Miami-Dade commissioners discuss incinerator plans
MIAMI - The next step in the discussions for a possible new incinerator in Miami-Dade took place Monday.
The county's incinerator in Doral burned down in 2023 and since then there has been a heated discussion over what to do with its trash.
The resolution placed on the board's agenda for the day's meeting by Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez indicates desired sites to build a new waste-to-energy facility are the former Opa-locka West Airport site and Okeechobee. The resolution excludes any future facilities from being built in Doral, Medley or NW 58 Street.
Residents of Miramar and other nearby cities who spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting urged commissioners not to build at the airport west location near their community.
"Many of the communities that unfortunately have incinerators have dealt with public health issues and our position today is if it's not safe for Doral, if it's not safe for any other city in Miami-Dade County, why would it be safe for the city of Miramar." Miramar deputy City Manager Calvin Baker said.
One protester stated that there are nine schools within a three mile radius of the proposed site near Miramar.
Others expressed fears of an incinerator causing health issues, water quality issues, and a possible threat to endangered wildlife.
Miami-Dade mayor scraps idea for new incinerator
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has said she no longer wants an incinerator in the county and would rather have a landfill somewhere else.
"After careful consideration and much analysis, I am recommending that we continue to long haul waste via truck and rail using our contracted capacity while we continue exploring options to build a landfill outside of Miami-Dade county," she wrote in a memo released in late January.
Throughout the memo, Cava said that she and the county commissioners have learned there isn't an "easy solution" when it comes to waste management. As much as they recognize the urgency of managing the loss of the Doral incinerator, Cava said that "any option we pursue does not recreate an undue burden to our ratepayers."
