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Miami-Dade County has announced a strategic partnership with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) to advance the county’s Zero Waste Master Plan (ZWMP), marking a major step forward in building a more sustainable, resilient, and environmentally responsible community.
Through this collaboration, GMCVB will build upon its successful Green Key Global initiative, encouraging hospitality partners across Miami-Dade County to adopt enhanced waste reduction and sustainability practices aligned with the county’s Zero Waste and sustainability goals.
The Green Key Global program already emphasizes sustainable operations through policies focused on waste reduction, recycling, composting, and responsible resource management.
This partnership further strengthens those efforts by aligning them with countywide Zero Waste strategies.
“Miami-Dade County is leading the way in building a more sustainable future, and partnerships like this are essential to getting us there,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “By working together with the GMCVB and our hospitality industry, we are reducing waste, protecting our environment, and ensuring that Miami-Dade remains a world-class destination that values sustainability and innovation.”
As part of this initiative, GMCVB is encouraging its members – hotels, venues, and tourism partners – to adopt key Zero Waste strategies, including:
• Replacing single-use items, particularly plastics, with reusable serviceware;
• Implementing edible food donation and recovery programs;
• Composting inedible food scraps from on-site operations, and
• Expanding recycling programs across entire facility footprints.
Miami-Dade County and the GMCVB will collaborate to support implementation of these strategies through industry outreach, technical assistance, and the development of toolkits and resources to guide hospitality partners.
“This partnership represents a significant milestone in advancing our Zero Waste Master Plan,” said DSWM director Aneisha Daniel, PhD. “Working alongside the GMCVB and the hospitality sector helps us expand the reach of sustainable practices, and it helps us with reducing waste disposal, as well as move closer to a more circular economy.”
The initiative also encourages participating businesses to implement these practices by Earth Day 2027, reinforcing a shared commitment to measurable progress and long-term impact.
“This initiative reflects Miami-Dade County’s commitment to advancing sustainability through collaboration with key industry partners,” said James Kohnstamm, director of Economic Development for Miami-Dade County. “Through this partnership we are helping drive the adoption of practical, scalable solutions that support waste reduction, strengthen our local economy, and position Miami-Dade as a global leader in sustainable tourism.”
The partnership showcases a shared commitment to environmental responsibility, innovation, and collaboration. By aligning tourism with sustainability, Miami-Dade County and GMCVB are working together to create a cleaner, greener future for residents and visitors alike.
“Besides being the right thing to do, our hotel partners can take advantage of another opportunity to market their properties to guests who prioritize staying at properties that make sustainability part of the guest experience,” said David Whitaker, GMCVB president and CEO. “Zero Waste means that the industry is proactively taking the strongest position in committing long term and making Miami-Dade County a better place to live, work, play and visit.”
The ZWMP, which began development in Spring 2025, is a comprehensive roadmap designed to reduce disposal dependency, expand waste diversion, and advance a circular economy that benefits both the environment and the community. It will identify the policies, programs, and infrastructure needed to significantly reduce waste disposal and expand sustainable practices throughout Miami-Dade County.
Key areas of focus include organic waste processing and composting, food recovery, expanded recycling opportunities, construction and demolition diversion, and strengthened community education to reduce waste generation.
The ZWMP aligns with the Green Key Global Initiative’s mission, with some hotels diverting nearly 80 percent of all waste generated from operations since joining the Green Key Global Initiative. This partnership will expand the success of the Green Key Global Initiative and will prioritize a zero-waste hospitality industry and Miami-Dade.
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