EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: The City of Valparaiso is no longer accepting Hazmat materials at 600 Valastics Ave. Our facilities are only accepting batteries, tires and oil. Please see below list of hazardous waste Okaloosa County accepts and location for disposal.
Household hazardous waste collection, recycling and treatment program is sponsored by the Okaloosa County Board Commissioners. Okaloosa County accepts a variety of household hazardous wastes free of charge to residents. FREE drop-off for local residents Tuesday thru Saturday from 7 am to 3pm.
84 Ready Avenue
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548
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. EPA’s “Plug-In To eCycling”
Mobile Phone Recycling
Mobile phones are donated to the local Shelter House for reuse of usable phones or for recycling of phones that are not serviceable.
Fluorescent Tubes
Fluorescents 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.
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 are 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 accepted weekly free of charge for local residents, by appointment only. Please call one of the numbers listed above for an appointment time.
Hazardous wastes accepted from Okaloosa County households
An alternative drop-off point for tires, batteries and oil also exists at the City of Valparaiso Public Works Field Office which is located at 600 Valastics Avenue or you may take your HAZ-MAT items to the County’s central collection point at South County Road Department located at 84 Ready Ave., Fort Walton Beach.