As Miami-Dade moves closer to incinerator decision, Miramar may still be in play
Despite past assurances, Miami-Dade once again is considering building a new trash incinerator near the Broward County line — a plan that has previously drawn strong opposition from Miramar officials.
At its Tuesday, Dec. 16, meeting, the Miami-Dade commission listened to two proposals for a new $2 billion waste-to-energy facility. One proposed site would be a couple miles from Miramar, though not as close as the idle Opa-locka West Airport site, which previously generated outrage from city officials and residents.
When that airport site was proposed, Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam voiced strong opposition, warning that the facility would sit upwind of much of the city and could expose residents to pollution and long-term health risks.
At the time, Miami-Dade appeared responsive to Miramar’s concerns.
Still, in November, the Miramar City Commission approved $240,000 to hire the Coral Gables-based Goldstein Environmental Law Firm to help fight the county’s incinerator plans. On Tuesday, nearly three years after a fire shut down the aging Doral incinerator that once processed about half of Miami-Dade’s trash, county commissioners revived efforts to build a replacement facility.
Rather than choosing between two competing development teams, Miami-Dade commissioners opted to keep both proposals alive. Commission Chair Anthony Rodriguez pushed for the rivals to submit a joint proposal, a move approved by the board ahead of a January meeting, the Miami Herald reported.
At the conclusion of Tuesday’s discussion, the commission postponed a final decision on which company — and which site — to select.
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Both teams have proposed building in the same general corridor near Okeechobee Road. One proposal is led by Florida Power & Light, which holds an option to purchase a privately owned 65-acre site east of Okeechobee Road between NW 178th and 182nd streets.
The competing proposal is led by FCC Environmental Services, a Spanish waste management company partnered with MasTec, the Coral Gables-based infrastructure firm whose owners are also partners in Inter Miami CF. It has offered three possible sites.
Though the proposed locations would be farther from Miramar than the earlier Opa-locka West Airport site, city officials warn that emissions could still affect residents if prevailing winds blow toward the city — a concern they say remains unresolved.
Messam could not be reached for comment by the Miramar News on Dec. 17. Representatives from Goldstein Environmental Law Firm also could not be reached.
The Opa-locka West Airport site was previously removed from consideration after Miramar residents packed commission chambers and city leaders threatened legal action.
Commissioners also eliminated the Doral site after political opposition intensified following President Donald Trump’s election. The Trump family owns a golf resort in Doral, and Eric Trump publicly vowed to fight any new incinerator there.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has repeatedly questioned whether the county needs a new incinerator at all. After declining to authorize repairs to reopen the nearly 40-year-old Doral facility, she recommended continuing to haul garbage by truck and train to landfills in Florida and beyond.
Administration reports show that building a new incinerator would likely drive up garbage rates for homeowners. Some commissioners expressed frustration with the repeated delays and lack of resolution.
“I’m not sure that I understand this board’s constant and repetitive aversion for making a decision on this topic,” Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins said.
Environmental and advocacy groups are also opposing the plan, arguing the county should invest in recycling, composting and waste-reduction strategies instead.
Miramar officials say they remain prepared to challenge any plan that places the facility near the city’s borders, emphasizing both potential health risks from being downwind and the broader impact on residents’ quality of life.
The Miami-Dade Commission is scheduled to meet Jan. 16 to make a final decision.
This story was originally published December 18, 2025 at 9:01 AM.
