Broward County commissioners on Tuesday postponed a decision on the proposed expansion of the Monarch Hill Landfill, also known locally as “Mount Trashmore.”
The landfill is located at 2700 Wiles Rd, Pompano Beach. Its website states: “As of July 2024, Monarch Hill Landfill has an estimated six years of capacity remaining at current inbound volumes of 5,000 tons per day. Currently, Monarch Hill is no longer able to accept hurricane and storm debris.”
Waste Management, the site’s operator, has proposed both a vertical and horizontal expansion to extend the landfill’s capacity from six years to 16. The proposal includes raising the landfill’s height from 225 feet to 325 feet—making it taller than Florida’s state Capitol—and expanding its footprint by 24 acres on land where an incinerator was recently demolished.
The commission meeting drew strong resistance from nearby residents and city leaders from Coconut Creek, Pompano Beach, and Deerfield Beach, all of whom are impacted by the landfill. Dozens of residents voiced concerns about the expansion, with many citing health, environmental, and quality-of-life impacts.
Deerfield Beach Commissioner Michael Hudak added, “If you allow it to 325 feet, it’s bigger than the state Capitol building.”
Waste Management’s proposal includes a request for a land use plan amendment that would convert the former Wheelabrator North incinerator site into additional landfill space, and a zoning change that would grant them the right to increase the landfill’s height without requiring further variance approval. Currently, Monarch Hill receives about 90% construction and bulk waste, though the operator says it plans to limit future intake to construction debris and bulk waste, such as furniture and rugs.
Ahead of the county meeting, Coconut Creek held its own special session to oppose the expansion. Commissioner Joshua Rydell called Waste Management “bullies” for allegedly attempting to pressure the city into amending a prior settlement to avoid objecting to the proposal. The city ultimately rejected Waste Management’s efforts, choosing to align with Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach to challenge the expansion at the county level.
With the decision now deferred until January, many residents and city officials urged commissioners to delay any action until the county’s solid waste management plan is completed next year.
Waste Management says that without the “Mount Trashmore” expansion, Broward’s daily 5,000 tons of waste would be trucked nearly 100 miles to Okeechobee, adding 90,000 truckloads to major highways yearly, creating 40,000 tons of emissions, and costing locals $40 million annually.
The landfill’s gas-to-energy plant, which powers about 9,000 homes daily, would also need to shut down early if the expansion isn’t approved.
