On Feb. 12, 1985, Florida received authorization from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to administer its own hazardous waste management and regulatory program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976. Florida received final authorization on Nov. 17, 2000, to implement the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 (HSWA).

The most important feature of authorization is the state's agreement to issue permits that conform to the regulatory requirements of the law, to inspect and monitor activities subject to regulation, to take appropriate enforcement action against violators, and to do so in a manner no less stringent than the federal program.

Hazardous Waste Management is responsible for implementing the hazardous waste regulatory portion of RCRA. It reviews and issues permits and coordinates compliance monitoring and enforcement activities at hazardous waste generators, transporters, and treatment, storage and disposal (TSD) facilities with the regulatory DEP district offices.

The Florida Department of Health has primary authority and responsibility for facilities that generate, transport, store, or treat biomedical waste through processes other than incineration and can be contacted via email or telephone [850-245-4277]. 

Hazardous Waste Management Is Composed of Three Elements

  1. Permitting and Corrective Action
    In the state of Florida, anyone in the process of treating, storing, or disposing of hazardous waste must have a permit.

  2. Program Development
    New rules adopted by DEP and current hazardous waste rules and forms.

  3. Compliance and Enforcement
    Covers all generators and transporters of hazardous waste in Florida, including:

News and Events

  • EPA signs the Third Rule of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
    On June 28, 2024, EPA signed the Third Rule amendment of RCRA, updating certain aspects of the hazardous waste manifest regulations under RCRA, specifically about the e-Manifest system. All hazardous waste shipments must be recorded on a manifest that accompanies the shipment, previously either a paper copy or via an electronic manifest or e-Manifest. A significant change within the Third Rule is that ALL Small Quantity Generators (SQGs) and Large Quantity Generators (LQGs) are now required to register for access to e-Manifest to obtain their final signed manifest copies from the system. Transporters and Treatment, Storage, or Disposal (TSDs) facilities will no longer be required to provide paper, hard-copy final manifests to generators. 

  • SQG Re-Notification (DUE DATE - September 1, 2025)
    In accordance with the 2018 adoption of the EPA Hazardous Waste Generator Improvement Rule, ALL existing Small Quantity Generators (SQGs) were required to re-notify the Department using Notification Form 8700-12-FL by September 1, 2021. This notification requirement repeats every four years and the current deadline is September 1, 2025. More information can be found on the EPA's website and in our SQG Re-Notification Fact Sheet.

  • Overview of the 2015 Definition of Solid Waste Final Rule
    On Jan. 13, 2015, EPA published the 2015 Definition of Solid Waste (DSW) final rule. This rule modifies EPA's 2008 DSW rule by revising several recycling-related provisions used to determine hazardous waste regulation under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

  • Generator Improvement Rule
    On June 18, 2018, Florida adopted this EPA rule to reorganize the hazardous waste generator regulations to make the regulations more user-friendly, which EPA expects will improve generator compliance. The primary intent of this rule is to foster improved compliance by hazardous waste generators in the identification and management of the hazardous waste they generate and, as a result, improve the protection of human health and the environment. Another major objective of this rule is to support the efficient implementation of the hazardous waste generator regulation by the states.

    • Episodic Events
      Defined as an activity or activities, either planned or unplanned, that does not normally occur during generator operations, resulting in an increase in the generation of hazardous wastes that exceeds the calendar month quantity limits for the generator's usual category.

    • Summary of Hazardous Waste Regulations Table
      This table is a guide to the new rule numbers for requirements previously found in 40 CFR 261.5 and 262.34. Please contact your local DEP Hazardous Waste Program for further information or with any specific questions or concerns.

  • Hurricane Guidance Fact Sheet
    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) states that the Atlantic Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30. The contact information and guidance provided by the Hurricane Guidance Fact Sheet are to assist with the management of hazardous waste generated from a hurricane event. DEP’s Tallahassee program office and district offices will be available to coordinate assistance to local governments and regulated facilities in the affected counties.

  • Interim Incinerator Disruption Guidance
    This guidance provides interim guidelines for generators to request 30-day extensions of hazardous waste accumulation areas. View EPA's Memo that addresses existing options for Incinerator Backlog.

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Last Modified: Thursday, Oct 17, 2024 - 10:43am