City Re-directs Recyclables to ‘Waste to Energy’ Facility

Coral Springs, Florida – On Wednesday, July 22, 2020, the City of Coral Springs City Commission voted to redirect the city’s recyclables to the Wheelabrator ‘Waste to Energy’ plant, a facility that recovers energy produced by burning waste and converts it into electricity. The City stopped sending the recyclables to the Waste Management Facility in May due to escalating costs. The City redirected Waste Pro to process all recyclables at Wheelabrator’s waste to energy facility. The City receives Recycling Credits for disposal at Waste to Energy facility.

‘Waste to Energy’ is a program that Coral Springs has participated in since 1991 by hauling household garbage to a Davie energy plant. The inclusion of recycling material to the existing Coral Springs Waste to Energy plan will save the city roughly $300,000 per fiscal year.

The City Commission approval arises after multiple years of Coral Springs battling with a contamination rate of more than 36 % and rising costs for recyclable processing. The difference in rate per ton is at a minimum of $76 for recyclable processing to $45.86 per ton for Waste to Energy disposal.

Regarding the decision, Public Works Interim Director Juan Robby says, “This was a fiscal decision. With the current contamination rate and fee for recycling, the cost would be passed on to our residents. An increase in solid waste costs at this time is simply not an option for us. Our city will continue to focus on sustainable efforts that benefit our planet and do not financially impact our residents.”

The State recycling goal of 75% recognizes a Recycling Credit for disposal at Waste to Energy facilities. Residents will still be able to use the blue cart for the processing of all recyclables. Pick-up days will not change. The Recycle Coach app will be available for residents to use through October 1, 2020.