Solid & Hazardous Waste
Solid & Hazardous Waste Program
The University of Florida, Training, Research and Education for Environmental Occupations Center (UF TREEO) offers a variety of courses for those in the waste management industry to meet their initial and refresher training requirements. Our training programs for hazardous and solid waste comply with regulatory requirements for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
Solid Waste Course Offerings
Select an option below to view available courses. You will be redirected to our registration system.
RCRA & HAZWOPER Course Offerings
Select an option below to view available courses. You will be redirected to our registration system.
Solid Waste Course Request
UF TREEO is able to bring courses to your area based on demand. Please fill out this form to let us know which course(s) you are interested in, time frame and your location. We will do our best to accommodate your training needs!
Training Info & Database
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.
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.
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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