Small Quantity Generator Program

The Small Quantity Generator Program deals exclusively with small businesses that generate hazardous waste: automotive repair shops, paint and body shops, furniture refinishers, photo shops, printing shops, dry cleaners, and laboratories.

This program is a state-mandated program delegated to Pasco County Government to administer and enforce. The County staff annually reports the status of the program Tallahassee. Since it is a State mandated program, County staff must follow certain rules and criteria to comply with the State's directives.

There are good reasons why proper hazardous waste management by businesses in our County is important:

1. If hazardous wastes are poorly managed, they could spill or be released into the surroundings environment, thus threatening human health and quality of life. The potential for ground water contamination is very real.
   
2. Proper management of hazardous waste is a good business practice. Proper management improves workers safety, minimizes liability, reduces insurance premium, and saves money. Businesses may even make money by selling certain wastes such as silver generated at photographic shops as a result of film developing and processing.
   
3. Good management practices enhance the ability to meet County and State regulations while improving your business public image. More often than not, educated consumers will frequent shops that show interest in pollution prevention.

This program mandates County staff to conduct on-site environmental and hazardous waste audits at businesses that generate or have the potential to generate hazardous waste. The objectives here are to ensure a proper management of hazwaste and full compliance by business owners and operators with the state statute. In our County, most businesses are small to medium and nearly 3,000 shops qualify for this program. Large businesses, those that generate more than 2,200 pounds or more that 5-55 gallon drums of hazardous waste in any calendar month, are inspected directly by State agencies. If you generate any amount less than 2,200 pounds of hazardous waste in one month, County staff will perform the audit.

County staff has been carrying out all tasks of this mandated program since October 1991. Our businesses have made a lot of progress, yet we still have a long way to go. If you are a business owner or operator and not yet familiar with this program, please do not hesitate to contact our office for guidance. It is the business owner's responsibility to know all rules applicable to your business and ignorance of the Small Quantity Generator's statute will not excuse you from your liability under the law.

Below is an outline to assist you in compiling with the law:

• County staff will visit your facility and provide you with guidance if you call us and ask for a site visit prior to inspection.
  
• County staff holds annual educational workshops to help you. Keep an eye on the newspapers for announcements of these workshops. Notices are sometimes sent by mail.
  
• We provide brochures and information on the program when requested, as well as, at time of the facility audit.
  
• We provide speakers to groups and business associations to educate on the subject.
  
• By request, County staff will provide recommendations on pollution prevention and cost cutting by visiting your business and analyzing your management practices.

The County is committed to work with business on solving the problems of hazwaste disposal, to educate business owners, operators, employees on what is required by State law, and to assist you in operating your business in an environmentally safe manner.

For more information please contact the
Environmental & HazWaste Programs Coordinator,
(727) 847-8041.

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