MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Myrtle Beach’s Parks Division has collected more than 91 tons of recyclable materials from along the beach since Oct. 2015.

Thanks to a $40,000 “Twin the Bin” grant from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the city purchased 450 recycling containers and distributed them along 10 miles of public beach.

The award from the Solid Waste Grant Program allowed the city to create the state’s largest full-scale recycling effort for the beach-going public. With the grant, the city also is purchasing new signs for beach access points, reminding beach-goers to use the recycling containers that now exist.

In 2013, beach recycling began with a pilot program. Forty five recycling cans were placed in a 10-block stretch near the busy hotel district from April 8 to Oct. 31. During the first pilot program, more than 13 tons of recyclables were collected.

Myrtle Beach’s effort is part of South Carolina’s 40-by-2020 Partnership. This group of dedicated public and private stakeholders is committed to helping South Carolina meet or exceed its goal of 40-percent recycling by 2020.