The City of Miramar has raised concerns regarding Miami-Dade County’s proposed construction of a new waste-to-energy facility, or mass burn facility, at the old Opa-Locka West Airport located near the border of West Miramar, intended as a replacement for the Doral incinerator that caught fire earlier this year.
Back in February, the Miami-Dade County Resources Recovery Facility in Doral went up in flames. The plant, operated by Covanta Energy and responsible for processing about 50% of the county’s trash, has been closed since.
A recent integrated solid waste disposal report submitted to the Miami-Dade County Commission highlighted three potential sites for this new mass burn facility with the OLWA being the preferred site.
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and several other commissioners are all for building the facility on the site of the closed Opa-locka West Airport, seeing as it is already owned by the county and away from residents — a stark contrast from the Doral site, which was surrounded by many residential properties, and triggered health concerns for nearby residents.
Miramar Mayor against the move
But Mayor Wayne Messam is against the move. He said that the new site is less than a mile away from homes in his city.
In a statement expressing his concerns, the mayor stated: “The fact that Miami-Dade County did not notify our city about this significant recommendation is deeply concerning. This location is close to where hundreds of Miramar families reside. I question the data that led to the selection of the Opa-Locka West Airport. It lacks critical information on its potential impact on our residents’ health, the Everglades’ clean surface water, and necessary site studies like wind flow patterns.”
The Doral incinerator is known to have emitted pollutants associated with severe health risks such as cancer, respiratory problems, and reproductive health risks. Further information from the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives emphasizes that burning trash impacts efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to air and water pollution.
Mayor Messam added, “As the Mayor of Miramar, with the support of the City Commission, we are actively engaging with Miami-Dade County officials to reverse this decision. There are other feasible locations for such a facility. If the newer technologies indeed make these facilities safer, then why not consider areas like Coral Gables, Aventura, or Miami Beach? Our commitment to Miramar’s safety and well-being remains paramount.”
The Mayor also noted that the location of the mass burn facility in Doral was established before residential development. However, this is not the case of the proposed OLWA location, where residential areas predated the facility.
The City of Miramar is calling for more comprehensive studies and considerations before finalizing the new site for the mass burn facility.
If the commission decides to move ahead with the new area, it could be years before the new waste management site is built. In the meantime, Miami-Dade’s trash will continue to go to landfills.
