South Carolina
Yard rebates in Columbia
3 programs can pay Columbia residents for yard projects: 3 run by the city, the county or the utilities and districts that serve it. The largest, Lexington County Backyard Compost Bin Sale and Classes, pays up to $65 per household.
Utility programs only apply to that utility’s customers, so check who supplies your water and power.
Columbia's own programs
Run by the city or by a utility or district that serves it.
- Open
Columbia Green Beat the Heat Free Shade Trees
Columbia Green with the City of Columbia
Free, up to 3 shade trees per property (includes a TreeDiaper per tree)
- Seasonal
Columbia Water Barrel and Bin Sale (Rain Barrels and Compost Bins)
Columbia Water and Richland County Stormwater
Discounted price. 2026 price not published on the official event page. The earlier official release (2024 sale) listed barrel $75 (retail $149) and compost bin $65.
Lexington County programs
Open to residents anywhere in the county.
- Open
Lexington County Backyard Compost Bin Sale and Classes
Lexington County Solid Waste Management
Compost bin $65; classes free to county residents (rain barrel take-home fee not published)
Up to $65 per household
Sow is not affiliated with any of these agencies or utilities. Amounts and rules change, often at the start of a fiscal year, so confirm the details on the official page before you start a project. How we research these programs
Plan your Columbia yard project in Sow
Lay out the new planting on a photo of your yard with plants native to the area, and keep the plant list ready for the application.