Miami-Dade commissioners vote to build controversial incinerator, no location decided

Following several delays, Miami-Dade commissioners voted on Wednesday to build a new county incinerator to replace the one that burned down in Doral in 2023.

While commissioners voted to build the new waste-to-energy facility, they have not decided where it will be built.

The site at Opa Locka West Airport, once recommended by Miami-Dade Mayor Daniela Levine Cava, was taken off the table.

“I still thought it was a very viable site. I’m not opposed to the other sites. Potentially, it will cost us more,” Levine Cava said.

The site can’t be any closer than a half-mile from any residential area, which by default eliminates several other proposed sites including the current Doral site, Medley, Sweetwater and 58th Street.

In addition, 40% of the facility will include alternative waste removal methods like recycling, composting and landfilling.

“How we are going to environmentally and financially, in an efficient manner manage and plan for the future of waste disposal in Miami Dade County. Today was one step in that direction and it’s long overdue in my opinion,” Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins said.

Commissioners will reconvene in 90 days to figure out the new site of the facility, though some thought that decision should have been made Wednesday.

“It’s going to add more of a burden on the taxpayer in the future, if we spend $6 million a month as opposed to having an investment…a public-private partnership,” Commissioner Rene Garcia said.

Residents in Miramar have been strongly against the idea of building the new waste-to-energy facility across the county line.

Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam celebrated Wednesday after months of pushing back on building the incinerator at Opa Locka West Airport, which would have been about two miles away from Miramar.

“We trust that Airport West will remain out of consideration for such a very improper use on that site,” he said.