MIAMI, Fla.— Dozens of Miami-Dade County voters, many wearing “Incinerator Hater” T-shirts, gathered today in front of the Stephen P. Clark Government Center to send a resounding “vote no” message to county commissioners ahead of a planned vote on a potential incinerator site near the Everglades, following a joint proposal from FCC and FPL. Signs, banners, and stickers read “Don’t incinerate, innovate!,” “Nowhere, not now, not ever,” “Make Miami zero waste,” and “Plant seeds, not ash.” However, like a broken record, commissioners once again – marking the ninth delay since September 16, 2024 – deferred the vote.
Marcelo Balladares, Sierra Club Florida Everglades Organizer, said: “Despite a history of tragedy and harm associated with incineration in Miami-Dade, our commissioners are still moving forward with a new incinerator that would harm not just one community, but all of us. Placing an incinerator next to the Everglades puts not only our water, but our future, at risk. But it doesn’t have to be this way.”
Daniel Otale, an environmental economist from the University of Seville, stated: “Overall, the key idea is that waste should not be seen simply as something to dispose of, but as a resource with economic value. A more diversified waste management system is likely to generate higher overall economic and environmental returns than reliance on a single, waste-intensive solution.”
“Across the United States, incinerators are closing. The future is circular, not a linear take, make, use, burn system. Companies like DoorDash are already piloting reusable delivery systems. Cities are rolling out municipal curbside composting, and entire states are eliminating plastics. This is not some distant ideal – it is already happening,” added Maddie Kaufman, Zero-Waste Institutional Change Director with Debris Free Oceans.
Gina Romero, Florida Rising’s Miami-Dade Organizer, stated: “Miami-Dade continues spending millions on incinerators while cutting climate funding. We demand an end to investments in pollution and a shift toward clean air solutions like the Zero Waste plan instead. Wealthy communities get clean air, while working families in Hialeah, Miami Gardens, Opa-locka, and other impacted municipalities bear the burden of pollution. The Zero Waste plan must prioritize these frontline communities first.”
“We commend Miami-Dade County for taking residential communities off the table for a new incinerator, but the truth remains that there is no good location for this large-scale polluting facility,” said Dominique Burkhardt, attorney with Earthjustice. “Sites further west put the Everglades at risk, including the water resources we rely on and the diverse wildlife that inhabit it. They also risk harm to already vulnerable communities, including agricultural workers. We are committed to this fight for the long haul and want to see Miami-Dade County continue investing in true zero-waste solutions.”
Dr. Cheryl Holder, Executive Director of Florida Clinicians for Climate Action, stated: “This is a worthy cause, and we should do everything possible to secure clean air. Our handout includes facts about PM2.5, a tiny inhaled particle that penetrates deep into the lungs and bloodstream, triggering inflammation and asthma attacks. We want Miami-Dade County to use this opportunity to think big about how it can eliminate waste without burning trash and protect community health, especially children.”
PHOTOS:
Group Photo
Conference Photo 1
Conference Photo 2
Conference Speaker Photo
Conference Crowd Photo 1
Conference Crowd Photo 2
BACKGROUND:
- In Florida, officials and communities clash over where to build the nation’s largest trash incinerator (Grist)
- Miami-Dade mayor backtracks on rebuilding controversial incinerator (NBC 6)
- Should Miami-Dade look westward for waste solutions? ‘We can absolutely do what Austin has done’ (Local 10)
###