Dec 24, 2024 Story by: Editor
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.”
A Waste Management Dilemma
Miami-Dade County officials face mounting pressure to address the growing waste problem, as the county generates nearly twice the national average of trash per person, partly due to its booming tourism industry. Despite the urgency, local leaders postponed a decision throughout 2024, with a final vote on a new site scheduled for February.
“There is no perfect place,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava noted in a memo to county commissioners.
This South Florida predicament highlights a broader national issue in the fight for environmental justice. According to Mike Ewall, director of the Energy Justice Network, waste facilities disproportionately affect communities of color.
“All the places that they would consider putting something no one wants are in communities of color,” Ewall said.
Data from the Energy Justice Network shows that while 60% of the nation’s municipal waste incinerators are in majority-white communities, those in communities of color often have more residents living nearby, burn more waste, and emit higher pollution levels. In Florida, six out of nine incinerators are located in areas with a higher percentage of people of color than the state average of 46%, according to EPA data.
Health Concerns and Systemic Inequities
For decades, Miami-Dade relied on a 1982-built incinerator west of the airport, which processed nearly half the county’s waste before burning down in February 2023. Residents complained for years about ash-covered cars, unpleasant odors, and smoke, despite pollution control measures.
Cheryl Holder, a physician who lived near the facility, recalled persistent odors and ash. “My son ended up with asthma… and nobody in my family has asthma,” she said, attributing at least part of the health issues to the incinerator.
Studies show that low-income and minority communities face disproportionate exposure to harmful pollutants, leading to higher rates of respiratory problems, cancer, and other health disparities.
National Context and Political Tensions
President Joe Biden has taken steps to address these inequities through executive orders, but there’s uncertainty about whether his policies will continue. Incoming White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Donald Trump would again prioritize clean air and water while “Making America Wealthy Again.” However, during his first term, Trump rolled back several clean air and water regulations.
Meanwhile, organizations like Earthjustice have filed complaints alleging that Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection failed to consider the disproportionate impact of incinerators on minority communities.
The Search for Sustainable Solutions
As Florida leads the nation in trash incineration, local governments are under pressure to find long-term waste management solutions. Joe Kilsheimer of the Florida Waste-to-Energy Coalition emphasized the difficulty of finding suitable locations, noting, “We have an industrial-scale economy that produces waste on an industrial scale, and we have to manage it on an industrial scale.”
Environmental health experts warn that both day-to-day operations and unplanned events, such as facility fires, pose risks. “It might not be part of their regular operations, but it happens every once in a while,” said Amy Stuart, an environmental health professor at the University of South Florida.
While some argue that incineration is preferable to landfills, others advocate for waste reduction and recycling as more equitable and sustainable solutions.
As public pressure builds and Miami-Dade officials prepare for a crucial vote, the community and its leaders remain divided over how to balance waste management needs with environmental justice and public health. Image Source: News Medical Life Science
