As concerned citizens, we are issuing this appeal to member cities of the Solid Waste Authority of Broward County (SWABC) who have not yet scheduled their vote on the Broward Solid Waste Master Plan. Please schedule your vote as soon as possible and vote YES. The Master Plan is the best way forward to address our solid waste crisis.
Stephanie Pearson is the environmental issues chair of the League of Women Voters of Broward County.
How often do we think about our trash after we put it on the curb or send it down the chute? We are relieved when it seems to disappear, but there is no “away.” In fact, Broward County is facing a solid waste crisis. We create too much waste — more than 5 million tons every year (20,000 pounds each minute), all while our landfill and waste-to-energy plant are nearing capacity, and our recycling rate has dropped to 32% when it should be at least 75%. On this current trajectory, the future looks grim. Our disposal capacity will continue to diminish, especially as fewer out-of-county facilities will accept our trash.
We need to work together so we will not be stuck and subject to the will of for-profit companies that will dictate how much we will all pay to process our solid waste.
Fortunately, we have a plan to tackle this crisis. Several years ago, Broward County and 28 of our 31 cities recognized the pending trash crisis and agreed that we all needed to do better. In 2023, they signed an interlocal agreement that created the SWABC. For three years, the municipal members of the SWABC and the county collaborated with professional consultants, industry leaders and the public to develop the Master Plan.
Dr. Julie Long is a member of Broward Sierra Group. (courtesy, Julie Long)
The Master Plan is a roadmap to reduce waste by recovering organic material, construction and demolition debris, and recyclables, and returning those resources to the economy. This approach will help preserve Broward’s landfill and waste-to-energy capacity. The plan is ambitious and long-term, which is necessary to align municipal practices, send clear signals to businesses, and secure the most favorable waste disposal contracts.
To keep costs at the best and lowest price, SWABC will negotiate for all its members, and disposal companies will get a stable market. We will all also benefit from increased recycling rates as the recycling messaging and processing will be uniform across the county. Disposal companies will also benefit from a stable market afforded by the larger source of material.
On May 2, the Sun Sentinel reported that the solid waste Master Plan hangs on the support of the municipalities and Broward County. For the Master Plan to be implemented, cities representing 80% of the population of the participating cities must approve the plan by the deadline of August 14, 2026, which is fast approaching.
Susan Steinhauser is co-chair of the North Broward and Palm Beach County Chapter of The Climate Reality Project. (courtesy, Susan Steinhauser)
The Master Plan has the support of the Broward Workshop, a coalition of business leaders. As the Broward Workshop stated in their supporting letter, “Without coordinated approval, Broward County risks continued fragmentation, increased long-term disposal costs, diminished negotiating leverage, and potential capacity shortfalls. This is a generational decision for the essential service of solid waste management. The choices made today will shape Broward County’s financial stability, environmental performance, and economic vitality for the next 40 years.”
The plan also has the support of our organizations, the Broward Public Schools, the Broward Public Library, the Museum of Science and Discovery, the Florida Panthers, Broward Clean Air and more.
You can help by supporting the Master Plan and asking your local elected officials to support it too. The SWABC website has all the information you need. Go to browardswa.org. Please check to see if your city has voted by going to: browardswa.org/master-plan-voting-schedule. If they have not, you can email or call your elected officials or make public comments at their commission meetings.
The quality of life for Broward residents is at stake.
Stephanie Pearson is chair of environmental issues for League of Women Voters Broward. Dr. Julie Long is a member of Broward Sierra Group. Susan Steinhauser is co-chair of the North Broward and Palm Beach County Chapter of The Climate Reality Project.