Summary

The council approved two procurement items: a Coastal Waste & Recycling contract for up to $520,000 to process residential recyclables and a package of Waste Connections purchase orders totaling up to $16.66 million for pickup and disposal. Council questioned whether recycled material was truly being recycled and pressed administration about persistent illegal dumping along NW 107th Avenue.

The Hialeah City Council approved purchase orders to two waste vendors after a discussion about how recyclable material is processed and who is responsible for persistent illegal dumping along a county right‑of‑way.

Staff described a Coastal Waste & Recycling program the city will pay up to $520,000 to process an estimated 7.7 tons of recyclables annually; the company will take collected material to a state‑sanctioned waste‑to‑energy facility so the city meets Florida recycling requirements. As one staffer explained, “This actually counts… it makes us comport with state law that we’re actually recycling.” Councilmembers pressed whether the material is separated or burned and whether pickup frequency can be negotiated to lower costs.

Separately, the council approved a suite of contracts with Waste Connections of Florida for collection and disposal — a package with total expenditures not to exceed approximately $16.66 million, including collection, solid‑waste disposal and a small $60,000 line for city‑generated construction debris. Councilmembers asked whether the $60,000 construction‑debris allocation would be used to address the chronic illegal dumping on NW 107th Avenue. Administration said initial cleanup used a county landfill allowance and intergovernmental coordination — the county provided disposal capacity while the city supplied manpower — and that work paused when funds were exhausted but that Miami‑Dade agreed to take on more of the cleanup.

Both items passed on roll calls. Councilmembers asked staff to pursue clearer agreements and reporting about where recyclables are sent and to follow up on the 107th Avenue cleanup so residents see progress.