Miami-Dade commissioners face tough decision on incinerator location

In Miami, Florida, Miami-Dade County commissioners are set to vote on December 3 regarding the future of the county's waste-to-energy incinerator. This facility has sparked significant debate among local officials and residents, particularly as it is located in Doral, a city experiencing rapid population growth. County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has suggested maintaining the incinerator's current location, a recommendation that has been met with mixed reactions. Doral Mayor Christi Fraga opposes this idea, arguing that the facility is not suitable for a densely populated area and proposing relocation to a West Airport site that would better accommodate the facility's requirements. This proposed site offers 400 acres, compared to the current 40 acres occupied in Doral, thus addressing health concerns associated with its proximity to residents. The controversy is further complicated by the involvement of Miramar officials, who worry about potential environmental impacts should the incinerator be moved. They have publicly supported Mayor Levine Cava's proposal to keep the facility in Doral, stressing that relocating it poses health risks and threats to the region's drinking water and endangered species protected by the Everglades Restoration Project. Miramar's leaders have emphasized maintaining the incinerator in its current location to mitigate these public health concerns. As the December 3 vote nears, Mayor Fraga has been vocally pushing for a delay in the decision while highlighting the financial and quality-of-life burdens Doral residents have borne due to the incinerator. She believes it is time for other areas to share the responsibility of waste management. Fraga's concerns are compounded by the potential economic implications for Doral, especially given President-elect Donald Trump's business interests in the area. She is seeking Trump's intervention to underscore the economic and health ramifications that the incinerator imposes on the community. If the commissioners opt to keep the incinerator in Doral, Fraga has vowed to pursue legal action, indicating the issue's complexity and the passionate advocacy surrounding it. The impending vote is integral, as it not only affects Doral and Miramar but the broader Miami-Dade County, raising concerns among residents and leaders about how best to balance environmental safety, public health, and local development. As the situation develops, the perspectives of various stakeholders will continue to shape the narrative around the incinerator's future and its impacts on the community.