prevention programs will only increase as the population grows.

“We can’t keep playing defense by only picking up litter,” Lyles said. “We have to focus on prevention.”

Businesses Encouraged to Lead by Example

PalmettoPride works with companies across the state on sponsorships, volunteer projects, and employee engagement initiatives. Furthermore, Lyles said businesses can make a major impact simply by setting clear expectations within their own operations. Consequently, the influence of a clean business campus extends well beyond the property line.

“Make sure your campus is litter-free, provide trash receptacles and show employees that cleanliness matters,” she said. “When businesses set that social norm, it influences behavior beyond the workplace.”

Additionally, companies can partner with local beautification organizations. Consequently, they can also participate in community cleanup efforts coordinated through the state’s Adopt-A-Highway program. Therefore, the path to meaningful community impact is furthermore more accessible than most business leaders realize.

How Residents Can Help

For individuals, the solution is consequently straightforward. Furthermore, picking up litter when they see it and avoiding contributing to the problem are the two most impactful actions any resident can take. Lyles additionally encourages residents to secure loads in pickup trucks, properly dispose of waste, and support local cleanup efforts.

“We all need to work together to create an environment that keeps people from littering,” she said. “It’s about changing social norms so that litter simply isn’t acceptable.”

Consequently, more information about volunteer opportunities and programs is available at www.PalmettoPride.org. Furthermore, every resident and business that gets involved consequently strengthens the statewide effort — and additionally strengthens South Carolina’s economic position in the process.