Household Hazardous Waste
RCRA Subtitle D, the Federal rule that governs solid waste in the United States, does not classify household waste as hazardous. To help prevent household hazardous waste from being put into the landfill, Bay County operates a collection facility for the Household hazardous materials at the Steelfield Road Landfill. The facility is located adjacent to the Scale house.
Household Hazardous Waste Facility at Steelfied Road Landfill
The State of Florida does restrict some materials from disposal in landfills and incinerators. These materials and the proper disposal methods are as follows:
- Used motor oil: There are several places in the area to dispose of this.
- Fluorescent lamps and PCB Ballasts: Able to be disposed at Steelfield Landfill Household Hazardous Waste Facility.
- Rechargeable batteries: Drop-off at any Bay County Radio Shack or at Barry's Batteries on June Avenue.
- Lead Acid Batteries: Coastal Metals company takes these or you can return to vendor. Lawn mower batteries may be taken to Lowe's of Panama City.
- Solvents, pesticides and herbicides: Because these products do not have limited shelve life/expiration dates, the Bay County Solid Waste Management Department recommends these products be used as intended. The empty container should be placed in the regular garbage.
- Paints: Though these products should be used as intended to prevent disposal problems, this may not always be possible. Being liquids, these products must be made solid. This can be accomplished by mixing the liquid with saw dust or other absorbent products such as a non-clay based kitty litter. After the liquid has been absorbed, it may be placed in the regular garbage.
Businesses & Hazardous Waste
The Household Hazardous Waste Facility at Steelfield Road Landfill is not permitted to receive the above types of waste from a Commercial entity. Businesses must contract with private waste management handlers to dispose of this kind of waste.
Prevention Program Assisting Businesses
Businesses generate the largest amount of waste in a community, some of which may be hazardous to your health and the environment. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has adopted the Federal Register for Small Quantity Generators of hazardous waste and has chosen to be more stringent with certain requirements. For businesses with large amounts of hazardous waste, the Pollution Prevention Program (P2) has been established to assist businesses with waste reduction.
Small Quantities Generator Program
The Small Quantities Generator Program is designed to identify what level of compliance is required by a business and how these materials are to be handled. For instance, all business and governmental entities are required to recycle fluorescent lamps, PCB Ballasts, rechargeable and lead acid batteries. But there are many businesses that generate other types of hazardous materials. For information on the Small Quantities Generator Program please call the Bay County Solid Waste Division at 850-236-2211. Office hours are from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at
11411 Landfill Road, West Bay, FL 32413
Pollution Prevention Program
The Pollution Prevention Program, developed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is designed to help businesses handle hazardous waste in an environmentally sound manner and to help these businesses reduce the cost of disposal. The help is free and non-regulatory so there is no red tape to bog down the process of saving money and the environment. Please see the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Hazardous Waste page for more information.