Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority advances REF1 replacement planning amid public debate over incineration and landfill impacts

The Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority on Wednesday continued a workshop on replacing its REF1 waste‑to‑energy facility, presenting site alternatives, cost and debt scenarios and operational impacts of a REF1 replacement project (REF1R) while hearing both environmental opposition and neighborhood and industry support.

The presentation summarized earlier board directions, operational capacity, landfill impacts and financing options. SWA staff said the authority had analyzed three potential locations, removed a southern option from consideration and evaluated extending REF1’s operating life while preparing for a replacement facility. Staff and industry speakers emphasized that modern waste‑to‑energy technology reduces waste volume and recovers energy; environmental groups and some residents warned against investing in incineration and urged stronger waste‑reduction measures.

Why it matters: staff said county landfill capacity and future costs depend heavily on whether the county renews and replaces waste‑to‑energy capacity. The board’s planning choices affect where waste will go while REF1 is offline, projected rate impacts for single‑family households and how long county landfill capacity will last under different scenarios.

Public comment: environmental groups

Linda Smith, representing Sierra Club National and the Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group, told the authority “they are against incineration” while urging stronger recycling, composting and waste reduction. Smith said an incinerator can remove the urgency of waste reduction because of contractual “put or pay” terms and noted landfilling remains a long‑term…