WATER, SEWER, AND SOLID WASTE ELEMENT

Introduction

The Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Element is composed of two subelements. The Water and Sewer Subelement contains a goal, objectives, policies, and monitoring measures for the County’s water services. The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) is the largest public water and sewer utility southeastern United States The Department’s water system serves over 451,000 retail customers and 15 Municipal wholesale customers in Miami-Dade County, and the wastewater system serves over 367,000 retail customers and 13 wholesale customers consisting of 12 municipal customers and the Homestead Air Reserve Base. In November 2007, WASD received a historic 20-year Water-Use Permit (WUP) from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). Since the 2007 WUP, WASD has requested several modifications to the permit with the most recent WUP modification issued on March 8, 2022 with an expiration date of December 27, 2045, with an annual allocation of 148,018 million gallons (405.53 MGD) to year 2042. The permit is a plan for meeting the present and future water needs of the County while protecting natural resources such as the Everglades. The permit requires WASD to develop alternative water supply sources including use of the Floridan Aquifer as an alternative water supply, and the C-51 Reservoir, and continue with its Water-Use Efficiency Program and water loss reduction program. It ensures water will be available for Miami-Dade County’s needs and lays the groundwork for capital improvements programmed or planned for the next decade.

The Solid Waste Subelement contains a goal, objectives, policies, and monitoring measures for the County’s solid waste services. The purpose of the Solid Waste Subelement is to provide for an integrated Solid Waste Collection and Disposal System with the principal responsibilities of collection, transfer, disposal and recycling of municipal solid waste. Miami Dade-County’s Public Works and Waste Management Department (PWWM) primarily provides solid waste services to account holders of single-family residential units and a small number of commercial and multifamily units in the unincorporated portions of the County. PWWM presently holds long term interlocal agreements with 18 municipalities to provide solid waste disposal services and with 11 municipalities for curbside recycling. PWWM also ensures regulatory compliance in issues regarding solid waste through the Enforcement Division, which continues to be proactive in addressing and investigating occurrences of trash on the rights-of-way and illegal dumping.

WATER AND SEWER SUBELEMENT

GOAL

PROVIDE FOR POTABLE WATER, AND SANITARY SEWER FACILITIES WHICH MEET THE COUNTY’S NEEDS IN A MANNER THAT PROMOTES THE PUBLIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, CDMP-PLANNED LAND USE, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

Objective WS-1

In order to serve those areas where growth is encouraged and to discourage urban sprawl, the County shall plan and provide for potable water supply, and sanitary sewage disposal on a countywide basis in concert and in conformance with the future land use element of the comprehensive plan.

Policies

WS-1A. The area within the Urban Development Boundary of the adopted Land Use Plan Map shall have the first priority in providing potable water supply, and sanitary sewage disposal, and for committing financial resources to these services. Future development in the designated Urban Expansion Area shall have second priority in planning or investments for these services.

WS-1B. All new uses within the Urban Development Boundary shall be connected to a public water supply when located within a feasible distance of existing water supply lines and in accordance with the County’s applicable standards and regulations including any variances that may be approved.

WS-1C. Individual potable water supplies, including private wells, shall be considered interim facilities to be utilized only where no alternative public water supply is available and land use and water resources are suitable for an interim water supply. Such interim water supply systems shall be phased out as service becomes available from municipal or County supply.

WS-1D. The County shall protect the integrity of groundwater within wellfield protection areas by strict adherence to the Wellfield Protection Ordinances, by rigorous enforcement of sanitary sewer requirements, hazardous waste prohibitions, land use restrictions, and all other applicable regulations, and by supporting system improvements which are designed to protect or enhance the raw water supply. Existing and future wellfields of exceptional quality, such as the Northwest Wellfield, shall be particularly addressed in the regulations to prevent degradation of water quality.

WS-1E. Variances from water, sewer or environmental regulations shall not be approved for land uses that are not consistent with the adopted Land Use Plan map.

WS-1F. Miami-Dade County shall use all practical means to assure that land in the vicinity of existing or planned water and wastewater treatment facilities located on County-owned land is developed for a use that is compatible with the operation of said facilities. The County shall discourage changes to the Land Use Plan map or land

development regulations, which would permit land uses that are incompatible with the continued operation or planned expansion of these facilities. Residential uses shall be considered incompatible with these public facilities where spillovers, particularly noise and odor, can reasonably be expected.

WS-1G. Miami-Dade County shall continue to develop the Countywide water supply and sewage disposal systems by seeking opportunities to improve the system, increasing redundancies when appropriate, and increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of existing public facilities to the maximum extent feasible.

WS-1H. New potable water supply or wastewater collection lines should not be extended to provide service to land within areas designated Agriculture, Open Land, or Environmental Protection on the Land Use Plan map. New potable water or wastewater lines to serve land within these areas, or connections to existing lines should be approved or required only where the absence of the service would result in an imminent threat to public health or safety. Determination as to whether the absence of central water or wastewater service constitutes an imminent threat to public health or safety shall be made by the County Mayor’s designee responsible for administering environmental regulations after considering recommendations from the County Mayor’s designees responsible for administering planning policy and water and sewer regulations. The use of on-site facilities should be given priority consideration. In all cases, facilities should be sized only to service the parcels where the imminent threat would exist, to avoid inducing additional urban development in the area. This policy will not preclude federal, State or local long-range planning or design of facilities to serve areas within the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) or Urban Expansion Area (UEA). Public health and safety determinations will be made in accordance with Chapter 24 of the Code of Miami-Dade County (Environmental Protection) and Section 2-103.20, et seq., (Water Supply for Fire Suppression) Code of Miami-Dade County.

Objective WS-2

The County will maintain procedures to ensure that any facility deficiencies are corrected and that adequate facility capacity will be available to meet future needs.

Policies

WS-2A. To assure adequate level of service, potable water and sanitary sewer facilities shall meet the following level of service standards:

1. Potable Water Supply:

(a) The potable water treatment system shall operate with a rated maximum daily capacity no less than 2 percent above the maximum daily flow for the preceding year accounting for capacity that is reserved for development that is not yet completed (“reserved capacity”), and no less than an average daily capacity 2 percent above the average daily system demand for the preceding 5 years accounting for reserved capacity. The maximum finished water daily flow shall be determined by calculating the average of the highest five single day finished water flows for the previous 12 months. 20 pounds per square inch (psi) and no greater than 100 psi. Unless otherwise approved by the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department,

minimum fire flows based on the land use served shall be maintained as follows:

(b) Water shall be delivered to users at a pressure no less than 20 pounds per square inch (psi) and no greater than 100 psi. Unless otherwise approved by the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department, minimum fire flows based on the land use served shall be maintained as follows:

(c) Water quality shall meet all federal, state, and County primary standards for potable water.

(d) Countywide storage capacity for finished water shall equal no less than 15 percent of the Countywide average daily demand.

2. Sanitary Sewer:

(a) The wastewater treatment plants shall operate with a physical capacity of no less than the annual average daily influent sewage flow for the preceding 12 months.

(b) Effluent discharged from wastewater treatment plants shall meet all federal, State, and County standards.

(c) The system shall maintain the capacity to collect and dispose of no less than 102 percent of annual average daily influent sewage flow for the preceding 5 years accounting for reserved capacity. The maximum daily flow shall be determined by calculating the average of the highest five single day flows for the previous 12 months. The annual average daily influent sewage flow shall be calculated as the average of the daily volume received at the facility over a 12-month period.

(d) The per capita Level of Service standard for sanitary sewer shall be 122 gallons per capita per day.

WS-2B. Except as provided by Objective WS-1 and the supporting policies, no development order authorizing new development, or a significant expansion of an existing use shall be issued for any area of the County which is served by a potable water or sanitary sewer facility which does not meet the standards in Policy WS-2A or will not meet these standards concurrent with the completion of the development. In any case where the federal, state, or County standards referenced in Policy WS-2A are revised, a reasonable time for compliance with the new standards shall be allowed.

WS-2C. Miami-Dade County shall maintain procedures and programs to monitor levels of service of each water supply, water treatment and wastewater treatment facility for use by agencies that issue development orders or permits. Such procedures may include the establishment of water and wastewater allocation processes to assure that adequate water supply, and water and wastewater transmission and treatment capacity is available prior to issuance of development orders or permits.

WS-2D. All wastewater treatment operations will comply with federal and state regulations for overflows.

WS-2E. Miami-Dade County shall continue and expand its current practice of installing oversize water and sewer mains and associated facilities in anticipation of future needs consistent with Land Use Element policies which affect the timing, staging, and location of future development, and shall require developers dedicating such facilities to the County to conform with this policy. All applications and proposed agreements for water and/or sewer extensions submitted to the Water and Sewer Department that are inside of and within 330 feet of the Urban Development Boundary shall be subject to additional review to ensure compliance with County policies that discourage urban sprawl while providing for efficient and effective operation of the system. The installation of oversized water and sewer mains will be consistent with engineering requirements to protect the public health and safety of the area residents and Land Use Element policies.

WS-2F. The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) shall continue the expansion of existing regional water and wastewater treatment plants to meet future demand. The efficiency of existing plants will be increased wherever feasible to avoid building new plants.

WS-2G. In order to further assure high water and sewer service standards throughout the County, the County should maintain countywide design standards for all improvements and extensions of water distribution and sewer collection systems.

Objective WS-3

The County will provide an adequate level of service for public facilities to meet both existing and projected needs as identified in this plan through implementation of those projects listed in the Capital Improvements Element. All improvements for replacement, expansion, or increase in capacity of facilities shall conform with the adopted policies of this Plan including level of service standards for the facilities.

Policies

WS-3A. Public facility improvements will be evaluated for funding in accordance with the following general criteria:

1. Improvements necessary to protect the health, safety, and environmental integrity of the community, consistent with the policies of this Plan and applicable federal, state, and County regulatory requirements.
2. Improvements necessary to eliminate any deficiencies that may exist in capacity or in performance including fire flow deficiencies. These include the

retrofit of deteriorating facilities which fail or threaten to fail to meet health, safety, or environmental standards.

3. Cost-effective improvements to expand capacity, maximize operational efficiency, and increase productivity inside the Urban Development Boundary.

4. Improvements extending service to previously unserved or underserved areas within a zoned Urban Center or Rapid Transit Activity Corridor.

5. Improvements identified in adopted functional plans.

WS-3B. Potable water supply and sanitary sewage facility improvements will be undertaken in conformity with the schedule included in the Capital Improvements Element.

WS-3C. All potable water supply and sanitary sewerage improvement projects will be undertaken in accordance with applicable state, federal, and County environmental regulations.

WS-3D. Improve the administration of planning and development activity, and coordinate significant private and public planning activities in Miami-Dade County. Miami-Dade County shall maintain procedures and requirements to assure that all development, regardless of size, contributes its proportionate share of the cost of providing water and sewer facilities necessary to accommodate the impact of the proposed development.

WS-3E. Fully implement wastewater system improvements pledged in agreements made between Miami-Dade County, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, maintain a regular and ongoing program for inspection and repair of existing sewers, and maintain a schedule for the rehabilitation or replacement of substandard collector systems.

WS-3F. The Miami-Dade County Water, Wastewater, and Reuse Integrated Master Plan, the primary vehicle for planning for water, sewer, and reuse facilities, shall continue to be updated on a regular basis. The integrated Master Plan shall include initiatives to address climate change and sea level rise that would impact the water and sewer infrastructure and drinking water supplies.

Objective WS-4

Miami-Dade County shall protect the health of its residents and preserve its environmental integrity by reducing the proportion of residences and commercial establishments within the Urban Development Boundary using wastewater treatment facilities that are not connected to the central system. Miami-Dade County shall discourage the new or continued use of such facilities through the strict application of the CDMP and land development regulations.

Policies

WS-4A. Interim wastewater treatment plants shall be permitted only where no sewer connection is available upon consideration and approval, on a case-by-case basis, by the Environmental Quality Control Board or successor board (EQCB) at a public hearing. In evaluating permit requests, the EQCB shall consider alternative

methods of sewage disposal, environmental suitability, risks to wellfield and potable water supplies, impacts on proximate land uses, the potential for creating a present or future nuisance, and conformance of requested use with Land Use Element of the Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP). Within the Urban Development Boundary, interim wastewater treatment facilities should be permitted.

WS-4B. Interim wastewater treatment plants within the Urban Development Boundary shall continue to be phased out as sewer service becomes available.

WS-4C. Within the Urban Development Boundary, Miami-Dade County shall strongly discourage the use of septic tanks. Throughout the County, additional septic tanks should not be permitted for the disposal or discharge of industrial or other non-domestic waste. Septic tanks should be discouraged where they may affect water quality of a surface water body or where seasonally high water table will impair proper functioning. Septic tanks should be avoided in wellfield protection areas or where private wells are in use. Under the regulations and procedures established by the Board of County Commissioners, septic tanks may be permitted outside of the Urban Development Boundary and where connection to a public sewer is not feasible. Where septic tanks are permitted, they should be designed to account for sea level rise and provide treatment necessary to protect human health and environmental integrity.

WS-4D. Anywhere that the use of existing private wells, interim wastewater treatment plants, or septic tanks pose a threat to the public health or the environmental integrity of Miami-Dade County, the County shall assert its authority to create a special taxing district to finance connections to the public water supply or to the public sewer system.

WS-4E. Miami-Dade County shall explore various funding sources including special taxing districts, grants, customer/developer funding, general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, rate surcharges, and tax increment financing to eliminate the use of septic tanks and private wells within the Urban Development Boundary.

WS-4F. Miami-Dade County shall take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with regulations to prevent the build-up of fats, oils and grease in the sewer collection, transmission and treatment systems that could result in sewer backups overflow and treatment violations. The County should investigate new technologies to protect pump stations from rags and wipes that may result in sewer backups and overflows.

WS-4G. It is the policy of the County to mandate the connection of existing developments to the regional wastewater system upon extension of the wastewater collection system proximate to said developments, provided said connection is in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations and does not create an adverse condition to the wastewater system.

WS-4H. Miami-Dade County shall coordinate with municipalities and the State of Florida to monitor existing septic tanks that are currently at risk of malfunctioning due to high groundwater levels or flooding and shall develop and implement programs to abandon these systems and/or connect users to the public sewer system. The County shall also identify which systems will be adversely impacted by projected sea level rise and additional storm surge associated with climate change and shall

plan to target those systems to protect public health, natural resources, and the region’s tourism industry.

Objective WS-5

Develop and implement a comprehensive water conservation program to ensure that a sufficient, economical supply of Biscayne Aquifer water is available to meet current and future water demand without degrading the environment.

Policies

WS-5A. All potable water distribution systems shall maintain unaccounted for water loss at less than 10 percent of the water entering the system. The County has implemented a theft and water leak detection program to reduce water loss to less than 10 percent.

WS-5B. Miami-Dade County shall seek to reduce potable water consumption by domestic, industrial and institutional consumers through the continued examination and implementation of the County’s Water Use Efficiency Plan which includes water conservation programs, water loss reduction efforts, a tiered rate based billing structure, landscape irrigation restrictions, and water use efficiency standards for new construction.

WS-5C. Promote an educational program for residential, commercial and industrial consumers which will discourage waste and conserve water.

WS-5D. Enforce requirements, and establish new requirements and procedures, as needed, to assure that high efficiency plumbing fixtures are used in all new residential and commercial structures and permitted renovations in accordance with Section 8-31 of the Miami-Dade County Code. Improved procedures for plumbing inspections and mechanisms for approving new products for installation shall be considered.

WS-5E. Miami-Dade County shall take all necessary steps to ensure that all future development shall comply with the landscape standards in Sections 18-A and 18-B of Miami-Dade County Code.

Objective WS-6.

Miami-Dade County shall undertake timely efforts to expand traditional sources of raw water and develop new alternative raw water sources and projects to meet the County’s water supply needs.

Policies

WS-6A. Miami-Dade County shall continue to utilize, expand and pursue the development of new potable water wellfields and alternative water supplies to meet the County’s existing and future water supply needs. Miami-Dade County will meet all water supply demands associated with new growth from alternative water supply sources, which may include: withdrawals from the Floridan Aquifer and the C-51 Reservoir Project, implementation of water conservation methods, and development of reclaimed and wastewater reuse strategies.

WS-6B. Miami-Dade County shall take the steps necessary to assure that all viable potable water wellfields in the County remain available for use and possible future expansion. Such steps may include, but shall not be limited to, the renewal of withdrawal permits and the extension of the County’s wellfield protection measures.

WS-6C. Miami-Dade County shall continue to implement Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) techniques as a method of increasing supplies where such techniques are safe, feasible, and compatible with the protection of natural ecosystems.

WS-6D. In the development of its future potable water supplies, Miami-Dade County shall, to the maximum extent feasible, utilize methods which preserve the integrity of the Biscayne Aquifer, protect the quality of surface water and related ecosystems, consider and are compatible with the South Florida Water Management District’s Lower East Coast Regional Water Supply Plan and the current Water Use Permit, and comply with the land use and environmental protection policies of the Miami-Dade County CDMP, the Strategic Regional Policy Plan for South Florida, and the State Comprehensive Plan.

WS-6E. Miami-Dade County shall develop and implement reclaimed water use strategies to augment the water supplies of the Biscayne Aquifer when deemed to be economically and environmentally feasible. Miami-Dade County will continue to participate in reuse pilot projects including those that are a part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). If feasible, the County, in cooperation with state and federal agencies, will utilize the results of any pilot programs participated in to develop future large-scale water reuse projects.

WS-6F. It is the policy of Miami-Dade County that the distribution of potable water from the proposed reverse osmosis water treatment plant located in proximity to the area encompassing Application No. 5 in the April 2005-2006 CDMP Cycle area bounded by NW 154 Street on the south, NW 97 Avenue on the east, and the Homestead Extension of the Florida Turnpike (HEFT) on the northwest, using the Floridan Aquifer as its source, shall be dedicated first to satisfying the total potable water demand from development of the site of Application No. 5. In no event shall a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) for development in the area encompassed by Application No. 5 be issued until it is served by the proposed reverse osmosis water treatment plant or by another water supply source authorized under the County’s Consumptive Use Permit from the South Florida Water Management District or as otherwise agreed upon with the District and incorporated into the County’s CIE Schedules of Improvements.

WS-6G. Where feasible, all sewage treatment plants shall adopt methods which utilize reuse water for activities that would otherwise utilize potable water.

WS-6H. Applications with a projected water demand of one million gallons per day or greater shall be evaluated by the County’s Water and Sewer Department to determine the feasibility of an alternative water supply project. Such projects may include the installation of a reverse osmosis plant, wastewater reclamation facility, reuse distribution system or on-site reuse system.

Objective WS-7.

Miami-Dade County shall create a Water Supply Facilities Work Plan that identifies and develops those water supply projects necessary to meet the County’s projected water demands for a minimum 10-year period.

Policies

WS-7A. The Miami-Dade County Water Supply Facilities Work Plan (Work Plan), dated April 2022, is adopted and incorporated by reference into the CDMP. This document is designed to: assess current and projected potable water demands; evaluate the sources and capacities of available water supplies; and identify those water supply projects, using all available technologies, necessary to meet the County’s water demands.

WS-7B. The County shall consider the most recent approved version of South Florida Water Management District’s Lower East Coast Regional Water Supply Plan in developing and updating its Water Supply Facilities Work Plan. The Work Plan will be updated, at a minimum, every 5-years and within 18 months after the South Florida Water Management District’s approval of an updated Lower East Coast Regional Water Supply Plan. Updates to the water supply facilities necessary to satisfy projected water demands shall be provided to the South Florida Water Management District in the Annual Lower East Coast Progress Report. The Work Plan shall address climate change and sea level rise that may impact the potable water infrastructure and sources. The potable water supply facilities necessary to satisfy projected water demands during the 2022 - 2030 period are shown in Table 1, below:

Table 1

Alternative Water Supply Projects 2022-2030

Monitoring Program

This section of the Element outlines the substantive components of Miami-Dade County’s monitoring program pertinent to the objectives, policies and parameters referenced elsewhere in this Element.

Water and Sewer Monitoring and Evaluation Program

In practice, the use of quantitative measures of objective implementation is preferred to individual policy evaluation. The following measures are recommended for use in monitoring the objectives proposed in this report for the Water and Sewer Subelement. These measures were selected based on their ability to represent overall achievement of an objective and on their ease and economy in collection, recording, and evaluation. At least one measure is recommended for each objective, and one alternative measure is recommended for several objectives. The alternative measure is recommended for those objectives where none of the primary measurements recommended are available from existing data sources in Countywide circulation at the time of the report. The alternative measurement, if suggested, will always be based on an existing data source.

Objective WS-1. Planning and provision of water and sewer services in concert and conformity with the County's Land Use Element of the CDMP.

Recommended measurement for potable water and sanitary service: geographic area outside of the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) served by water and sewer each year.

Alternative measure for potable water: miles of water mains greater than 6 inches in diameter which exist outside of the UDB. Alternative measure for sanitary sewer: miles of sewer force mains which exist outside of the UDB. Source of alternative measure: Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department Water and Sewer Atlases. It should be noted that the alternative measurements will overestimate system development outside of the UDB, as they will count water and sewer mains located outside the UDB, but not used for local service. The use of the alternative measurements will have to correct for this bias. Objective WS-2. Implementation of procedures to ensure adequate facilities and correct system deficiencies, including Level of Service (LOS) standards for Water and Sewer services.

The achievement of the LOS standards is their own monitoring measures. For the entire objective, the following measures are recommended: treatment plant capacity for the system (water and sewer); reserve capacity of raw and treated water (water); amount of areas of inadequate fire flow (water). Treatment plant capacity is monitored and published by WASD regularly, and does not require an alternative. Other alternative measures include percent water unaccounted for, ratio of peak demand to average demand, treatment plant capacity for individual treatment plants.

Objective WS-3. Provision of capital improvements to the water and sewer systems in conformity with applicable plans and the Capital Improvements Element (CIE) of the CDMP.

The measurements recommended are the list of capital projects included in the Capital Improvements Element and completed projects.

Objective WS-4. Reduction in the use of septic tanks and other private wastewater treatment facilities.

Recommended measurements include: number of new septic tank permits issued (excluding replacement septic tank permits) versus the number of septic tank abandonment permits; number of non-residential septic tanks and other private treatment facilities, unsewered and developed areas within wellfield protection areas; number of IW (industrial wastewater) facilities served by septic tanks; number of conversions by permit from septic tank system to central system per year or any given period; and number of existing septic tanks in areas of the County at higher risk of malfunction due to climate change impacts such as higher groundwater levels and increased flooding.

Objective WS-5. Initiation and maintenance of the county's Water Use Efficiency Plan objectives including water conservation programs, non-revenue water loss reduction efforts and legislative initiatives.

Recommended measurements include: average water use per capita; percent water unaccounted for; peak day to average day water demand ratio; amount of water and wastewater that is reused or reclaimed within Miami-Dade County on an annual basis. This data is published annually by WASD so no alternative measure is recommended.

Objective WS-6. Expansion of traditional and innovative sources of raw water.

Recommended measurements include: reserve capacity of raw water and capacity of the aquifer storage and recovery system, and other future innovative projects once implemented as specified in the County’s Water Use Permit. No alternative measurements are recommended.

Objective WS-7. Development and maintenance of a Water Supply Facilities Plan.

Recommended measurements include: Consistency between the water supply projects identified in the Water Supply Facilities Work Plan and those listed in Miami-Dade County's Water Use Permit(s), the Lower East Coast Regional Water Supply Plan, and the Capital Improvements Element of the CDMP. A second measure would be a comparison of the projected 10-year water demands with the projected water supply projects identified in the Work Plan.

SOLID WASTE SUBELEMENT

GOAL

PROVIDE AN INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN CONFORMITY WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY LAW THAT PROVIDES OUR CUSTOMERS WITH EXCEPTIONAL WASTE COLLECTION, RECYCLING AND DISPOSAL SERVICES WHICH PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH, SANITATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, BENEFICIAL LAND USE AND GROWTH PATTERNS AND IS FUNDED THROUGH FAIR AND EQUITABLE MEANS.

Objective SW-1

In order to serve those areas where growth is encouraged and to discourage urban sprawl, the County shall plan and provide for solid waste disposal services on a countywide basis as provided for in this subelement in conformance with the future land use element of the Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP).

Policies

SW-1A. The area within the Urban Development Boundary of the adopted Land Use Plan Map shall have the first priority in the provision of County solid waste management, and for committing financial resources to these services. Future development in the designated Urban Expansion Area shall have second priority in planning or investments for these services. Provision of County solid waste facilities outside of these areas shall be avoided, except where essential to eliminate or prevent a threat to public health, safety, or welfare.

SW-1B. Groundwater protection systems shall be incorporated into the design of new solid waste disposal facilities to ensure the protection of groundwater quality. When locating new solid waste disposal facilities, sites over salt-intruded groundwater shall be preferred to sites over potable groundwater. New facilities may be permitted to locate over groundwater of potable quality where it can be shown that the use of sites over salt-intruded areas is precluded because of existing development, environmental protection requirements, and economic or logistical constraints.

SW-1C. Miami-Dade County shall use all practical means to assure that land in the vicinity of solid waste disposal facilities is developed for a use that is compatible with the operation of said facilities. The County shall discourage changes to the Land Use Plan Map or land development regulations which would permit land uses that are incompatible with the continued operation or planned expansion of these facilities. Residential uses shall be considered incompatible with these public facilities where spillovers, particularly noise and odor, can reasonably be expected.

Objective SW-2

The County will implement procedures to ensure that any existing solid waste system deficiencies that may exist are corrected and that adequate system capacity is available to meet future needs.

Policies

SW-2A. The County Solid Waste Management System, which includes County-owned solid waste disposal facilities and those operated under contract with the County for disposal, shall collectively maintain a solid waste disposal capacity sufficient to accommodate waste flows committed to the System through long-term interlocal agreements or contracts with municipalities and private waste haulers, and anticipated non-committed waste flows, for a minimum of five (5) years.

SW-2B. Except as provided by Objective SW-1 and the supporting policies, no development order authorizing new development or a significant expansion of an existing use shall be issued for any area of the County which is served by a solid waste facility which does not meet the standard in Policy SW-2A or will not meet these standards concurrent with the completion of the development. In any case where the federal, state, or County standards referenced in Policy SW-2A are revised, a reasonable time for compliance with the new standards shall be allowed.

SW-2C. Miami-Dade County shall maintain procedures and programs to monitor the solid waste system levels of service.

Objective SW-3

The County will provide an adequate level of service for solid waste facilities to meet both existing and projected needs as identified in this plan through implementation of those projects listed in the Capital Improvements Element. All improvements for replacement, expansion or increase in capacity of facilities shall conform with the adopted policies of this Plan including level of service standards for the facilities.

Policies

SW-3A. Solid Waste improvements will be evaluated for funding in accordance with the following general criteria:

1. Improvements which are necessary to protect the health, safety and environmental integrity of the community, consistent with the policies of this Plan and applicable federal, state and County regulatory requirements.
2. Improvements which are necessary to meet existing deficiencies in capacity or in performance. These include the retrofit of deteriorating facilities which fail or threaten to fail to meet health, safety or environmental standards.
3. Improvements which promote the recycling or reuse of materials prior to disposal.
4. Improvements which extend service to previously unserved developed areas within the Urban Development Boundary (UDB).
5. Improvements which have been identified in adopted functional plans and address system details which are beyond the scope of the comprehensive plan for solid waste and are consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the comprehensive plan.
6. Cost-effective improvements to expand capacity, maximize operational efficiency, and increase productivity.

SW-3B. All capital improvements to the County's Solid Waste Management system will be undertaken in conformity with the schedule included in the Capital Improvements Element.

SW-3C. All capital improvements to the County's Solid Waste Management system will be undertaken in accordance with applicable state, federal, and County environmental regulations.

SW-3D. Miami-Dade shall maintain procedures and requirements as needed to assure that all development, regardless of size, contributes its proportionate share of the cost of providing solid waste facilities necessary to accommodate the impact of the proposed development.

Objective SW-4

Miami-Dade County shall provide for the management of solid waste in a manner which places a high priority on the maintenance of environmental quality and community quality of life, with emphasis on recycling and waste reduction.

Policies

SW-4A. All Miami-Dade County solid waste disposal facilities shall be developed and operated to:

1. Meet all applicable federal, state, and County environmental health and safety rules and regulations;

2. Minimize adverse human and natural environmental impacts;

3. Optimize capital and operating efficiencies;

4. Minimize environmental and economic risk.

SW-4B. Unless economically prohibitive, Miami-Dade County shall reduce the amount of waste disposal through recycling programs or other alternative solid waste management strategies. The County Waste Management System shall reduce the amount of municipal solid waste that would be disposed of within the County and maintain a recycling rate consistent with the requirements of the Florida State Solid Waste Management Act.

SW-4C. Miami-Dade County shall promote the establishment and expansion of markets for products and materials created from recycled wastes through cooperative state and federal efforts, County purchasing policies, and by encouraging the purchase of such products by County vendors, clients and citizens.

SW-4D. Miami-Dade County shall strive to reduce the per capita generation of solid waste by encouraging the use of waste reduction technologies and recyclable packaging materials, to the extent possible.

SW-4E. Miami-Dade County shall minimize the amount of yard trash disposed of in landfills through the development of alternative means that include encouraging, among other innovative programs, mulching or composting of yard waste or its diversion to a

biomass fuel, and diversion or composting of biodegradable materials other than yard waste.

SW-4F. To facilitate recycling and the proper disposal of solid waste by the general public, the County's Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Centers for receiving trash and recyclables should be conveniently located throughout the unincorporated area. Such facilities should be located within a five-mile distance of residential areas within the UDB and, where feasible, concentrations of exurban populations. Such sites are preferably located in industrial areas convenient to residential users but may be located in any Land Use Plan map category, except Environmental Protection areas, consistent with the Land Use Element. When located in the immediate proximity of residential neighborhoods, sites for such facilities should include sufficient additional area to buffer the residential area from impacts.

Objective SW-5

Miami-Dade County shall provide for the safe and efficient disposal of wastes through the development and maintenance of an integrated solid waste disposal system utilizing proven technologies, appropriate regulation, and equitable and responsible financing practices.

Policies

SW-5A. Miami-Dade County shall seek to achieve a balanced program of solid waste disposal which will include recycling, resources recovery, and landfilling, based on a Solid Waste Management Master Plan approved by the Board of County Commissioners, as amended from time to time.

SW-5B. Miami-Dade County shall provide for solid waste disposal facilities within the County through the continued development and management of a single consolidated system and shall discourage the establishment of disposal facilities not integrated into this system.

SW-5C. To assure that the capacity of the solid waste disposal system is used in a manner that will maximize the benefits for all of Miami-Dade County, the Public Works and Waste Management Department (PWWM) shall not permit such capacity to be diminished by accepting waste generated outside the disposal system unless authorized by formal agreement when acceptance of such waste is in the best interests of the citizens of Miami-Dade County.

SW-5D. Miami-Dade County shall provide for equitable and responsible financing of disposal system costs, to be met through a combination of direct user fees, environmental protection fees, and capacity-related fees, in accord with benefits received, without County general fund subsidy. The exception would be when the solid waste services provide a corresponding benefit to the general community, rather than exclusively or principally to the solid waste system users paying the fees, in which case the general community should fund the cost. In addition, revenues may be bonded as needed to maximize financial benefits to the entire community.

Objective SW-6

Substantially reduce or minimize the amount of household chemical wastes and used motor oil that are disposed of in an unsafe or improper manner.

Policies

SW-6A. Develop and implement a household chemical waste management program to achieve compliance with the provisions of Section 403.7265, F.S.

SW-6B. Miami-Dade County shall promote the installation of sufficient facilities into the County's Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Centers to accommodate the safe deposit of used motor oil by households in moderate quantities.

SW-6C. Miami-Dade County shall seek funding and cooperation from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to provide a means of disposal for special wastes.

SW-6D. Miami-Dade County shall seek to develop funding to establish a comprehensive public education program to highlight the problems of household chemical waste and improper special waste disposal.

SW-6E. Miami-Dade County shall encourage public and private organizations which currently collect and recycle used motor oil and lead acid batteries to accept moderate quantities of used motor oil and lead acid batteries from households for recycling.

Monitoring Program

This section of the Element outlines the substantive components of the monitoring program pertinent to the objectives, policies and parameters referenced in this subelement. The objectives provided in this document are a brief summary of the overall concept for monitoring and evaluation.

Solid Waste Monitoring and Evaluation Program

Monitoring. The collection and update of appropriate baseline data to evaluate performance against the level of service standard and to measure the achievement of objectives is an existing process administered by the Solid Waste Disposal Program in its day-to-day operations.

Data regarding the volumes of waste processed at the various facilities and facility types is collected as an integral part of the accounting and billing function. All waste delivered to Solid Waste Disposal is charged a fee based on tonnage through the use of fully automated electronic scales at all sites. In addition, all intra-system transfer deliveries are also recorded. This data is available on a continuous monthly basis. Where demonstration projects have been undertaken, decisions to continue, expand, or curtail such projects should be made only after a thorough assessment of each project has been made. Existing solid waste demonstration projects should be evaluated over a minimum of two years, before the project is discontinued or alternative projects are considered.

In practice, the use of quantitative measures of objective implementation is preferred to individual policy evaluation. The following measures are recommended for use in monitoring the

objectives for the Solid Waste Subelement. These measures were selected based on their ability to represent overall achievement of an objective and on their ease and economy in collection, recording, and evaluation. At least one primary measure is recommended for each objective, and in some cases an alternative measure is provided. If at any time the information typically used or available is unsuitable or insufficient to evaluate a primary measure, the alternative measure is recommended for those objectives where none of the primary measurements recommended are available from existing data sources in Countywide circulation. The alternative measurement, if suggested, will always be based on an existing data source.

Objective SW-1. Planning and provision of solid waste services in concert and conformity with the County's Land Use Element of the CDMP.

Recommended measurements include:

1. Development of solid waste facilities in a) the urban expansion area and b) outside the UDB;
2. Land use map changes that are incompatible with solid waste facilities;
3. Land development regulations that are incompatible with solid waste facilities.

Alternative measure for solid waste: area outside of the UDB served by Miami-Dade County collection services. Source of alternative measure: Miami-Dade Public Works and Waste Management Department (PWWM) diagram or chart of solid waste collection routes, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) when available. Objective SW-2. Implementation of procedures to ensure adequate facilities and correct system deficiencies, including Level of Service (LOS) standards for solid waste management services.

Recommended measurements include:

1. Achievement of LOS standard based on annual capacity analysis filed with the County Regulatory and Economic Resources Department.
2. Annual amount of waste disposed of or processed at each County disposal facility in comparison to the design capacity of each facility.
3. Coordination with the Capital Improvement Element to ensure capacity and performance improvements are made to prevent system deficiencies.

Because the information is monitored in the course of routine operations by the PWWM, no alternative measures are proposed.

Objective SW-3. The identification and value of solid waste management capital projects, including the anticipated capacity addition as a part of the design of each new and existing facility, and source of funding listed in the Miami-Dade County Capital Budget and in the CIE.

Implementation of capital projects to meet existing and future needs.

Objective SW-4. Use of the solid waste management system to promote environmental quality and community quality of life.

Recommended measurements include:

1. Quantity of each major class of waste product recycled by the Department through its contractors.

2. Quantity of compost and/or mulching products produced by municipal and private entities in Miami-Dade County,

3. Energy created through the incineration of refuse derived fuel and biomass fuel.

Alternative measurements include: quantity or proportion of the County waste stream diverted from landfilling through recycling, and waste-to-energy supply.

Objective SW-5. Initiation and maintenance of an integrated solid waste management system.

The measurements recommended include:

1. Solid Waste Management Master Plan updates;

2. The relative amounts of waste managed through recycling, waste-to-energy, and landfilling countywide;

3. The Department’s operating budget schedule of revenues and expenses for disposal system (available in the Department’s annual financial report).

Because this information is available each year in the County’s Annual Capital Budget and Annual Operating Budget, no alternative measurements are proposed.

Objective SW-6. Promote safe disposal of household chemical wastes.

The measurements recommended include:

1. Number of household chemical sites;

2. Number of TRC’s that accept used oil;

3. Funding for special waste disposal;

4. Number of education programs;

5. Number of private entities that accept used oil;

6. Number of customers using household chemical, waste drop-off (including used motor oil) at the Permanent Collection Centers and at special collection events; and

7. Amount of each major category of household chemical waste disposed of.

Evaluation. For all the objectives, available data regarding volumes processed, methods of processing, and recycling at the various facilities and facilities types, will be used to assess performance.

Results of these calculations and measures regarding performance against objectives or the standard will be analyzed and changing circumstances and technologies or other problems will be considered. Any deviation from the stated objectives will be addressed.