In September, Florida’s most populous county faced a wave of protests when leaders gathered to choose a site for what could become the nation’s largest trash incinerator. The sheer volume of protesters overwhelmed the government center, with overflow seating spilling into the building’s atrium.
Attendees wore green T-shirts reading, “MIRAMAR SAYS NO TO INCINERATOR! NOT IN OUR BACKYARD,” expressing their opposition to the industrial waste facility. The proposed incinerator, designed to burn up to 4,000 tons of garbage daily, sparked concerns among residents about its impact on property values, environmental health, and overall safety.
Civil rights and environmental advocacy groups raised additional alarm over the location selection process, pointing out that all four potential sites were near some of the region’s most diverse communities. The state, however, argued in federal court that race should not factor into environmental permitting decisions.
“Historically, communities of color have suffered the impacts of toxic plants near our cities, affecting our health and well-being,” said Elisha Moultrie, a 30-year Miramar resident and Miami-Dade NAACP committee leader. “It’s environmental injustice and racial injustice.”
