CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for solid waste collection companies in Charleston, SC
Solid waste collection companies in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area: 29 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 22-person team.
- Establishments
- 29CBP 2023
- Employees
- 640mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.3U.S. 3.2
- Rank
- 67th of 564areas by count
The waste collection company market in Charleston, SC
County Business Patterns counts 29 solid waste collection companies (NAICS 562111, Solid Waste Collection) in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area for 2023. Together they reported 640 mid-March employees and $42.7 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 67th of the 564 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 870,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 3.3 solid waste collection companies per 100,000 people, 3.2% above the national rate of 3.2. Establishments average 22.1 employees, in line with the U.S. average of 21.7. Payroll per employee comes to $66,644, 5.3% below the national $70,390.
| Measure | Charleston, SC | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 29 | 191 | 10,982 |
| Mid-March employees | 640 | 3,554 (moderate noise) | 238,764 |
| Annual payroll | $42,652,000 | $234,238,000 | $16,806,608,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 22.1 | 18.6 | 21.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $66,644 | $65,908 | $70,390 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.2 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
How big solid waste collection companies in Charleston, SC are
Of the solid waste collection companies in Charleston, SC that had employees in March 2023, 50.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 43.6%). 65.4% had fewer than ten. Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 13 | 50.0% | 43.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 4 | 15.4% | 17.8% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 19.2% | 14.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 4 | 15.4% | 13.6% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 10.6% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for solid waste collection companies in Charleston, SC
Waste haulers take calls about missed pickups, dumpster rentals and billing. Customers want quick answers when a pickup is missed.
A few of the calls that come in to solid waste collection companies in Charleston, SC:
- A customer calls about a missed pickup.
- A customer calls about a billing question.
- The company calls customers about a holiday schedule.
When nobody can pick up
After-hours calls are usually service requests for the next day.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for solid waste collection companies in Charleston, SC
The average waste collection company in Charleston, SC has 22.1 employees, so a 22-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 22 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $660.00 a month and 22 on Ooma Office Pro cost $548.90. On Callata the same 22 people cost $439.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,652. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $439.00 | $5,268.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $418.00 | $5,016.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $506.00 | $6,072.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $548.90 | $6,586.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $594.00 | $7,128.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $660.00 | $7,920.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Local area codes for solid waste collection companies in Charleston, SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 843 has the most, with 267 of 330 exchanges (81%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 843 | 267 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 854 | 63 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for solid waste collection companies
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Charleston, SC, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many solid waste collection companies are there in Charleston, SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 29 solid waste collection companies in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area in 2023. They employed 640 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 22-person waste collection company?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 22 users cost $660.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $548.90 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $439.00.
What area code should a waste collection company in Charleston, SC use?
Area code 843 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 854. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a waste collection company?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.