Miami Residents Face Increased Trash Fees to Combat Recycling Costs

Trash collection fees could impact residents of Miami-Dade County soon to make up for increased costs.

The increase is due to several factors, including the ever climbing operational, staffing, and global recycling costs that have been exacerbated by the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The suggested fee increase would add $36 to the current annual fee, totaling $545 per year. This proposed fee would keep the recycling program and waste services operational for more than 360,000 households in the county.

"I'm not going to be voting in favor of any sort of increases for our residents," said Miami-Dade Commissioner Kevin M. Cabrera (District 6). "They're struggling with inflation. They're struggling with ever-increasing property taxes, property insurance, groceries, [and] gas."

Cabrera speaks out as the community is already dealing with several challenges financially. He suggests a temporary pause on the current recycling program, which he calls ineffective.

"Recycling is a very, very important part of how we deal with our waste stream," Mayor Daniella Levina Cava said. "We have limited capacity to put things in our landfill. Right now, we don't have a waste-to-energy plant, which was taking half of our garbage. If we do not recycle, that's just more going to the landfill and filling them up quicker.”

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