The controversial vote on where to build Miami Dade’s new waste-to-energy facility has been deferred until Nov. 6.
Commissioners voted Tuesday for a 60-day deferment on the controversial plans after some felt they needed more information on the four potential sites.
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The proposed sites include Medley, Opa-Locka West Airport, a site off West Okeechobee Road, or the current site of the incinerator in Doral, which burned down in February 2023.
Tuesday’s meeting started with protests outside the Miami Dade Government Center, where a large group of residents from Miramar showed up with their mayor, holding signs and yelling through megaphones. They opposed Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s recommendation to place the new incinerator at the old Opa-Locka West Airport location, citing health concerns from emissions released from the potential waste-to-energy plant.
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Some of the residents live less than 2 miles from the proposed site.
"We're residents from Miramar, we’ve been living there for 25 years. So, I don’t think we should have this incinerator close to our houses and that will affect our air quality, water quality and all the animals that’s near us," said a woman named Veronica.
Mayor Wayne Messam joined the protest outside the building and spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting along with more than 90 others who mainly voiced opposition to the plant.
He applauded the commission’s decision to defer the vote for 60 days.
“This decision today actually helps to merit the wait of this decision that it will be a consequential decision by Miami Dade County; to allow the board to really look at all possible options so they can answer this question correctly,” Messam said.
Miramar has threatened to sue Miami-Dade County if they build near the Broward County line.
During the meeting, Chairman Oliver Gilbert said he was opposed to the Opa-Locka West Airport site. He wants a land swap deal with the owner of land in Medley. The owner spoke during the meeting, stating he wants to swap his land with the county-owned Airport West site and turn it into a rock mine.
District 12 Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez called the deferment decision disappointing.
“It’s not good government and it’s going to cost us a lot of money,” Bermudez said. “The time is running out for us to get federal dollars for this facility.”
Commissioner Raquel Regalado suggested the wrong decision could lead to “10 years of litigation.”
She wants to increase capacity at the Miami-Dade landfill and hold a special meeting to better understand the proposals.
Levine Cava spoke at the meeting, highlighting how much trash Miami Dade produces and the need to act sooner than later. She stated the county produces double the amount of trash compared to the national average.
