Sierra Club asks Homestead to press Miami‑Dade for pause on incinerator vote

Ken Russell, representing the Sierra Club, told the Homestead City Council on Oct. 16 that Miami‑Dade County is scheduled to vote on Nov. 6 on a replacement waste‑to‑energy facility and its proposed Airport West site. Russell said the county has not completed a countywide solid waste master plan or a city‑level fiscal impact assessment and urged Homestead to ask the county to defer the decision.

Why it matters: Russell told the council the county’s earlier incinerator burned down more than a year ago and that the county’s current process risks locking in a multidecade expenditure without first studying alternatives or the downstream costs to cities that will have to haul waste farther. “Anything prior to a solid waste master plan is a bit hasty,” Russell said, adding that the county’s reported estimate for long‑term expenditures could be in the billions.

Russell cited climate and locational concerns. He said the Sierra Club opposes siting a waste‑to‑energy plant near the Everglades and argued the technology will emit greenhouse gases and that the county should fully study waste reduction, debris management and organics diversion before committing to incineration.

Council response and next steps: Several council members said they wanted more information before taking a formal position. Councilwoman Patti Bailey said she supported at least asking the county to “think about it” and to ensure Homestead’s interests are considered. The city attorney suggested one administrative path: the council could adopt a motion authorizing the city manager to transmit a letter expressing the city’s concern and requesting a deferment to allow completion of a master plan and a fiscal study before Nov. 6.

Council members debated procedure. One councilmember said he could not support a formal opposition without more technical and financial information. Several members asked the city manager to gather additional material and circulate it to council; if enough members requested it, the city attorney said council could call a special meeting to consider formal action before the county’s vote.

What the city did: No formal motion or vote was taken at the meeting. The record shows the council requested more information and discussed the administrative mechanism for sending a city letter if the council chooses to do so.

Context and claims in the record: Russell referenced a county consultant report and examples of other jurisdictions (Boulder, Austin) that the Sierra Club said have adopted alternatives to incineration. He also said Miami‑Dade currently produces more waste per person than the national average and that hauling distances and costs will rise if the Airport West site is adopted. The transcript does not record a city determination of legal authority to block the county action.

Closing note: The Sierra Club provided a draft resolution for cities to consider; council members asked staff to circulate any additional background material so they can decide whether to request a special meeting or authorize the city manager to send a letter before Nov. 6.