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In 2025, the Miami-Dade Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) began development of a comprehensive Zero Waste Master Plan (ZWMP) to support the significant reduction of waste disposal and expand sustainable practices throughout the county. The DSWM provides curbside waste and recycling collection services to more than 350,000 households in unincorporated Miami-Dade County and ten municipalities, including Aventura, Cutler Bay, Doral, Miami Gardens, Miami Lakes, Opa-locka, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Sunny Isles Beach, and Sweetwater.

As part of the Plan’s development, Miami-Dade has identified 32 potential strategies (policies, programs, and infrastructure) that will reduce disposal dependency, expand waste diversion, and advance a circular economy, focusing on organic waste processing and composting, food recovery, expanded recycling opportunities, and construction. Significant community outreach, via both surveys and in-person and virtual workshops, is underway and will inform the final strategies included in the ZWMP, which is expected to be drafted by April, and complete in the summer of 2026. 

While the Department of Solid Waste transitioned to single-stream recycling in 2009, the county still generates more than twice the amount of waste per capita compared to the national average of 4.9 pounds per person. Across the Southeast Florida Compact region, solid waste accounted for roughly four percent of total regional greenhouse gas emissions. While the number may seem trivial, organic waste decomposing in landfill releases methane—a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide—when it decomposes in a landfill. Waste management therefore represents an important area of focus that can have significant emission reductions, and other critical community benefits.

Achieving the ambitious goal of zero waste will require significant investment of resources and collaboration with municipalities, partner organizations, and residents. In 2024, the county awarded a contract to WSP to lead the technical analysis and planning in partnership with DSWM. All residents are invited to contribute directly to the development of Miami-Dade’s zero waste future by participating in a brief survey here: Miami-Dade County Zero Waste Master Plan Community Survey, or attending the virtual or in-person workshops.