The Horry County Solid Waste Authority is waiting to receive its permits to begin food composting next year before spreading the word of the program to area restaurant owners.

Danny Knight, executive director of the authority, said progress is being made and composting food could begin as early as this spring.

“We’re getting there,” Knight said. “After the first of the year, we’ll hear something from the state.”

The solid waste authority is exploring the idea of food composting as a way to free up more space in the landfill and add more value to its compost. Horry County would be the second in the state, behind Charleston County, to compost food at its public facility.

Knight said word has slowly spread about the authority’s project.