Florida compliance
Florida hazardous waste regulations
How FDEP runs the hazardous waste program, and where Florida goes beyond the federal baseline.
Florida is authorized by EPA to administer the RCRA hazardous waste program, so FDEP enforces state rules at Florida Administrative Code Chapter 62-730 in place of the federal regulations. The state program is at least as stringent as federal RCRA and in several areas goes further.
Source: Florida Administrative Code Chapter 62-730Where Florida goes beyond federal RCRA
An authorized state may be more stringent than the federal baseline, and Florida is:
- Florida has no commercial hazardous waste landfill, so nearly all hazardous waste leaves the state for treatment
- The state runs a verification program in which county programs conduct many generator inspections under contract to FDEP
- Used oil is regulated under a dedicated state program with registration requirements for handlers
Federal RCRA is the floor, not the ceiling. Compliance with 40 CFR alone does not establish compliance in an authorized state.
The industry mix that drives Florida waste streams
Phosphate mining and processing, aerospace and defense, marine and boatbuilding, citrus and food processing, tourism infrastructure. That mix determines which waste codes turn up most often and which treatment capacity matters.
Knowing the local stream profile is practical rather than academic. It is why a quote for a Florida site is built from the process rather than from a rate card, and why the treatment path is named before anything is scheduled.
Waste streams we see most in Florida
- Phosphogypsum and process chemicals
- Aerospace solvents and chromate conversion waste
- Marine coatings and fiberglass resin waste
- Fuel and hydraulic fluid from fleet operations
- Laboratory chemicals from research institutions
Common questions
Does federal RCRA or Florida law apply to my site?
Both, but in practice you comply with the Florida rules. Because EPA has authorized the state program, FDEP enforces Florida Administrative Code Chapter 62-730. Those rules incorporate the federal requirements and add state specific provisions.
Who inspects hazardous waste generators in Florida?
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, through the Division of Waste Management, Hazardous Waste Regulation Section. EPA retains oversight and can inspect directly, but routine generator inspections are a state function.
Are there state only waste codes in Florida?
Authorized states can regulate wastes the federal program does not. Check the state rule for any state only classifications before assuming a stream is unregulated, particularly for used oil, universal waste and industrial non hazardous waste.
Related services
Generating hazardous waste in Florida?
Send a profile, an old manifest, or photographs of the drums. A technical professional will tell you what applies and what it costs.
This page summarizes state and federal requirements and is not legal advice. State rules change. Verify against the current version of the state code and with the state agency before acting. Last reviewed September 2026.