Solid Waste Authority of Broward County's Master Plan Moves Forward

A Regional Solution for Recycling and Solid Waste Management

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla., Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Solid Waste Authority of Broward County's (SWA) Solid Waste Management and Recycling Master Plan (Master Plan) will move forward now that 26 member cities and the County have approved the Facilities Amendment. Together, the SWA members will begin implementing the Master Plan to divert valuable waste from the in-County landfill and waste-to-energy facility while achieving the best possible long-term stable costs for residents and businesses.

"Moving the Master Plan forward is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to solve our solid waste crisis in Broward County and protect our economic destiny," said Mike Ryan, Chair of the SWA's Executive Committee and Governing Board and Mayor of the City of Sunrise. "Now the real work begins as we move away from a fragmented system and toward a more sustainable solid waste system for generations to come."

In Broward County, we generate about 20,000 pounds of waste a minute- that's more than five million tons a year. The landfill and waste-to-energy facility, where much of our waste currently ends up, have finite capacity and are nearly maxed out. The recycling rate in Broward County, with credit for waste-to-energy, is low, just 41%, far short of the state's 75% goal.

"What we are trying to achieve is not novel or unproven," Ryan emphasized.  "With focused policies and dedicated implementation strategies, Collier, Lee, and Palm Beach Counties all have recycling rates greater than the state's 75% goal with four other counties at 60% or more."

With the programs in the Master Plan, the SWA will implement flow control to send municipal solid waste to the appropriate facilities for processing and disposal. The SWA will also make it easier and more convenient to recycle right by adding eight new recycling drop-off locations in Broward County, standardizing the recycling rules across all member communities, and expanding the public outreach and education campaign. Businesses in Broward County, including the Florida Panthers and large retailers, have already proven the economic benefits of reducing and recycling. By working together, SWA members will benefit from the best possible pricing and more stable long-term costs to responsibly process and dispose of their waste than if they contracted for it independently.

"I want to thank the residents, businesses, Broward Workshop, League of Women Voters, Sierra Club, and many other community partners who have been tirelessly advocating for the Master Plan," said Ryan. "We are also working with Broward County Public Schools to bring a recycling curriculum back into the classrooms this school year."

To stay connected with the work the SWA is doing, learn more about the Master Plan, and to take the pledge to waste less and recycle right visit BrowardRecycles.org.

About the Solid Waste Authority of Broward County

The Solid Waste Authority of Broward County is a partnership between Broward County and 26 member municipalities working toward a sustainable, long-term waste management strategy. Committed to innovation and environmental stewardship, the SWA focuses on reducing waste, increasing recycling, and implementing smart solutions for a cleaner future. For more information, visit browardswa.org.

MEDIA CONTACT

Aimee Adler Cooke, (561) 302-6902, [email protected]

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SOURCE Solid Waste Authority of Broward County