The Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners voted in favor of a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Eileen Higgins to eliminate single-use plastics and styrofoam at Miami-Dade County facilities like Miami International airport, PortMiami and County offices.
鈥淭he passage of legislation to significantly reduce single-use plastics is a major step forward to protect Biscayne Bay and our environment with sensible policies that our businesses and residents can embrace,鈥� said Mayor Levine Cava. 鈥淢iami-Dade produces over 5 million tons of waste annually and I commend Commissioner Eileen Higgins and the Board of Commissioners for taking this significant step towards increasing reuse, as we work hard to reduce our overall waste production.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the bold action taken today by the Board of County Commissioners in passing my legislation to eliminate single-use plastics and styrofoam from County operations,鈥� said Commissioner Eileen Higgins. 鈥淭he message to our residents is clear. Miami-Dade County is prioritizing our residents鈥� health, protecting our precious wildlife, eliminating trash, and preserving our natural resources like Biscayne Bay. I look forward to working with Mayor Levine Cava and county vendors to begin this transition to sustainable products that will pave the way for a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient future for Miami-Dade.鈥�
Single-use plastics are not indefinitely recyclable and do not lend themselves to reuse in the same way as other durable products. Moving away from single-use plastics reduces the impacts of plastic pollution on the environment and in our waterways. The legislation also aligns County operations with the County鈥檚 voluntary PlasticFree305 program.