The fight over expanding the Monarch Hill landfill may soon be coming to an end. The city of Coconut Creek, which had gone to court to block Waste Management’s plan to enlarge the landfill, announced Monday it has reached a settlement with the company.
Dubbed “Mount Trashmore” by critics, the landfill has long been seen by nearby residents as an eyesore and a source of foul odors. Many were outraged by Waste Management’s proposal to expand it by 10 stories in height and 24 acres in width.
Earlier this year, the Broward County Commission approved the expansion plan, prompting Coconut Creek and Deerfield Beach officials to sue in an attempt to stop it. Opponents argued the expansion would worsen air quality and odor issues, while Waste Management insisted it was necessary to handle the county’s 5,000 tons of daily waste. Without it, the company said, garbage would have to be trucked nearly 100 miles to Okeechobee, adding 90,000 truckloads to highways annually, producing 40,000 tons of emissions, and costing residents an estimated $40 million a year. Waste Management also warned its gas-to-energy plant, which powers about 9,000 homes daily, would have to shut down early.
“It’s not a satisfying moment, but at least we can say to the future residents that we did whatever we could,” said Coconut Creek Mayor Jacqueline Railey.
In a unanimous vote Monday night, the City Commission approved the settlement. As part of the deal, Waste Management has agreed not to further enlarge the landfill or open new ones nearby. The company also committed to beginning the closure process in 25 years — a concession city leaders say is unprecedented.
“A groundbreaking settlement that I think is a very big win for the residents of Coconut Creek,” said Commissioner Joshua Rydell. “We can look at our residents and say, the landfill is eventually going to close.”
Rydell added, “At the end of the day, we were able to get an agreement with Waste Management to guarantee the closure of a landfill. That doesn’t normally happen.”
Under the settlement, Waste Management will also pay Coconut Creek and Deerfield Beach $15,000 annually for litter cleanup on roads surrounding the site.
The agreement is not final yet. Both Deerfield Beach and Broward County must sign off before it takes effect.
