|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Miami-Dade Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) is hosting a series of public workshops, both in-person and virtual, through Feb. 18, led by the consulting firm WSP.
These workshops strive to gather com munity input that will help shape the county’s forthcoming Zero Waste Master Plan (ZWMP). These workshops build on the first round of public meetings launched in Fall 2025, ensuring ongoing engagement and participation from residents across the county.
The ZWMP, which began development in Spring 2025, is a comprehensive roadmap designed to reduce disposal de pendency, expand waste diversion, and advance a circular economy that benefits both the environment and the community. It will identify the policies, programs, and infra structure 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.
“Creating a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient Miami-Dade is a shared responsibility, and our Zero Waste Master Plan pro vides a roadmap to get us there,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “These workshops give residents a direct role in shaping the policies and programs that will define our environ mental future. Together, we are building a stronger, more sustainable Miami-Dade that can be enjoyed for generations to come. Let’s work together to reduce what we throw away: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle.”
The ZWMP’s goals are ambitious yet achievable: divert as much waste as possible from disposal, encourage sustainable practices, and guide Miami-Dade’s transition to Zero Waste through collaboration with municipalities, partner organizations, and residents. WSP was awarded the ZWMP contract in 2024 and is leading the technical analysis and planning in partnership with DSWM.
Public involvement is an essential com ponent of the ZWMP. Each workshop of fers residents a chance to share ideas, express priorities, and help shape a cleaner, greener future for Miami-Dade County. Feedback gathered during these meetings will help inform the plan, expected for completion in Summer 2026.
“This effort represents one of the most important planning initiatives in our department’s history,” said DSWM director Aneisha Daniel, PhD. “By listening to our residents and working closely with our municipal and community partners, we are de signing a Zero Waste strategy that is realistic, innovative, and built for long-term success.”
As community participation is vital to the success of the ZWMP, we invite all resi dents to complete the ZWMP survey and contribute directly to the development of Miami-Dade’s zero waste future. Access the survey at Miami-Dade County Zero Waste Master Plan Community Survey.
SCHEDULE FOR THE UPCOMING IN-PERSON PUBLIC WORKSHOPS:
Date: Feb. 11
Time: Doors open at 6 p.m., presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Hialeah JFK Library, 190 W 49 St., Hialeah, FL 33012
Date: Feb. 18
Time: Doors open at 6 p.m., presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Coral Gables Branch Library,
3443 Segovia St.,
Coral Gables, FL 33134
ABOUT THE MIAMI-DADE DEPARTMENT OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT (DSWM)
The DSWM provides curbside waste and recycling collection services to more than 350,000 households in unincorporated Miami-Dade County and 10 municipalities, including Aventura, Cutler Bay, Doral, Miami Gardens, Miami Lakes, Opa-locka, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Sunny Isles Beach and Sweetwater. For additional details about DSWM, please visit www.miami dade.gov/solidwaste.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com.
