Miami-Dade commissioners approve controversial new waste facility plan
- The Miami-Dade County commissioners have been debating the construction of a new waste-to-energy facility following a devastating fire at the previous Doral incinerator in 2023.
- Commissioners have ruled out several controversial sites for the facility to address health and environmental concerns raised by local mayors and residents.
- The final decision on the new facility's location is set to be made in 90 days, reflecting ongoing community engagement and deliberation.
In July 2025, Miami-Dade County was faced with the pressing need to determine the location of a new waste-to-energy facility. The discussion of this incinerator followed the burning down of the previous one in Doral in 2023, which raised significant environmental concerns and health issues among nearby residents. Various mayors and community leaders voiced their opposition to certain proposed sites due to longstanding health and environmental issues affecting their communities. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava had initially reversed her support for the incinerator, instead suggesting a landfill, but ultimately supported the decision to move forward with the waste-to-energy facility after the vote was taken. The commission's plan now mandates that any new facility be situated at least half a mile from residential areas, leading to two remaining private property sites under consideration, both located west of Okeechobee Road. These decisions were applauded by certain mayors who felt the removal of previously controversial locations marked a victory for their constituents. The Miami-Dade commission is set to reconvene in 90 days to finalize the location of the facility, indicating that while significant progress has been made, the ultimate decision still lies ahead.