Any business that generates hazardous materials must have a thorough, legally compliant plan to dispose of that waste, and this is particularly important for Florida-based businesses because the restrictions and regulations related to hazardous waste disposal are tighter in that state than many others. If you're at all concerned about your plan being fully compliant, or if you're unsure whether your business even has such a system in place, it is imperative you learn everything you can about these contingency plans and how they relate to your Florida business.

Hazardous Waste Contingency Plans: What Florida Businesses Must Know

What Is a Hazardous Waste Contingency Plan?

A contingency plan is basically the entire system you have in place in the event of an accident involving your generated hazardous material. This encompasses both the business-specific system your company has devised as well as the subsequent written document for training and informing your employees about that protocol.

Everyone who generates hazardous waste is legally obligated to create this document. Your EPA generator status is irrelevant. That is, whether you're a large quantity generator creating and shipping a great deal of waste or a small quantity generator who produces much less, your business is still required to have this document. This is a federal mandate, meaning it applies to all states—in Florida and beyond. (Note, while all generators require a plan, there are some additional requirements for large quantity generators, so it's crucial you accurately know your status.)

Is a Hazardous Waste Contingency Plan Important?

Yes! These documents help ensure the safety of you, your employees, and anyone (and anything) that might be affected in the event of an accident. Because no one ever plans for an accident or knows when one might occur, it's imperative that everyone at your business is entirely familiar with and competent in the execution of your contingency plan.

From a purely financial perspective, it's also important your business has this plan, as failing to do so makes you vulnerable to steep fines and penalties.

What's Special about Florida Businesses?

When it comes to hazardous waste removal, Florida businesses are held to stricter, more stringent regulations and rules than apply to most states. This is, in large part, because of the sheer amount of water in the state and the shallow water table.

After all, a spill involving hazardous waste into water is a much more complicated, much less stable, and potentially more catastrophic event than a spill elsewhere, and this fact led directly to tighter regulations throughout Florida.

Because these regulations are stricter, there is a greater likelihood of being hit with a fine, so there's a clear financial imperative for your Florida-based business to be cognizant of (and compliant with) all the regulations related to contingency plans.

Hazardous Waste Removal Companies Can Help

It's clear that if you operate a Florida-based business that generates hazardous waste, you should be especially careful and thorough regarding your hazardous waste disposal. Therefore, if you're confused, uncertain, or just want to double check that you're operating in the most compliant way possible, consider reaching out to several hazardous waste disposal companies.

A reputable company should be knowledgeable enough to answer all your questions (general and company specific), and some companies can even provide a customizable template for your contingency plan.

For more information about what constitutes a proper hazardous waste contingency plan and how this affects your Florida business, feel free to reach out to a representative of MCF Environmental Services today!

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