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Commission directs study of 70 Second Avenue site to address green-waste and rising disposal costs
Summary
With rising tipping fees and complaints about illegal dumping, commissioners directed staff to study expanding the 70 Second Avenue site as a local transfer/recycling facility and to discuss regional cooperation before the March end of the county transfer contract.
Coral Gables officials said July 2 they will study expanding the city's 70 Second Avenue site to process green waste and reduce recurring disposal costs for residents.
City Manager Iglesias told the commission the transfer-station contract with Miami-Dade County ends in March of next year, making this an "ideal time" to evaluate whether the city can expand its 1.6-acre 70 Second Avenue site, incorporate rail access and potentially receive cooperation from neighboring municipalities. Iglesias and other commissioners said diverting green waste from landfill disposal to local processing or reuse could reduce the city's annual tipping expenses and the burden on residents.
Several commissioners and the manager described complaints about landscapers and contractors dumping green waste in the city's public trash pits. Commissioners asked staff to study options for diverting green waste, including curbside collection with roll-out containers and equipment that would allow crews to lift and tip containers into collection vehicles. The vice mayor noted capital needs for container-handling equipment and said that the plan will need resident cooperation to roll containers to collection points.
The manager said staff will study expansion and restoration needs at the 70 Second Avenue property and prepare a proposal that could include capacity for other municipalities. The commission agreed this study should proceed over the next year given the March contract expiration, and that the manager and staff should work with Commissioner Fernandez, who had accepted responsibility to push the effort forward.
No final capital appropriation or contract award was approved at the hearing; staff will return with a study and any recommended budget or interlocal agreements.
