Beneficial Uses Of Wastes

The Department has received numerous requests to use various solid waste materials as products or raw materials in the manufacturing of other products rather than dispose of them in landfills. Examples of some solid wastes that have been proposed for use are: (1) recovered screen material (RSM) from processing construction and demolition debris; (2) Waste-to-Energy (WTE) ash from combusting municipal solid waste (MSW); (3) coal ash from power plants; (4) wood ash; (5) street sweepings; (6) sand blasting media; and (7) metal shredder residue (MSR). These requests are generally handled on a case-by-case basis.

The applicant needs to demonstrate that the proposed use of these wastes will not cause ground water or surface water contamination in concentrations above the Department’s standards or criteria. Usually the applicant also needs to show that the proposed use will not pose an unacceptable human health risk. On occasion, the Industrial Byproducts Exemption of Section 403.7045(1)(f), Florida Statutes may apply. Guidance documents for obtaining approvals to use WTE ash and RSM and reports on other wastes are available below.

• Guidance for Land Application of Drinking Water Treatment Plant Sludge, Final, June 12, 2006
• Characterization of Drinking Water Sludges for Beneficial Reuse and Disposal
  NOTE:This report reflects pre-2005 clean up target levels. The reader should review the tables associated with Chapter 62-777, Florida Administrative Code, for the current target levels.
• Guidance for the Management of Street Sweepings, Catch Basin Sediments and Stormwater System Sediments, Final, May 18, 2004
• Characterization of Street Sweepings, Stormwater Sediments, and Catch Basin Sediments in Florida for Disposal and Reuse, Final Report, December 31, 2002
• Evaluation of Analytical Data Characterizing Street Sweepings, Stormwater Sediments and Catch Basin Sediments, FINAL (Revision 1), March 15, 2004.
• Guidelines for the Management of Recovered Screen Material From C&D Debris Recycling Facilities in Florida, Final, September 28, 1998.
• Guidance for Preparing Municipal Waste-To-Energy Ash Beneficial Use Demonstrations, Final, Revision No. 1, February 27, 2001.

Use of Old Landfills

The Department has received requests on how to properly manage wastes from old landfills when they are discovered. In addition, there are often questions about what one should consider when constructing near or over old landfills. In some cases, Rules 62-701.610(7) and 62-701.610(8), Florida Administrative Code will apply. The Department has also developed a guidance document for these situations. This document is available below.

The Department issued a letter on November 13, 2003 to all 67 counties requesting their assistance in compiling comprehensive data on the locations of old landfills for each county, and making it available to the Department. DEP intends to consolidate all available information into a statewide registry of landfills that will be made publicly accessible on the internet.

• Solid Waste Facility Locator
• Letter from Division Director Mike Sole
• Guidance for Disturbance and Use of Old Closed Landfills or Waste Disposal Areas in Florida, Final, May 3, 2001.
• Use of Old Landfills in Florida, December 2002