Rule 62-705.400. Procedures for Disposal Facility Certifications

(1) Applicability.

(a) No person shall construct or operate a grease waste disposal facility without a valid permit or certification issued by the Department.

(b) Existing disposal facilities that are operating without a valid permit or certification issued by the Department must apply for certification to the Department within one year of the effective date of this rule.

(c) Disposal facilities that are constructed and operated under a valid permit issued pursuant to Chapters 62-701, 62-620, or 62-640, F.A.C., are not required to obtain a separate disposal facility certification under this chapter if the storage, processing, or disposal of grease waste is addressed or authorized by the disposal facility’s existing permit.

(2) Certification. Applications for certification must be submitted on Form 62-705.400(2) Application for Certification of a Grease Waste Disposal Facility, effective December 2025, hereby adopted and incorporated by reference. Copies of this form can be obtained from the Department’s website or by contacting the Department of Environmental Protection, Solid Waste Section, MS #4565, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-2400, or the form can be obtained at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18595. The certification application must include the following:

(a) Name, address, and phone number of the applicant.

(b) A site plan, signed and sealed by a professional engineer licensed under Chapter 471, F.S., with a scale not greater than 200 feet to the inch that shows the total acreage and location of the disposal facility; identifies the size and location of the proposed processing, storage, and disposal areas; any surface water bodies or wetlands on or within 200 feet of the site; and any potable water wells on or within 500 feet of the site.

(c) A description of the disposal facility operations that includes:

1. A list of all types of materials and wastes that are managed or processed at the disposal facility;

2. The expected daily average and maximum volumes of grease waste to be managed;

3. How the grease waste will be processed, managed, stored, and disposed;

4. A list of equipment that will be used to process, manage, and store the grease waste. As applicable, the list must include details about grease waste storage tank volume and construction material (e.g., fiberglass, steel, etc.);

5. The maximum time grease waste will be stored at the disposal facility;

6. The maximum amount of grease waste that will be stored at the disposal facility at any one time; and

7. A contingency plan that meets the requirements of subsection 62-705.400(9), F.A.C.

(d) A closure plan describing how the disposal facility will be closed, including the expected disposition of all portions of grease waste after processing.

(e) Documentation that the applicant either owns the land or has legal authorization from the property owner to use the site for a disposal facility.

(3) If the Department determines that the information received pursuant to subsection (2) is accurate and complete and meets the requirements of this rule, the Department will issue a certification to the applicant that will include the following information:

(a) The certified disposal facility’s address and phone number; and

(b) The applicant’s name, mailing address and phone number.

(4) Certifications are valid for three years from the date of issuance unless suspended or revoked by the Department in accordance with Section 403.087, F.S.

(5) A disposal facility owner or operator must renew their grease waste disposal facility certification using Form 62-705.400(2) Application for Certification of a Grease Waste Disposal Facility [incorporated by reference in subsection 62-705.400(2), F.A.C.]. A renewal application will be considered timely and sufficient if it is submitted prior to sixty days before expiration of the existing certification.

(6) A certification issued under this chapter is considered a license for purposes of Sections 120.60 and 403.707, F.S. The license and permit revocation provisions of Rule 62-4.100, F.A.C., and Sections 403.087, and 120.60, F.S., apply to certifications issued under this chapter.

(7) General Provisions. Except where expressly indicated otherwise, the general provisions relating to solid waste management found in Chapter 62-701, F.A.C., apply to disposal facilities certified pursuant to this rule.

(8) Operational Requirements.

(a) Disposal facility personnel shall be present during operational hours when grease waste is received.

(b) The disposal facility shall cease acceptance of grease waste if the disposal facility has reached its maximum storage capacity for grease waste. The disposal facility may only resume acceptance of grease waste once sufficient storage capacity for grease waste is restored.

(c) Disposal facility personnel shall not mix incoming grease waste intended for “disposal,” as defined in Section 403.703(9), F.S., with grease waste intended for “recycling,” as defined in Section 403.703(31), F.S.

(d) The disposal facility shall complete the “disposal,” as defined in Section 403.703(9), F.S., “processing,” as defined in 403.703(25), F.S., or “recycling,” as defined in Section 403.703(31), F.S., of grease waste within six months from the date of the facility’s receipt of the grease waste, unless an alternative timeframe for disposal, processing, or recycling is authorized by the Department by the disposal facility’s permit, certification, or approved alternate procedure issued pursuant to Rule 62-701.310, F.A.C.

(e) The disposal facility shall be operated in a manner to control vectors, as defined in Rule 62-701.200, F.A.C.

(f) The disposal facility shall be operated in a manner to minimize objectionable odors in accordance with subsection 62-296.320(2), F.A.C.

(9) Every certified disposal facility shall have, as part of its operation plan, a contingency plan that covers operational interruptions and emergencies such as fires, explosions, or natural disasters. The facility shall keep the contingency plan at the facility at all times and shall be accessible to facility operators.

(a) The contingency plan shall include:

1. The designation of person(s) responsible for implementation of the contingency plan;

2. Procedures to notify the Department, the local government, the local fire protection agency, and any other appropriate emergency response agency;

3. A description of emergency procedures the facility must follow that includes the location of firefighting equipment and instructions how to use said equipment;

4. Provisions for the immediate shutting down of those parts of the facility affected by the emergency and facility notification to customers of the closure of the facility; and

5. Procedures to notify neighbors and local government officials of the potential impacts of the emergency and how those impacts can be minimized.

(b) Every certified disposal facility shall have:

1. Sufficient equipment to implement the contingency plan;

2. Sufficient reserve equipment or an arrangement to obtain additional equipment within 24 hours of equipment breakdown;

3. Communications equipment for emergency and routine communications; and

4. Adequate fire protection and fire-fighting capabilities to control accidental combustion of grease waste at the facility. Fire protection includes procedures for notification to local fire protection agencies for assistance in emergencies.

(c) The disposal facility shall undertake all reasonable efforts to immediately extinguish or control a fire at the facility. If the fire cannot be extinguished or controlled within an hour, the owner or operator of the disposal facility shall immediately:

1. Implement the contingency plan;

2. Cease accepting waste for disposal in those areas of the facility impacted by the fire;

3. Notify the Department and the local government(s) having jurisdiction over the facility of the fire; and

4. Provide the fire control plan being implemented by the owner or operator to the Department and the local government(s) having jurisdiction over the facility.

(d) The owner or operator of the grease waste disposal facility shall notify the local fire protection agency and seek its assistance and shall also notify the local government and any neighbors likely to be affected by the fire if the fire cannot be extinguished or controlled within 48 hours.

(e) The disposal facility is responsible for the operation and maintenance of grease waste storage tanks as designed for the service life of the tanks.

1. The disposal facility must inspect the interior of the tanks whenever the tank is drained or every three years. If the inspection reveals a tank or equipment deficiency, leak, or other deficiency which could result in failure of the tank to contain the grease waste, remedial measures shall be taken immediately to eliminate the leak or correct the deficiency. If the tank cannot be repaired or the deficiency corrected, the grease waste disposal facility must remove the tank from service and no longer store grease waste in the tank.

2. The exposed exterior of grease waste storage tanks and related equipment shall be inspected weekly by disposal facility personnel for tank integrity, leaks, corrosion, and maintenance deficiencies.

(10) Recordkeeping and Reporting.

(a) The disposal facility shall maintain monthly records of the volume of grease waste received, that includes the originator, county of origin, and the final disposition of that grease waste. The disposal facility must maintain these monthly records for three years. The volume of grease waste contained in the monthly reports must be recorded in gallons. Existing facilities who file an application for certification under paragraph 62-705.400(1)(b), F.A.C., shall include a summary of grease waste onsite at the time of the facility’s initial submission of an application for certification.

(b) The disposal facility shall maintain interior and exterior tank inspection reports. The disposal facility shall provide any inspection reports to the Department upon request for the service life of the tank.

(11) Closure Requirements.

(a) The owner or operator of the certified disposal facility must notify the Department in writing thirty days prior to ceasing operations and must specify a closing date to the address provided in subsection 62-705.400(2), F.A.C., or the local District Office. The disposal facility shall not receive or accept any grease waste after the closing date.

(b) Within thirty days after receiving the final grease waste load, the disposal facility owner or operator shall remove or otherwise dispose of all grease waste in accordance with the disposal facility’s approved closure plan. Rulemaking Authority 403.0741, 403.707 FS. Law Implemented 403.0741, 403.087, 403.707 FS. History – New 12-7-25.