Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Beam Furr
Department: County Commission
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO DISCUSS draft Interlocal Agreement for the creation of an independent Solid Waste and Recycling Materials Processing Authority to coordinate regional solid waste and recycling efforts across Broward County. (Commissioner Furr)
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Why Action is Necessary
Required to have a public discussion on this issue.
What Action Accomplishes
Permits a public discussion on this issue.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
The future of solid waste and recycling in Broward County will have a major impact on our environment and economy moving forward. Our countywide recycling rate is 30.94%, which is significantly lower than the state goal of 75%. Recycling reduces emissions and has the potential to create a circular economy. In addition, landfill capacity and identifying appropriate solid waste disposal destinations continues to present significant short-term and long-term concerns. That is why Broward County and all 31 municipalities have made addressing this a top priority.
After the dissolution of the Resource Recovery Board, Broward County and multiple cities agreed to explore the best use of the Alpha 250 property. This ultimately led to the hiring of a consultant, Arcadis, who created a report making recommendations to raise our recycling rate and create a comprehensive solid waste system. The final report was released in 2018.
In October 2019, Broward County and representatives from each city appointed delegates to make recommendations regarding solid waste and recycling, and formed the Solid Waste Working Group (“SWWG”). The SWWG consists of eight municipal representatives, sorted by population, as well as one County representative.
Since the formation of the SWWG, negotiations have produced some consensus and progress towards the possible creation of an independent entity to manage a regional recycling and solid waste system. This includes the decision to move forward with an interlocal agreement as the method to create a Solid Waste and Recycling Authority; the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in which the parties pledge to work together on the formation of this Authority; and the funding and implementation of a Solid Waste Generation Study, which will help us make decisions on facility needs and potential assessments.
After significant discussion and debate, the SWWG produced a draft interlocal agreement regarding the formation of the Solid Waste and Recycling Materials Processing Authority, which after formation would develop and implement a long-term plan and approach to the disposal, reduction, recycling, and reuse of solid waste in Broward County. This Authority would consist of an Executive Committee and Governing Board; would be able to levy assessments to fund the development and operation of facilities and solid waste programs; and would require the passage of a Master Plan of Operations and an additional contract amendment to the interlocal agreement as the Authority’s first efforts. There are some areas of debate remaining, and the Broward League of Cities has requested that all cities and Broward County submit comments by the October 14th deadline. Exhibit 1 is a working draft and does not signify that the County is in agreement with all provisions contained within.
The purpose of this item is to allow the County Commission to discuss this draft interlocal agreement before the comment submission deadline and determine the best way to proceed, which will directly impact if and how we increase recycling and manage solid waste in Broward County.
Source of Additional Information
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
None.