UF TREEO maintains the Florida Department of Environmental Protection – Solid Waste Operators Database. The database is a continuing education archive and tracking system for Solid Waste Management Facility Operators and Spotters who have attended approved training.

**NEW!** Training Info & **Database**

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Historical **Records**

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How to Have Training Approved

An online CEU Form must be submitted by the first of the month for review by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Solid Waste Section. Courses/events are reviewed on a monthly basis. Courses/events can be submitted by: Operator/Spotter/Provider/Training Institution/Company/Association/Instructor

All course/event submittals go to the SW Operator & Spotter Database Records Manager

Lauren McCain – lmccain@treeo.ufl.edu; Fax: (352) 392-6910; Phone: (352) 294-3876

Mail: Solid Waste Operator Training, UF TREEO Center, 3900 SW 63 Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32608

For the PDF CEU Form, Click here: CEU Form [Refresher/Initial] – PDF

For the Online CEU Form, click here: CEU Form [Refresher/Initial] – Online

Approved courses are listed on the FDEP Approved Solid Waste Management Facility Operator and Spotter Training Course List

Any course/event not on the list of approved courses are submitted as a new course for review.

The submittal packet (electronic format is preferable) should contain:

FDEP Continuing Education Units [CEU] PDF form (or the online form: CEU Form [Refresher/Initial])

Course topics or agenda with time allotments for each subject including a daily start & finish time

Amount of time for breaks and lunch

Short paragraph of what the course is about or detailed outline

Instructor(s) biographical information including company/phone or email/web/qualifications

Training provider information: company/email/phone/web address

Total number of hours requested for course approval and classification: LDF, TS, MRF, Spotter

Required for all Initial courses and in-house training [electronic version of Text or PowerPoint slides/exam] – Upload electronic documents to Dropbox and provide link to lmccain@treeo.ufl.edu

Optional

Flyer or brochure for course/email notice

Applicants will be notified by email that his/her course or event submission has been received.

Incomplete Applications

The person who submitted the material is notified of what is missing from the CEU Form.

Any missing material is required before the information can be forwarded for review.

Complete Applications

Each course/event CEU Form is submitted to the department the first week of each month.

Initial courses can sometime take longer than one month to go through the review process.

Approved Courses/Events

Applicant is notified by the records manager within 10 working days after the course is reviewed by email or fax.

Course/Event is added to current FDEP Approved Solid Waste Operator and Spotter Training Course List.

To remain on the current list, course/event must be re-submitted at the end of the current 3-year period (Initial-5 years).

Course provider is added to the list of current training providers.

Initial course providers must submit attendee list using the following form: Provider CEU Form

Not Approved – No Hours Given

Applicant is notified by the records manager within 10 working days after the committee meeting by email or fax.

Pending/Need More Information/Verification

Applicant is asked to submit additional information/verification for course to be reviewed again the following month.

In-House Initial Spotter training and continuing education courses not on the list of approved courses are submitted as a new course for review.

A person who had been trained as an operator is considered trained as a spotter. This person would be
qualified to teach either a continuing education operator or initial spotter course, as long as that in-house course was approved in the facility permit and the operator was current on their continuing education status.

62-701.320 (15) requires that any course which requires an examination (operator initial training) must be taught by an independent third party. So, a current operator could conduct initial training for spotters and continuing education for spotters and operators but could not conduct in-house initial training for new operators.

The trainer must have attended a Train-the-Trainer or Instructional Training course and submit documentation.

Submittal Process – See New/Course Event

New to Florida or Newly Trained Operator or Spotter?

Review Your Florida Solid Waste Operator and Spotter Training Transcript – No Login needed. Make note of your Expiration/Anniversary date(s) and number of hours needed before the expiration date. There is no grace period if hours are not met by expiration date.

Individuals: Click on Participants; Type in last name; Click on name to see number of hours needed & current 3-year period.

Facility: Click on Participants; Use the drop-down list and select company.

Is your transcript missing information?

Initial Training Providers send their attendee rosters directly to UF TREEO Center; records can take up to 10 business days to update

You may submit a copy of your certificate to Lauren McCain at lmccain@treeo.ufl.edu or fax (352) 392-6910. Training providers will be contacted for verification of completion.

Types of verification of completion:

Copy of certificate (Provider may be contacted for verification)

Sign-in sheet for training (accepted only from provider) or session at a conference

An Email from Training Provider, verifying attendance

Providers

To submit training records for upload to the Solid Waste Operators & Spotters database:

For live, virtual, or online course completions please complete the Provider CEU Form to submit attendee rosters

For conferences/seminars – a CEU Template can be used to verify attendance.

Training providers can submit their attendee rosters directly to the Solid Waste Record Manager, Lauren McCain at lmccain@treeo.ufl.edu or fax (352) 392-6910. Records can take up to 10 business days to update.

Frequently Asked Questions

A trained solid waste operator can substitute as a trained spotter. See the FAC 62-701 Training Section for more clarification.

All in-house training for credit must be approved by the Solid Waste Management Training Committee.

Make sure you have permission to use the training material from the provider [most course material is copyrighted and the property of the provider].

In order for operators to add the training to the database record, the training must be listed on the FDEP Approved Solid Waste Operator Training database or be submitted and approved as a new course.

Initial Training – In House

Initial training that requires an examination has to be done by an independent third party (See FAC 62- 701.320.15.a)

Only those who have taken one of the approved initial training courses and exam will be entered in the database after he/she submit the necessary documentation. If you didn’t attend one of these courses, then you should follow the new course submittal directions or take one of the approved initial training courses.

If you have let your 3-year training period expire without having the minimum number of hours of continuing education hours, you must start over with taking an approved course and exam.

Currently, the State of Florida does not have a certification or licensure program for solid waste operators. If you
complete the required initial training and receive the minimum continuing education contact hours per 3-year period, then you are considered a trained operator within the State of Florida and may be in compliance. See FAC 62-701.320(15)a.

At http://landfill.treeo.ufl.edu or you may have a copy email/fax/mail to you: (352) 294-7047 or lmccain@treeo.ufl.edu.

Contact: Lauren McCain at (352) 294-3876 or lmccain@treeo.ufl.edu or look at the training database.

Review your Florida Solid Waste Operator and Spotter Training Transcript – No login needed, check the expiration date and the training status (current or expired) for:

Individual

Click on Participants

Click on last name and hit enter

Click on the track to see transcript

Facility

Click on Participants

Use the drop down list and enter company name

Type in company name and hit enter

Click on the track to see transcript

Facility Report

Click on Reports

Type in the company name

Click on Run Report

Contact the course provider.

Per SWMTC, all 100% online courses must have a cumulative final exam to ensure the integrity of the course and student.

After passing your final exam and completing the course, a new module named “Certificate” will unlock. Follow the instructions and your certificate will be automatically emailed to you.

Meet The Instructors

Robert, principal of GeoSyntec Consultants, holds a doctorate degree in geotechnical engineering from Stanford University. Dr. Bachus has been project manager for many projects requiring specialty geotechnical analysis and geotechnical testing. He has over 22 years experience in geotechnical engineering and is a nationally recognized expert in areas of landfill design, in situ testing, laboratory testing, and soil stabilization.

Carmen has over 18 years working in Solid Waste Management, including customer service, scalehouse operations, recycling, site utilization and training. Currently he is working as the Recycling Coordinator for Hernando County. He is currently working to increase Hernando County’s curbside recycling program and implementing a composting program. Before finding his way into the solid waste industry Carmen worked as an Industrial Engineer in the contract manufacturing sector. Carmen is certified through SWANA as a Recycling Systems and Composting Manager and holds numerous FDEP certifications in solid waste.

Carmen has been teaching for TREEO since 2004.

Adrian Gale has a masters degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a PhD degree from the University of Florida (UF). With over 10 years of experience in environmental consulting and Research & Development, Dr. Gale’s work focuses on the intersectionality between solid and hazardous waste regulatory compliance and RCRA corrective action of drinking water and groundwater sources. In addition, Dr. Gale has taught undergraduate Water/Wastewater Technology and Design courses in the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences at UF and numerous Solid & Hazardous Waste courses within the UF TREEO Center curriculum. By employing a multi-media teaching method that combines historical and contemporary waste management issues, Dr. Gale’s lectures have consistently received positive reviews.ecological consulting and regulatory agency permitting experience for large-scale residential, commercial, and industrial developments, wetland delineation, threatened and endangered species surveys, and property acquisition due-diligence investigations.

Patrick Johnson is an experienced waste management expert with over three decades of experience in solid waste program management, environmental compliance, and operational leadership. As the Department Director for Escambia County Waste Services Department, he oversaw the design, operation, and compliance of multiple landfills, transfer stations, and recycling programs. Patrick is a Certified Public Manager and holds several certifications from the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA). His career is marked by a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, successful management of large teams, and strategic partnerships with key stakeholders. Notably, he played a pivotal role in the FEMA recovery efforts following Hurricane Sally.

Jane Gregory has almost thirty years of experience in the environmental compliance field, working in both the public and private sectors. She is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, a Certified Environmental Trainer and a LEED Green Associate. Jane currently serves Orange County citizens as the Public Information Officer for the Environmental Protection Division and Supervises the Compliance Support and Strategic Engagement Program. She also represents Orange County on the Central Florida food policy council and the Central Florida Energy Efficiency Alliance, serves on the Board of the Metropolitan Environmental TRaining Alliance (METRA), and teaches hazardous waste management as an instructor for the UF TREEO Center.

Retired in 2013 as Solid Waste Director of Leon County, Florida. He has over 30 years of executive management experience in Solid Waste Management, including landfill operations, transfer station operations, waste hauling, waste collection, rural waste convenience center operations, solid waste management facility siting, contract management, recycling and public relations.

Timothy Townsend is a professor of Environmental Engineering Sciences in the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment at the University of Florida. His area of expertise is solid and hazardous waste management. Research interests include sustainable landfill design, construction and operation; managing construction and demolition debris; beneficial use and recycling of wastes; and handling of special wastes such as electronic scrap, recyclers, and sustainable materials management. Dr. Townsend teaches courses on waste and materials management fundamentals, landfill design, and waste management in developing countries.

Connect With The Coordinator

Lauren McCain

Coordinator Solid & Hazardous Waste Programs

lmccain@treeo.ufl.edu
Mon – Fri 8 AM – 4:30 PM EST

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Training Info & Database

NEW! Training Info & Database

Historical Records

How to Have Training Approved

New to Florida or Newly Trained Operator or Spotter?

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