Miami-Dade committee approves recycling and landfill studies, forwards incinerator site choice to full commission

Miami-Dade County’s Infrastructure, Innovation and Technology Committee on Thursday approved a series of measures aimed at reducing the county’s waste stream and improving recycling while advancing, without recommendation, a separate proposal about siting a waste‑to‑energy facility.

The committee approved a directive to develop a closed‑loop recycling pilot at Miami‑Dade’s airport and seaport; measures to expand recycling of tires, mattresses and cardboard; a program to extract methane from county landfills; a directive to study county landfill capacity; and a proposal to expand recycling education in schools. Members also voted to forward, without recommendation, a rival item that would identify a site for a waste‑to‑energy (incinerator) facility so the full Board of County Commissioners can consider it alongside other proposals.

Why it matters: The votes mark a shift toward programs the administration and several commissioners described as steps toward a “0‑waste” goal — prioritizing diversion, recycling and landfill management — while leaving the politically contentious question of building a new waste‑to‑energy incinerator for the full board to decide.

Most important actions and immediate details

- Closed‑loop recycling at airport and seaport: The committee approved an item directing staff to evaluate a closed‑loop recycling program at Miami‑Dade’s airport and seaport and to coordinate with the outside 0‑waste consultant. Commissioner Steinberg moved the item; it passed in committee. Department staff told the committee that water‑refill stations exist in terminals and that hundreds of combined trash/recycling receptacles are already deployed in terminal areas.

- Tire and mattress recycling (item 2E): The committee approved expansion of recycling programs for tires and mattresses and specifically added shredding of tires as the preferred approach rather than burning. The county’s solid waste director said tire recycling is in existing contracts and mattress recycling…