Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has four full-time environmental enforcement officers who are working hard to keep our environment safe and clean. Deputies Ken Williams, David Bridges, Jack Burritt and Danny Dean are assigned to the environmental enforcement unit of the Sheriff's Office and enforce all environmental laws for the state and county. The deputies deal with a wide spectrum of environmental enforcement including: abandoned cars, run down buildings, illegal dumping, poaching, and watching the local logging operation. They also assist county officials and the local health department in inspecting complaints. In a single month, the environmental deputies may investigate between 80 and 100 cases. 

A clean environment is everyone's responsibility  -  do your part: buy smart, use products wisely, dispose properly and report environmental violation to the Sheriff's Office

WHAT DO I DO WITH SPECIAL WASTES?

• TIRES - Tires can be disposed of FREE of charge at the transfer station on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fort Walton Beach and at the Baker Landfill. This applies only to local households, no businesses. Quantities are limited to four per household per month.
  

• APPLIANCES (WHITE GOODS) - Appliances (white goods) are collected FREE of charge at the transfer station in Fort Walton Beach and the Baker Landfill. Quantities are limited to four per household per month. Some appliances and household furniture may be collected curbside by your waste collection company. Contact them for further details.
  

• RUBBLE (CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS) - Construction and demolition debris can be disposed in special landfills at a reduced rate. Call 835-2125 or 682-6611.
  

• YARD WASTE - Yard waste is collected curbside by your waste collection company. Diameter is limited to four inches and lengths may vary depending upon your hauler's specifications.  It may also be taken to the Wright Landfill on North Beal Extension in Fort Walton Beach and the Baker Landfill. There is a charge for this service.
  

• RECYCLABLE ITEMS - Recyclable items are collected curbside by your waste collection company.
  

• USED OIL - Used oil is collected FREE of charge from local residents (no businesses) at several locations within Okaloosa County; please call 651-7395 or 689-5774 for collection locations:
  

  Okaloosa County Recycling Office	689-5774
  Okaloosa County Environmental Services	651-7395
  City of Niceville (residents only)	729-4064
  Super Lube	689-1455
  Webb's Transmissions	862-1824
  Time Saver Oil & Lube	837-9785

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (HAZ-MAT) ITEMS - 
Haz-mat collection is sponsored by the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners to collect, recycle, treat and properly dispose of household hazardous waste. Haz-Mat items are collected at the Okaloosa County Road Department during selected days and times. Collections are by APPOINTMENT ONLY!

Improper use of and/or disposal of hazardous materials can negatively impact everyone's personal health and safety as well as the health of the environment.

Ways to achieve zero generation of hazardous waste are the same at home ad at work:
 Watch what you buy. Read labels. Choose the least toxic. Think about the disposal requirements for the leftover product. Plan ahead. Buy exact amount as needed, use it all immediately, don't store it. Always look for newer, safer alternatives. Avoid product loyalty toward any hazardous project.

Appointment Only - South County Road Department on Ready Avenue

HAZ-MATS are household hazardous materials or wastes. If you must dispose, be sure to do it legally. Be sure to use household hazardous waste collection days or take it to a facility licensed to handle the disposal. For more information, call 651-7395 or 689-5774. Below is a list of household hazardous wastes: 

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTES

NO GAS CYLINDERS, EXPLOSIVES, FLARES, OR PROPANE TANKS!

"FLORIDA LITTER LAW" Fl. Statute 403.413

"LITTER" means any garbage; rubbish; trash; refuse; can; bottle; box; container; paper; tobacco product; tire; appliance; mechanical equipment or part; building or construction material; tool; machinery; wood; motor vehicle or motor vehicle part; vessel; aircraft; farm machinery or equipment; sludge from a waste treatment facility, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility; or substance in any form resulting from domestic, industrial, commercial, mining, agricultural, or governmental operations.

We've all seen litter scattered along the side of the roadways. Do you know how long it will take to decompose to a non-recognizable form?

"PLEASE DON'T LITTER"

Okaloosa County Ordinances.

There are a number of county ordinances that help to protect the environment. Ordinance 87-33 deals with accumulation of debris and abandoned vehicles on private and public property. Details are outlined within the County Codes manual, Appendix E Land Development Code, Chapter 9 Operational Performance Standards, section 9.02.00. Litter and Nuisance Control. County Ordinances are supported by the Florida State Statutes and enforced by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Environmental Enforcement Division.

Below are brief highlights of Litter and Nuisance Control.

Litter: Refuse and rubbish including, but not limited to, paper, bottles, cans, glass crockery, scrap metals, plastic, rubber, yard trash, tar paper, lumber, masonry, concrete, drywall, packing and crating materials, discarded appliances, tires, trees and shrub trimmings, leaves, disposable packages and containers and any other solid waste matter visible to the eye.

Abandoned Vehicle: Any motor vehicle, boat or trailer on private or public property, without a current un-expired license plate and which had been left unprotected from the elements.
Requirements for Correction:
(a) Current registration (license plate) on vehicle; OR
(b) Move vehicle inside garage or carport; OR
(c) Remove vehicle from property and properly dispose of.
Note: Under no circumstances can a vehicle, boat or trailer be stored in the right of way or roadway.

Nuisance: Any violation of this ordinance is declared to be a public nuisance and subject to abatement as such in accordance with the terms of this ordinance.

Enforcement-Written Corrective Notice: A written statement shall be issued to the violator or his/her agent of any provisions of this ordinance. It shall identify and specify the violation(s), the date and time of issuance, corrective measures to be taken and the date correction(s) are to be completed.

Penalty: Failure to comply with written notice shall be prosecuted for a misdemeanor offense. Any person found guilty of any provisions of this county ordinance shall be punished by a fine and/or imprisonment.

 BACK TO SPECIALIZED UNITS

Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
1250 North Eglin Parkway
Shalimar, FL 32579
(850) 651-7410