Hazardous Waste Programs

Many products containing hazardous components are found around the home. Household products include paints, stains, varnishes, cleaners, solvents, batteries, motor oil and pesticides. These products contain chemicals that are poisonous, corrosive or flammable. All can have an adverse effect on the environment if not disposed of properly.

Disposal Locations

Bass Road Disposal Facility

St. Cloud Transfer Station

These facilities are operated and maintained by the County to provide for the proper processing and disposal of these chemicals.

Disposal Guidelines

The following guidelines are applicable to our drop-off locations as well as our Amnesty Days.

Acceptable Items

•  Automotive: Antifreeze, solvents, batteries, oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid.
•  Paint: Spray paint, paint cans, paint thinners, wood preservatives.
•  Gardening: Pesticides, insect sprays or dust, weed killer, poison or insecticides.
•  Cleaning: Drain cleaner, degreasers, oven cleaners, moth balls, spot removers, polishes/wax, and pool chemicals.
•  Electronics: Old computers, monitors, televisions with tubes/flatscreens, cell phones, VCRs, detectors (i.e. Smoke, Carbon Monoxide, Radon ).

WE DO NOT ACCEPT BUSINESS OR COMMERCIAL WASTE. 55 gallon drums WILL NOT be accepted.

Disposal Tip: Never mix different or unknown materials together!

• Hazardous waste materials must be in five gallon containers or smaller.
• If possible, bring materials in original containers with labels intact.
• Please identify materials. If you are not sure what it is, please label "unknown".
• If containers are leaking, pack them into a larger container and use an absorbent material ie: cat litter to soak up the leaks.
• When transporting to facility, please remember to place containers/materials in trunk or away from driver and passengers.

Sharps or needles, when disposed of improperly, can create a serious health risk. Sharps can be contaminated with Hepatitis, HIV, AIDS, or other potentially fatal diseases. Disposing of needles in your household garbage is also a violation of State and Federal law.

If you are diabetic, or use any type of injectable medication, Osceola County has coordinated a safe disposal program for your used needles:

1. Simply ask, at any pharmacy in Osceola County, for a free sharps disposal container.
2. When the container is full, simply deliver it, free of charge, to staff at the closest Fire Department in Osceola County or Cities of Kissimmee and St. Cloud. Please do not leave sharps containers at stations if staff are not present. You may contact the Pollution Prevention Division at (407) 742-7750 for the closest disposal site near you. It is that simple!
3. Then pick up another sharps container on your next visit to your nearest pharmacy. There is no purchase necessary.

Disposal Tip: Sharps are NOT to be mixed with household garbage!

Hazardous waste is regulated by the federal government and can be found in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulation CFR, Parts 260 to 271. The State of Florida has adopted by reference portions of the federal regulations into its Florida Administrative Code FAC Rule 62-730.

The Florida Legislature recognized the need for local hazardous waste oversight, so in 1983 they established the Small Quantity Generator Program as described in Sections 403.7225 and 403.7234 of the Florida Statutes FS.

Hazardous waste is identified by one of two ways. Your waste is considered hazardous if it can be found on lists published in the Code of Federal Regulations 40 CFR Part 261. If your wastes cannot be identified on one of the hazardous waste lists, it still could be a hazardous waste because it exhibits one or more characteristics of ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity or toxicity.

In general, hazardous waste generators are broken into three categories based upon the quantity of hazardous waste generated per month:

• Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator CESQG generates less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste per month and less than 2.2 pounds of acute hazardous waste i.e.; some pesticides, toxins or arsenic and cyanide compounds per month.
• Small Quantity Generators SQG generates 220-2,200 pounds of hazardous waste per month, and no more than 2.2 pounds of acutely hazardous waste in any one month.
• Large Quantity Generator LQG generates 2,200 pounds or more of hazardous waste per month or 2.2 pounds or more of acute hazardous waste per month.

The SQG Assessment, Notification, and Verification Program will result in:

1. Up-to-date identification of SQGs statewide.
2. Local hazardous waste management programs that complement state and federal efforts, through compliance and education efforts.
3. A statewide database on SQGs classified by the North American Industry Classification System NAICS.
4. Improved management of hazardous waste, the protection of public health and the county drinking water sources.
5. A better informed business and government community which can properly manage their hazardous waste. This will reduce their potential for civil and even criminal liability for hazardous waste violations.
6. Dissemination of waste reduction technologies and information to help SQGs further reduce their generation of hazardous waste. Knowledge of hazardous materials and wastes stored at a business location, which can be useful for county departments responsible for comprehensive planning, emergency management, fire and police protection, and health care.

For more details and specific requirements review the Florida Handbook for Small Quantity Generators of Hazardous Waste.

Please contact Rigo Rios, SQG Program Coordinator, by phone at 407-742-7753, or via e-mail Rigoberto.Rios@osceola.org for specific information and requirements.