Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

In 1976, Congress enacted The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The act detailed federal laws for the management and disposal of hazardous waste. The enforcement of the RCRA laws became the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA delegated enforcement authority to the individual states that met their criteria. Florida adopted RCRA by Statute and The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) became the authority for it in the state.

Small Quantity Generators (SQG) Program

The state mandated through Florida Statue 403.7225 and 403.7234 that County governments would notify, assess and verify potential generators of hazardous waste a minimum of once every five years. This established what is known as the Small Quantity Generators (SQG) Program.

Pollution Prevention (P2) Program

As Lee County's SQG Program performed these duties, they found that many generators of hazardous waste were unaware of alternative ways to manage and/or reduce their waste and regulatory burdens. To fill this need and to meet State Statute 403.073, the Pollution Prevention (P2) Program was formed. The P2 Program provides the business community and various County agencies with methods for managing and disposing of their regulated waste, which helps them to reduce disposal costs and the facility's regulatory requirements.

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