Broward County's Trash Crisis

A draft Master Plan for a comprehensive solid waste program for Broward County has been created.  The League supports this effort as the only viable way forward to handle our waste in an economical and environmentally sound way into the future. Visit https://browardswa.org/ for more information and a copy of the Master Plan.

To move forward, almost all of the 28 cities in the current Interlocal Agreement need to approve this plan by August of 2026.  The League is committed to speak to our local elected officials and staff to be sure they say yes. We can use everyone's help.

Here are key points.

 Broward has a solid waste crisis which is more than 50 years in the making.
 Broward creates almost 5 million tons of solid waste every year.
 Our one landfill and one incinerator are almost at capacity.
 None of our disposal facilities (including the landfill and incinerator) are owned publicly so we are at the mercy of for-profit companies. Costs will only rise.
 Our recycling rate is about 30%. We are wasting resources and harming our environment.
 When our cities and the county work together, we can take advantage of economies of scale to control costs and protect our environment.
 28 of our cities and the county and four professional consultants have labored over the past several years to draft a Master Plan to create a unified operation to reduce the volume of waste, recycle effectively and limit the amount of waste landfilled and burned.
 To not go forward now is to forfeit the opportunity to effectively address our solid waste crisis.
 Listen to Mayor Ryan's remarks on from June 15, 2025.

Let's Talk Trash

Broward County is facing a serious crisis when we look at the mounting problem of trash. Every year, we create about 4 million tons of trash and we don't have many places to put it. The waste is polluting our air, water and bodies and is a significant contributor to climate change.

Environmental Issues

The LWV has long supported efforts to promote the conservation and sustainability of our natural resources. The Broward League’s Environmental Issues Committee studies these issues with a focus on South Florida, holds events to educate voters, and promotes advocacy to support or oppose legislation which follows League positions.

Environmental issues officially adopted by Broward League for 2024-25

• Support of acquisition, development, and sustainable management of public park lands, greenways, and open spaces.
• Support of Broward League study criteria to determine the suitability of any commercial enterprise in a public park.
• Monitor and support the conservation of water and water resource areas, including Everglades Restoration. 
• Support development and implementation of a regional climate change action plan for Southeast Florida that includes a goal of transitioning to 100% clean renewable energy sources no later than 2050 and setting interim goals.
• Support the rights of residents, businesses, local governments, and schools to reach renewable energy goals.
• Support and encourage reduction, reuse, and recycling of solid waste materials, including - but not limited to - paper, plastic, glass, organics, cardboards, and metals.
• Support the protection of our freshwater resources, that is, our water quality and quantity, from - including but not limited to - saltwater intrusion, pollutants, aging infrastructure or criminal activity.
• Oppose oil drilling, including fracking, off shore and in the Everglades.
• Support only projects that do not have negative environmental and/or socio-economic impacts on local communities.

Key environmental issues in Florida

The League of Women Voters of Broward County – we are fighting to make an environmental difference! We work hard to influence the Florida Legislature, our County and city governments, and the U.S. Congress and to educate the public.

Trash and Recycling - Here in Broward our County officials and 28 of our 31 cities have come to an agreement to develop a comprehensive solid waste plan to deal with our almost 4 million tons of waste created every year.  We are following all the deliberations, and giving input to prioritize waste reduction and effective recycling over landfilling and incineration.  We are working to educate the public about the issue. 

Plastics are a Grave Threat to our Land and Oceans– We need a concerted effort by government to limit single use plastics to save our oceans and our resources. Current state law prevents local governments from plastic bans. This preemption law must be overturned. Individual behavior and corporate policies would help in the meantime. We work to educate everyone about the dangers of plastics to our waste stream, resources and potentially our food chain.

Ban on Fracking and Drilling for Oil in Florida – We want on ban on fracking and oil drilling in Florida’s Everglades and along our coast. We are lobbying our state legislature and Federal government.

Support Full Funding of Land Acquisition Program - The Florida legislature has not fully funded the program to buy environmentally sensitive lands that voters approved by 75% in 2014.

Clean and Adequate Supply of Clean Water - We need adequate funding for Everglades Restoration and to prevent blue-green algae and red tide from ruining our beaches. Septic systems, and fertilizers are a threat to our water system. Sea level rise leads to salt-water intrusion and flooding. Our infrastructure must be prepared and adequately funded.

Nuclear Energy and Climate Change

This presentation by Dr. Assel Aitkaliyeva will explain why nuclear energy is safe and necessary to meet energy demands in the U.S. Dr. Aitkaliyeva, Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineerng at the University of Florida, presented this program to the Broward League Environmental Issues Committee in April 2022.

Coral Reef Restoration

Madeline Kaufman and Liv Williamson from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences discuss Coral Reef Restoration in South Florida with members of the League of Women Voters in June 2021.