Become Inspired
Ask the management at Ocean Lakes Family Campground what some of their biggest environmental struggles are and they will tell you: garbage, beach litter, cigarette butts, pet pollution, stormwater runoff, and recycling. Many of Ocean Lakes’ guests have the same concern. Our team (and guests) have found a way to take action!
History of the iCare Program
In August 2008, a longtime guest wrote a letter to Lance Thompson, who was the Vice President and General Manager, about the litter she saw on the beach and the impact she knew it had on the sea life. A short time later Horry County Storm Water Management contacted area businesses about efforts to correct storm water issues and explained that pet waste was a problem and needed to be addressed in that several-mile region of Horry County.
The iCare Program was introduced in the Ocean Lakes’ newsletters, its magazine, and public relations efforts such as press releases. Coordinators from Horry County Storm Water Management and the Solid Waste Authority were excited about the iCare efforts applauding the speed at which Ocean Lakes implemented such a program.
Ocean Lakes’ teammates became inspired. They launched the iCare Program (see release) featuring the motto “Awareness & Action Count.” The best way to address these problems is to educate and provide sensible ways to take action.
During 2009 the program grew quickly adding four recycling stations to the campground, something that had been abused a decade ago. The main iCare Recycling Station is located on the main drive across from the Camptown Center. Additional stations are located near the Recreation Center, the 3000 and 4000 campsite sections, the south side on Lovestone Drive at Sand Dollar Lake, on Spring Lane at the South Gate entrance, and in Sandy Harbor Water Park near the restrooms (see map for recycle symbol). In 2010, guests and teammates recycled more than 59,000 pounds of solid waste, by February 2019 guests have recycled more than 1.6 million pounds, today we have recycled more than 2.6 million pounds!
iCare Program Today – Awareness & Action Count!
Ocean Lakes continues to encourage its guests and teammates to be good stewards of the environment and to do what can be done – even the little things like recycling fishing line, cleaning up after our pets, refraining from feeding waterfowl – all these things add up!
Recycling one aluminum can will save enough energy to power a TV for three hours. Recycling 14 plastic bottles will yield enough fiberfill for a ski jacket. Americans throw away enough aluminum to rebuild our entire commercial fleet of airplanes every three months.
Awareness and Action still count. Guests can learn about iCare and even take part in activities at our Leonard Raker Nature Center Discovery Lab. We are all in this together!
Ways Our Guests can Take Action…
Recycle Solid Waste
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle then Relax! Ocean Lakes dedicated a 20-yard garbage truck to the collection of solid waste in its facilities. Our team drives to the MRF Station (Materials Recycling Facility) to empty the truck. We continue to track how many tons we recycle and update our Mega Green Meter. By spring 2022, the Green Meter reflected more than 2.3 million pounds of solid waste our Teammates and guests have recycled.
Learn More about a MRF
Recycle the Correct Way: No Bags, Please.
Take ACTION: Find one of our 7 iCare Stations for your solid waste recyclables (see Do's and Don'ts). Please remove recyclables from any BAG because it will cause mechanical issues at the MRF Station (Materials Recycling Facility). See the Horry County recycling guide: https://www.solidwasteauthority.org/docs/2023recyclingguidebook.pdf
Learn More about a MRF
What's Pet Pollution?
Did you know that pet waste or “Pet Pollution” is the biggest contributor to our stormwater and swash area bacteria levels? During heavy rain, this pet pollution is washed into stormwater drains and causes the bacteria levels to test high near our beach swashes where habitat live and children play. Take ACTION: You can make a difference! Take care to clean up after your pet. As you walk your dog, Doggie Doo Bag Dispensers are conveniently located in 29 locations throughout the campground.
Pet Pollution's Impact & Prevention
Recycle Fishing Line
Ocean Lakes features several lakes for guests to enjoy. Fish (catch and release) from the banks. The monofilament line lasts for 500 years. It's harmful to wildlife and a nuisance to boaters. The line tangles around waterfowl and marine life, boat propellers and other equipment. Take ACTION: Don't cast your line in the water if you can avoid it. Try to recycle it. We encourage everyone to GATHER their USED line and cast it into the large recycling tubes adjacent to our lakes. So, wherever you fish, remember to ALWAYS gather your line!
Fishing Responsibly
Recycle Cigarette Butts
Taking Responsibility for our Habits Cigarette filters are the most common littered item in the U.S. The biggest myth is that cigarette filters are biodegradable. Composed of up to 12,000 plastic-like cellulose acetate fibers, a form of plastic, cigarette butts can persist in the environment for years. They contain toxic nicotine and tar. There is enough nicotine trapped in 200 used cigarette filters to be deadly to a human. Littered butts are carried by wind and stormwater runoff into nearby bodies of water. Take ACTION: Ocean Lakes' guests can gather and discard cigarette butts in one of our recycling cans. More than 35 pounds of cigarette filters are shipped by Ocean Lakes to TerraCycle for recycling each year. Don’t throw butts out the car window.
Recycle Used Cooking Oil
Deep Frying? Don't discard any type of oil in any body of water (stream, river, lake, etc.). Do not pour it down a stormwater pipe or a drain. The oil can and will harm the animals that inhabit that area. Take ACTION: If you are in Ocean Lakes and need to dispose of cooking oil, take your oil to the Meet N' Eat located at Camptown Center, request to speak with a Supervisor, and they will properly dispose of the oil for you. There are different types of cooking oil and our Teammates will know which recycling drum in which to dispose of it.
What can you recycle in Horry County?
EV Charging Stations
Ocean Lakes Family Campground, a subsidiary of The Jackson Companies, had the first electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on the Carolinas coast. Ocean Lakes built its new stations as part of its award-winning iCare Program which is aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the campground and its guests. Ocean Lakes has two Level 2 (240 volt) EV Charging Stations located across from Ocean Lakes Properties on Spring Lane. It is equipped with one J1772 adaptor. It's open to Ocean Lakes guests. For the general public to use the EV charging stations, EV drivers need to visit the Ocean Lakes Main Office and obtain a $15 visitor pass to the EV station. There is no additional cost to charge.
EV Charging Station Release
Unopened Food? Donate.
Do you have extra (unopened) food when you leave Ocean Lakes? Take it to the Recreation Office so we can donate it to our local food pantry! Don't let it go to waste…help the South Strand Helping Hand feed our community.
South Strand Helping Hand's Facebook page
Pizza Box Recycling
New in 2024! Sandy's Meet n' Eat makes awesome pizza and guests love it! However, discarded pizza boxes can quickly fill a trash can. Look for our Pizza Box Recycling stations if you are dining at the Meet n' Eat. One is located on the side of the building (to the left of the pick-up window). The other is located to the right of the pizza pick-up window.
Why I’ll never fly again… Angel Wing
We know feeding the ducks was popular when many of us were younger, but now we know this is harmful to waterfowl. Processed foods like bread and crackers lack nutrition for development and cause malnutrition. This leads to Angel Wing Disease (permanent bone deformities in the wings of species of waterfowl, like swans, geese, and ducks). You can see this deformity in the photo where the swan’s wings appear to be pointing outward and not folded in (because these are her bones – not feathers). She will never recover and will not be able to fly ever again. We do not want to see this happen to her offspring or any other waterfowl!
Take ACTION: Show uCare, Do NOT feed waterfowl. (Plus, it is illegal!)
Feeding Waterfowl is Against the Law in Horry County
In 2019, Horry County passed an ordinance (Ord. No. 69-07, 5-15-07) regarding feeding migratory and domestic waterfowl (geese, swans, ducks, cormorants, etc.) making it illegal to feed any of these animals unless you are on a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) property.
Ordinance Purpose: To prevent such conduct that may attract and concentrate migratory and domestic waterfowl to or near residential properties in Horry County. It has been determined that the presence of large numbers of waterfowl causes a public nuisance by contaminating lakes and ponds and causing erosion.
Regular Feeding Can Cause: Poor Nutrition | Spread of Disease | Delayed Migration | Pollution | Overcrowding | Unnatural Behavior
Ordinance Prohibits Feeding: No person shall feed, cause to be fed or provide food for domestic or migratory waterfowl in residential areas of Horry County. No person shall create or foster any condition, or allow any condition to exist or continue, which results in a congregation or congestion of domestic or migratory waterfowl in residential areas of Horry County.
PLEASE NOTE | Ocean Lakes’ Policy: Animal cruelty, harassment, molestation, torture, or injury will not be tolerated. This extends to all wildlife, including waterfowl, nests, and eggs. Do not catch, take, or sell wildlife. Our fish are “catch and release,” do not kill. SC DNR will be contacted at our discretion based on the circumstances. See other campground policies here.