| Local Policy Description: | Miami-Dade's Action Plan proposes to reduce waste-related GHG emissions by reducing and recycling waste, and by capturing landfill methane.
Recycle Between 30 and 50% of Dade County's Waste Stream
Measure 1 could achieve an annual CO2 reduction of between 1,188,000 and 1,979,000 tons of CO2 by 2005.
1. Continue to implement and promote the following recycling programs.
* single-family residential
* multi-family residential
* commercial
* yard trash
* disposal facilities
* Metro-Dade Government facilities
In order to achieve compliance with the State of Florida's 1994 30% recycling goal, the DSWM has implemented a variety of recycling efforts. These programs include a curbside recycling program serving over 265,000 households, a yard trash mulch recycling program, a recycling materials drop-off program, and ferrous and aluminum recovery at the Resources Recovery Plant. In addition to various programs operated directly by the DSWM, the County has implemented two recycling ordinances, the first requires commercial and multi-family establishments to provide recycling programs to their occupants and/or residents and the second
mandates participation in the program. As a part of this effort, Metro-Dade County facilities and offices are implementing recycling programs. The DSWM continues to develop additional programs, such as clean organic waste composting and high-grade trash processing, in order to increase the County's recycling potential. In this way, the County is planning to meet and exceed the State's 1994 recycling goal.
Recover and Utilize Landfill Methane
This measure is estimated to reduce 177,000 tons of CO2 over the life of the landfill. 1. Recover and flare or use the methane gas to generate electricity for the South District WasteWater Treatment Facility.
The South Dade Landfill is a 340-acre five-cell landfill. Cells 1 and 2 have been filled and closed, the third is currently being filled and the fourth is being developed. As a result of the materials decomposing, landfills emit gases, 50% of which is methane (CH4). Methane is a potent "greenhouse gas" because it has a high warming potential that is approximately 21 times that of CO2.
The Metro-Dade DSWM is currently investigating several different options for recovering and utilizing the methane to generate power. One alternative is the delivery of medium-BTU gas to the South District Wastewater Treatment Facility. Since methane is a potent "greenhouse" gas, simply flaring the gas will result in a substantial reduction, however, the use of methane as an alternative fuel will result in an even greater savings.
Reduce Solid Waste Generated by Up to 5%
The following measures could reduce 389,000 tons of CO2.
1. Implement community-wide reduction programs.
Given the significant level of growth in the waste stream over the last twenty years or so, achieving even a modest reduction would be a tremendous accomplishment. The waste reduction program includes the following components: educating consumers to avoid the purchase of excessive packaging and other disposal items; and promoting the home composting residential program in order to encourage a reduction in the amount of yard trash entering the waste stream.
2. Institute waste reduction purchasing practices in Metro-Dade.
Metro-Dade County Government is currently implementing procurement policies and practices to achieve reduced purchasing of disposal or single-use products and reduced purchasing of excessive packaging.
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