Menu
Open Search

*Updated Aug. 24, 2026 

In 2025, SCDES staff received an increase in odor complaints in the Telfair, Royal Pines and surrounding areas near Coastal Waste & Recycling, LLC (Coastal) on Lady’s Island in Beaufort County, SC. Complaints and inspections led to an odor investigation, which included air monitoring on the Coastal property and in the community from November 2025 through August 2026. During the monitoring period, several trends were identified in the data, which included correlation to weather, activities at the landfill, and odor complaints.    

SCDES remains committed to responding to community concerns. SCDES encourages community members to continue to report odors or other environmental concerns using our online form or by calling your Beaufort Regional Office at 843-846-1030, extension 2.

This webpage will be updated as additional information about the odor investigation becomes available. 

Overview of Odor Investigation and Response

Coastal owns and operates a Class II (construction and demolition) landfill on Lady’s Island in Beaufort County. Class II landfills receive materials generated during construction and demolition activities, such as home and commercial building projects. South Carolina Regulation R.61-107.19, Appendix I covers the types of waste allowed in Class II landfills and how they must be operated.

The waste in Class II landfills includes gypsum board, also known as sheetrock or drywall.  Waste in landfills decays, or breaks down, over time. When water contacts decaying gypsum board and certain other materials, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas can be produced. H2S has a very distinct “rotten egg” odor. While there are no ambient air quality standards for H2S which apply here, most people can smell H2S at very low concentrations which are not associated with long term health effects.

SCDES performs routine site inspections for these types of facilities. In 2025, site inspections noted recent rain had caused a slope washout on the landfill. The resulting generation of H2S likely contributed to the increase in offsite odor reports. SCDES began an investigation to determine possible sources of the odors, evaluate trends, and identify potential solutions.

Weather conditions, like rain, wind, wind direction and temperature inversions are an important part of odor investigations. When a temperature inversion occurs and winds are calm, odors (such as H2S) are trapped near the ground and may become more noticeable.  

In response to continued odor complaints from the community, SCDES expanded its odor investigation. The following actions were taken:  

  • SCDES continued monthly inspections of the Coastal facility  
  • On October 17, 2025, SCDES published a webpage and began sending community emails to:
    • Share information with the community, and  
    • Request that neighbors use an online Odor Investigation Report Form that was created for the surrounding neighborhoods.  The reports informed the agency’s on-going odor investigation and response.
  • SCDES requested that Coastal perform a facility review and submit an Odor Assessment Plan. The plan was approved November 3, 2025.
  • On November 12, 2025, SCDES deployed two Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) sensors in the area: one on the Coastal property and another in the Telfair neighborhood.  
    • Locations were selected using information from the Odor Investigation Report Form and in collaboration with the community.  
    • SCDES began to post weekly updates that included results from this monitoring as well as weather conditions for the area.
  • SCDES required Coastal to submit an Odor Abatement Plan. On December 5, 2025, the plan was approved.
  • SCDES hosted a Community Meeting on January 26, 2026, at Coosa Elementary School to share updates. SCDES staff and representatives from Coastal were present to answer questions.
  • SCDES held regularly scheduled meetings with Coastal about on-going operations, maintenance and repairs which had the potential to impact or address offsite odors during the air monitoring period.

To assist with the investigation, SCDES conducted H2S monitoring from November 12, 2025, to August 5, 2026.  Two sensors were used to monitor H2S concentrations over time.  One sensor was placed in the Telfair community where most of the complaints originated, and one was placed on the Coastal property.  Sensors measured the concentration of H2S at both locations.  

Because there are no ambient air quality standards for H2S which apply here, this data was used to evaluate trends and support the ongoing odor investigation. During the monitoring period, several trends were identified in the data.  These included correlation to weather, activities at the landfill, and odor complaints.    

Key findings from SCDES Air Monitoring include:

  • There was a correlation between the number of odor reports and H2S concentrations that were registered by the sensors.  
  • There was a correlation between sensor readings and weather conditions.
  • Higher sensor readings and increased odor complaints were observed during temperature inversions.
    • Temperature inversions occur when warm air is trapped below cooler air.  Fog can be an indication of a temperature inversion.  They occur most often in late fall and winter months.
  • Beginning in February 2026, the number of complaints decreased, and was significantly reduced from April through July 2026.  This corresponded with a decreasing trend in H2S sensor readings and a decrease in temperature inversions observed during the same period.

While summer weather patterns are not expected to produce as many temperature inversions as other times of the year, SCDES continues to work with Coastal leadership on odor reduction measures and will continue to respond to concerns reported by the community.    

The sensor data, weather data, and community odor reports were shared on the SCDES website with weekly reports throughout the monitoring period. The reports can be accessed below.   


Inspection and Weekly Air Monitoring Reports

SCDES staff perform regular inspections of permitted facilities to evaluate compliance with permit conditions and regulatory requirements. Inspection reports and air monitoring reports for Coastal for the investigation period are linked below.  
 

SCDES deployed two Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) monitors in the area from Nov. 2025 to Aug. 2026. The information provided in the reports below is qualitative in support of the ongoing investigation into odor complaints received by SCDES. Because there are no ambient air quality standards for H2S which apply here, this data was used to evaluate trends and support the ongoing odor investigation.

SCDES remains committed to responding to community concerns.  

SCDES encourages community members to continue to report odors or other environmental concerns using our online form or by calling your Beaufort Regional Office at 843-846-1030, extension 2.