Okaloosa County Public Works
(http://www.co.okaloosa.fl.us/pub_rec_hazwas.html)

Recycling - Hazardous Waste

In an effort to responsibly divert hazardous waste from local landfills and dispose of these items responsibly through recycling and reuse, Okaloosa County accepts a variety of household hazardous wastes. This includes, but is not limited to: paints, pesticides, used oil, oil filters, pool chemicals, batteries, gas, solvents, paint products, tar, automotive chemicals, flourescent bulbs, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, computer monitors, etc., and is free of charge to residents. Since October, 1992, more than 2,300,000 pounds of hazardous materials have been recycled, reused or disposed of.

Health & Safety Information on Household Hazardous Products:

What's under your kitchen sink, in your garage, in your bathroom, and on the shelves in your laundry room? Do these household products pose a potential health risk to you and your family?

Find out what's in these products and what are the potential health effects, and other safety and handling information. http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/

Here's what we do with hazardous waste we collect from Okaloosa County households.

Car Batteries:

Used batteries are sold to a battery warehouse where both lead and plastic batteries are reclaimed.

Rechargeable Batteries:

We can help you recycle your portable rechargeable batteries as part of the Okaloosa County's hazardous waste program. These batteries are commonly found in cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders, digital cameras, and remote control toys. RBRC recycles the following battery chemistries: Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-ion) and Small Sealed Lead* (Pb). For more information on battery recycling log-on to www.rbrc.org .

Computer Components:

Computer equipment, particularly, old monitors have been declared a hazardous waste by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. For link to EPA's "Plug-In To eCycling" Click Here.

Mobile Phone Recycling:

CollectiveGood is the mobile phone recycling resource. If you have a spare mobile phone sitting on a shelf or in a drawer, you can recycle it here in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. At CollectiveGood, you can:

·  Preserve the environment by keeping your used mobile phone out of a landfill, and by recycling it back into reuse

·  Help raise funds for a charity of your choice in the process

·  Put that spare mobile phone into re-use for people in the developing world

·  Be rewarded for your good deed with a thank you letter and tax-deduction for your in-kind donation to a charity

For more information see CollectiveGood's website: www.collectivegood.com

Fluorescent Tubes:

Fluorecents tubes and other mercury containing devices are accepted in an effort to minimize mercury contamination to the environment. These materials are recycled and or reclaimed through state of the art technology. For more information log onto the following website, http://www.informinc.org/fact_P3fluorescentlamps.php.

Latex Paint:

We try to give away as much good paint as possible. Others can use it even after it's been opened. The rest of the latex paint is stored in 55 gallon drums and then mixed with concrete to make parking slabs and driveways. This is an experimental project that was designed and developed by the Okaloosa County Recycling Office.

Oil Based Paint:

This type of paint is a little more complex and needs some special handling. It is poured into 55 gallon drums and sent to a company that blends the flammable oil-based paint with other liquid fuels. Then it is disposed of by burning in specially designed boilers.

Pool Chemicals and Pesticides:

Again we take special precautions with these chemicals. We pack them in 55 gallon drums in their original containers and fill the air spaces with styrofoam balls. These "lab-paks" are sent to special hazardous waste incinerators for disposal. Many of the chemicals are given away. Muriatic acid is neutralized on site and sent to the county's Water and Sewer Treatment Plant.

Used Oil, Fuel and Antifreeze:

Old oil, gas and diesel is also burned as a secondary fuel in specially designed boilers. Old antifreeze is neutralized through a special process and sent to a wastewater treatment facility.

Household Hazardous Wastes are collected weekly free of charge for local residents, by appointment only. Please call one of the numbers listed below for an appointment time.

Okaloosa County Recycling Office
(850) 689-5774
(850) 651-7395