Topics

Financial Assurance

Financial Assurance is responsible for implementing the state's financial assurance and financial responsibility programs for solid and hazardous waste and tanks programs. This working group receives, evaluates and maintains the required financial assurance mechanisms for solid waste management and hazardous waste regulation.

Technical assistance is provided to the regulated community, financial institutions, district, and other permitting and compliance offices and inspectors.

Hazardous Waste Management

Hazardous Waste Management is responsible for the management of the statewide hazardous waste program, including interaction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, district offices and other department programs pertaining to hazardous waste compliance, enforcement and permitting. The section is also responsible for the implementation of the federally delegated Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) program, which issues permits for hazardous waste treatment and storage and for land disposal facilities.

Technical assistance and training are provided to the district offices and the regulated community.

Solid Waste Management

Solid Waste Management is responsible for rule development, solid waste policy, financial assurance compliance, and implementation of Florida’s solid waste management program. Technical assistance is provided to the district offices concerning the permitting, compliance and enforcement activities associated with solid waste facilities. These facilities can include landfills, material recovery facilities, transfer stations, composting/processing facilities and waste-tire management sites.

Permitting, compliance and enforcement issues associated with these sites are managed by the DEP's district offices.

Storage Tank Compliance

Storage Tank Compliance is part of the Permitting and Compliance Assistance Program in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Waste Management. In 1983, Florida was one of the first states to pass legislation and adopt rules for underground and aboveground storage tank systems. Since then, over 28,000 facilities have reported discharges of petroleum products from storage tank systems. All new and replacement storage tank systems require secondary containment.

Waste Reduction

Waste Reduction is responsible for statewide recycling and waste reduction. Grants are also provided to local governments for the implementation of solid waste management, innovative recycling programs and household hazardous waste collection centers.

Waste Registration

The following processes require that permitting and compliance registration be updated annually with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

  • Storage Tank Facility Registration - Provides registration assistance to storage tank owners and operators; general information to the public regarding facility, tank, owner data; and technical and data management support to district and contracted local program staff.
  • Drycleaning Facility Registration - Provides registration assistance to drycleaning owners and operators; general information to the public regarding facility, drum, owner data; and technical and data management support to district and contracted local program staff.
  • Mercury Handler/Transporter Registration - Required for all transporters, transfer facilities and for-hire handlers of both mercury-containing lamps and mercury-containing devices.
  • Source-Separated Organics Processing Facility (SOPF) Registration - Required for yard trash processing facilities, facilities composting vegetative wastes, animal byproducts, or manure with or without yard trash, and manure blending operations.
  • Waste Tire Collector Registration - Required for any individual or company that collects and transports more than 25 waste tires over Florida public highways at any time. A waste tire collector registration decal is required for each vehicle transporting waste tires.
  • Hazardous Waste Transporter Registration - Required for any individual or company that moves HW from one site to another, picks up and delivers HW to another HW transporter or designated TSD facility, and stores the HW for less than 24 hours.
  • Used Oil Handler/Transporter Registration - Required for any individual or facility storing, transporting or processing used oil and oil filters.