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The Palm Beach County Health
Department's (PBCHD) solid waste program
enforces established standards which
provide for the safe handling, storage,
transportation and disposal of solid
waste. "Solid Waste" refers to sludge,
garbage, rubbish, refuse, special waste,
or other discarded material resulting
from domestic, industrial, commercial,
mining, agricultural, or governmental
operations. These rules and regulations
minimize the contamination threat to
ground water, surface water, air, and
soil, and protect the public from
potential disease transmission. The
PBCHD inspects solid waste management
facilities including compost debris,
waste tire collection centers and
processing facilities and material
recovery facilities.
The solid waste program also
investigates complaints related to solid
waste facilities, commercial facilities,
and private residences. Typical
complaints include equestrian waste,
questionable pond filling, recovered
screen material (RSM), mulch, tire
storage/ disposal, and water treatment
plant sludge. The Department does accept
anonymous complaints and when applicable
performs joint investigations with other
State, County, and Local agencies.
Enforcement activities are initiated as a result of
noncompliance with specific rules and
regulations. The type of violation
determines the enforcement action taken.
Penalties vary depending on the nature
and severity of the violation's.
Authority: Interagency Agreement between Florida Department
of Environmental Protection and the Palm
Beach County Health Department.
Chap 120, 386, 403, F.S.
Chap 62-3, 62-4,
62-301, 62-520, 62-522, 62-701, 62-709,
62-710 and 62-711 F.A.C.
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Hazardous Waste Program
PBCHD's hazardous waste program provides services to protect the citizens and
visitors of Palm Beach County from adverse health effects attributable to improper generation and disposal of hazardous waste. Waste is classified as hazardous waste if
it is specifically listed by EPA, or if the waste exhibits one or more of the characteristics of ignitability,
corrosiveness, reactivity, or toxicity. This program provides oversight of
the generation and management of hazardous waste in Palm Beach County. Commercial facilities such as automotive body and repair shops, dry cleaners,
laboratories, and hospitals generating hazardous waste are inspected for compliance and permitted through PBC Ordinance 97-58. This Ordinance enables the program to
identify, quantify, and assure the proper management of hazardous waste. Enforcement actions are initiated as a result of noncompliance with specific rules and
regulations. The type of violation determines the enforcement action taken. Penalties vary depending on the nature and severity of the
violation's.
Authority: Palm Beach County Ordinance No. 97-58 and delegated authority from the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the Small Quantity Generator Program (SQG) via Interagency Agreement. Reference: Chapter 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and Chap 62-730 F.A.C.
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Biomedical Waste Program
PBCHD's biomedical waste program prescribes minimum sanitary practices relating to
the management of biomedical waste, including segregation, handling, storage, transport, and treatment. Biomedical waste is any solid or liquid waste which may
present a threat of infection to humans. It includes non-liquid tissue, body parts, blood, blood products, and body fluids from humans and other primates, laboratory and
veterinary wastes which contain human disease-causing agents, and discarded sharps. PBCHD personnel inspect and permit on an annual basis facilities that generate, store,
treat, or transport biomedical waste to ensure the public's health is protected. Facilities exempt from permit (generating less than 25 lbs. of biomedical waste per month) are
inspected at least once every three years.
Enforcement actions are initiated as a result of noncompliance with specific rules and
regulations. the type of violation determines the enforcement action taken. Penalties vary depending on the nature and severity of the
violation's.
Authority:
Chap 381.0098 F.S.
Chap 64E-16 F.A.C.
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