Carbotura · Circular Advantage Program · Stage 1 · Feedstock AssessmentCarbotura · Programa Circular Advantage · Etapa 1 · Evaluación de Materiales
Miami-Dade County
Feedstock System AssessmentCondado de Miami-Dade
Evaluación del Sistema de Materiales
Miami-Dade County generates waste at twice the national average — with no active thermal disposal and fewer than four years of county-owned landfill capacity remaining, 4,110 TPD of MSW flows entirely to contracted private landfills with no long-term cost certainty.
Section 1
Feedstock ProfilePerfil de Materiales
The constraint is access — not capability. ACM is capable of processing every material stream Miami-Dade County generates. Every classification in this section reflects an access constraint — contractual, logistical, or regulatory — never a technical limit. The barrier to any stream is not the technology; it is the incumbent disposal contract or collection route serving that stream today.
§1.2 — Feedstock Volume SummaryResumen de Volumen de Materiales
Miami-Dade County is the most waste-intensive large county in the United States, generating waste at approximately twice the national per-capita average — driven by a 2.7 million resident population with high tourism and hospitality activity. The former Covanta Dade Resources Recovery Facility, which processed approximately one million tons of MSW annually, closed permanently following a fire on February 12, 2023. Since that date, the entire county waste stream routes to landfills via road and CSX rail.
| StreamFlujo | TPD | Annual (TPY)Anual (TPY) | Current DestinationDestino Actual | Access ClassificationClasificación de Acceso | ACM PhaseFase ACM | SourceFuente |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSW / Refuse-Derived WasteRSU / Residuos Sólidos Urbanos County DSWM + municipal haulers |
4,110 | 1,500,150 | South Dade Landfill; WM Medley/Monarch/Okeechobee; Waste Connections JED (via road + CSX rail) | IMMEDIATEINMEDIATO | InitialInicial | ESTIMATED |
| Biosolids (wet) WASD WWTP system |
265 | 96,725 | Long-haul trucking to North Florida disposal; WASD biosolids-to-hydrogen pilot | CONDITIONALCONDICIONAL | MediumMedio | VERIFIED |
| Construction & Demolition DebrisEscombros de Construcción y Demolición | 1,200 | 438,000 | South Dade Landfill; private C&D processors | CONDITIONALCONDICIONAL | MediumMedio | ESTIMATED |
| Yard Waste / Green WasteResiduos de Jardín / Poda | 400 | 146,000 | County composting; 13 Neighborhood TRCs; mulching program | CONDITIONALCONDICIONAL | MediumMedio | ESTIMATED |
| Recyclables (contaminated / rejected) | 600 | 219,000 | WM recycling services (469 county facility contract); commodities markets | CONDITIONALCONDICIONAL | MediumMedio | ESTIMATED |
| Organics / Food Scraps Commercial & hospitality |
500 | 182,500 | MSW stream; emerging diversion; FPL proposed 180,000 TPY anaerobic digestion | ACCESSIBLEACCESIBLE | ExpandedExpandido | ESTIMATED |
| Special Waste / HHW / OtherResiduos Especiales / Peligrosos Domésticos | 150 | 54,750 | 2 Home Chemical Collection Centers; permitted hazardous waste contractors | ACCESSIBLEACCESIBLE | ExpandedExpandido | ESTIMATED |
| TOTAL ADDRESSABLETOTAL DIRECCIONABLE | 7,225 ESTIMATED | 2,636,125 | — | — | — | — |
Table 1.2 — Feedstock Volume by StreamTabla 1.2 — Volumen de Materiales por Flujo
MSW volume inferred from former RRF capacity (~2,740 TPD) plus landfill-directed surplus; total county generation at 2× national average supports 4,110 TPD estimate.
Biosolids VERIFIED from WASD Central District WWTP upgrade records (Wastewater Digest, 2024). All other volumes ESTIMATED from Carbotura standard scaled parameters pending county waste characterization study.
§1.3 — Primary ACM Feedstocks: Phase Initial PriorityMateriales Prioritarios de la Fase Inicial
Phase Initial priority stream — 4,110 TPD MSW (IMMEDIATE access):Flujo prioritario de la Fase Inicial — 4,110 TPD RSU (acceso INMEDIATO): The full MSW stream carries no binding contractual barrier preventing access for a co-located ACM facility. Since the February 2023 RRF closure, the county holds no exclusive long-term thermal disposal contract. Waste routes to landfills under renewable short-term and rolling agreements. An ACM facility within county boundaries or connected by CSX rail can begin receiving feedstock from day one of operations.
§1.4 — Full Feedstock Capability StatementDeclaración de Capacidad Total de Materiales
ACM's Advanced Circular Manufacturing process is capable of receiving, processing, and converting all seven streams listed in Table 1.2. The process handles heterogeneous material inputs including mixed MSW, biosolids at varying moisture content, C&D debris, contaminated recyclable streams, commercial organics, and special waste fractions. Stream composition variation, moisture content, and seasonal load swings are within ACM's operational design envelope. No stream listed in this section constitutes a capability limit. Access classifications reflect the real-world contractual and logistical pathways available today — not the technology's processing boundaries.
Feedstock Composition by Access ClassificationComposición de Materiales por Clasificación de Acceso
Chart — Feedstock by Access Classification | All volumes ESTIMATED except Biosolids (VERIFIED) | Source: Carbotura standard parameters scaled to Miami-Dade County generation data, March 2026
Section 2
Logistics and InfrastructureLogística e Infraestructura
Miami-Dade County operates three Regional Transfer Stations (Northeast at 18701 NE 6th Ave, Central at 1150 NW 20th St, and West at 2900 SW 72nd Ave) with a combined designed intake capacity of approximately 3,800 TPD of garbage and trash. Transfer vehicles — 85-cubic yard transfer trailers — carry compacted loads to disposal sites. Since February 2023, all transferred material routes to South Dade Landfill, the Waste Management Medley Landfill, and via long-haul to WM's Monarch Hills and Okeechobee landfills outside the county. Waste Connections' JED Landfill provides a further 800,000 TPY of contracted out-of-county capacity.El Condado de Miami-Dade opera tres Estaciones de Transferencia Regionales
CSX Transportation's freight rail network is available as an additional transport mode. The mayor's office confirmed in August 2023 that CSX could accommodate up to 400,000 TPY (approximately 1,096 TPD) following construction of a dedicated rail transfer facility — negotiations were ongoing at the time of this assessment. A CSX-connected site outside Miami-Dade County (see Proposal §2.4, Site P3) would effectively extend the county's logistics network at reduced land cost, substituting rail haul for long-distance trucking.La red ferroviaria de carga de CSX Transportation está disponible como modo de transporte adicional
| FacilityInstalación | LocationUbicación | CapacityCapacidad | Current RoleFunción Actual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Transfer StationEstación de Transferencia Noreste | 18701 NE 6th Ave, Miami, FL | 1,200 TPD | Compaction and dispatch to landfillCompactación y despacho al relleno |
| Central Transfer StationEstación de Transferencia Central | 1150 NW 20th St, Miami, FL | 1,200 TPD | Compaction and dispatch to landfillCompactación y despacho al relleno |
| West Transfer StationEstación de Transferencia Oeste | 2900 SW 72nd Ave, Miami, FL | 1,300 TPD | Compaction and dispatch to landfill; near Medley LF |
| South Dade Landfill (Class I)Relleno South Dade (Clase I) | 23707 SW 97th Ave, Homestead, FL | Cell 4 active; Cell 5 under construction | Primary county-owned MSW disposal, through ~2029 |
| North Dade Landfill (Class III)Relleno North Dade (Clase III) | 21500 NW 47th Ave, Miami Gardens, FL | At/near capacity; expansion under review | Yard waste and C&D only — does not accept MSW |
| WM Medley Landfill | 9350 NW 89th Ave, Medley, FL | 2.7M TPY contracted (with Monarch + Okeechobee) | Primary private contracted MSW disposal through 2035 |
| Waste Connections JED Landfill | South Florida | 800,000 TPY contracted | Additional contracted capacity through 2035 |
| CSX Rail (pilot/negotiation) | Miami-Dade → out-of-county | Up to 400,000 TPY confirmed interest | Long-haul rail transfer pending transfer station construction |
Section 3
Cost StructureEstructura de Costos
§3.1 — Verified Disposal Fee Schedule (Effective October 1, 2025)Tarifa de Disposición Verificada (Vigente 1 oct. 2025)
FWDC: $92.78/ton — VERIFIED. The all-in contracted rate for permitted haulers using the Regional Transfer Station system is $76.12/ton (contract disposal rate) + $16.66/ton (transfer station fee) = $92.78/ton. Source: Miami-Dade County DSWM Disposal Facility Fee Schedule, effective October 1, 2025. This is the planning basis for all TMC Fee calculations.
| Cost ElementElemento de Costo | RateTarifa | BasisBase | SourceFuente |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract disposal rate (gate, per ton)Tarifa de disposición contratada (por tonelada) | $76.12/ton | DSWM permitted hauler long-term contract rate | VERIFIED |
| Transfer Station fee (contract, per ton)Tarifa de Estación de Transferencia (por tonelada) | $16.66/ton | Added to disposal fee for waste via Regional Transfer Stations | VERIFIED |
| Full Waste Disposal Cost (FWDC) — all-in contracted | $92.78/ton | $76.12 + $16.66 — planning basis for all section calculations | VERIFIED |
| Non-contract gate rate (per ton)Tarifa sin contrato (por tonelada) | $115.80/ton | Walk-in / unpermitted hauler rate | VERIFIED |
| FPL/NextEra WTE proposal forward tipping fee | $105.00/ton +2.5%/yr | Proposed rate from FPL consortium bid (Dec 2025 commission report) | VERIFIED — forward rate |
| AtkinsRéalis landfill optimization OPEX estimate | $78.50/ton | Market research report for DSWM, Oct 2025 | ESTIMATED |
| AtkinsRéalis WTE OPEX range | $45–$75/ton | Same market research report | ESTIMATED |
| Residential waste service fee | $547–$509/household/yr | FY2024-25; non-ad valorem tax assessment; separate from disposal cost | VERIFIED |
| WM / Waste Connections out-of-county disposal cost | Not disclosed | Private contract terms; not public record | DATA GAP |
Table 3.1 — Disposal Cost StructureTabla 3.1 — Estructura de Costos de Disposición
All rates from official DSWM sources except where noted.
Source: DSWM Disposal Facility Fee Schedule, Oct 1 2025; miamidade.gov/resources/solid-waste/documents/disposal-facility-fees.pdf
§3.2 — Operator Names (Verified)Nombres de Operadores (Verificados)
The former Doral Resources Recovery Facility was operated by Covanta Dade Renewable Energy, LLC (now trading as Reworld Waste Management of Florida, Inc. following the April 2024 Reworld corporate rebrand). The facility ceased operations permanently following the February 12, 2023 fire. No replacement WTE contract is in force as of March 2026 — a new facility procurement involving FCC Environmental Services and a Florida Power & Light / NextEra Energy consortium is in active negotiation but not yet awarded. County-owned landfills are operated by Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM). Private contracted landfills are operated by Waste Management, Inc. (WM) (Medley, Monarch Hills, Okeechobee landfills, 2.7M TPY capacity through 2035) and Waste Connections, Inc. (JED Landfill, 800,000 TPY through 2035). Wastewater treatment is operated by Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD), the largest water/sewer utility in the southeastern United States, with capital upgrades by Black & Veatch.La antigua Instalación de Recuperación de Recursos de Doral fue operada por
§3.3 — Cost Trajectory: Three Documented Mechanisms
Three compounding cost-escalation mechanisms are active simultaneously:
- Gate rate escalation: The FPL/NextEra WTE proposal includes an explicit 2.5% annual escalator on the $105/ton forward tipping fee. No competing fixed-rate alternative is available. If the FPL proposal or a similar WTE contract is awarded, the county's per-ton cost will increase at 2.5%/year for 40 years — reaching approximately $272/ton by 2065 at contract maturity.
- Capacity constraint premium: North Dade Landfill is at or near Class III capacity. South Dade Landfill has capacity through approximately 2029. As county-owned capacity diminishes, the county becomes more dependent on contracted private landfills at undisclosed (and likely increasing) out-of-county rates, plus transport surcharges for long-haul rail and trucking.
- Infrastructure replacement pressure: The county faces an estimated $556M capital cost to build a new county-owned landfill, or $1.5B–$1.9B for a new WTE facility — costs that will ultimately be passed through to ratepayers and the per-ton disposal system cost structure.
Section 4
Regulatory BaselineMarco Regulatorio
Hard decision window — WTE procurement award. Miami-Dade County's Board of County Commissioners directed the mayor's office (December 2025 resolution) to continue negotiations with FCC Environmental Services and the FPL / NextEra consortium for a joint WTE bid. A final contract award at the January 16, 2026 meeting was postponed; the next vote opportunity is expected in Q1–Q2 2026. Once a WTE contract is executed, the county's feedstock pathway — and its per-ton cost trajectory — will be locked for 25 to 40 years. This is the critical decision window for an ACM engagement.
| ItemElemento | StatusEstado | Deadline / ImplicationPlazo / Implicación |
|---|---|---|
| Former Doral RRF permit | Closed permanently — February 2023 | No remediation or permit reinstatement path active |
| New WTE facility permitting | Not initiated — site and contract not yet awarded (March 2026) | FCC estimates 1–3 years permitting; 3–5 years design-build. FPL estimates up to 10 years total. |
| South Dade Landfill capacity | Cell 4 active; Cell 5 under construction | Capacity through approximately 2029. Permit modification under consideration for extended capacity. |
| North Dade Landfill (Class III)Relleno North Dade (Clase III) | At or near Class III capacity — expansion under review | Expansion to 135-ft height proposed; would add 30 years for yard waste / C&D. Does not accept MSW. |
| WTE procurement — BCC resolution | Active — FCC + FPL consortia in negotiation as of Dec 2025 | Award expected Q1–Q2 2026. Award locks feedstock pathway for 25–40 years. |
| Zero Waste Master Plan | In development — DSWM public workshops active | Target: 40% waste diversion. Does not displace MSW disposal need at current diversion rates. |
| WASD Ocean Outfall Legislation (OOL) compliance | In progress — 2025 compliance deadline | Biosolids volume and treatment requirements will evolve. WASD biosolids-to-hydrogen pilot active at Central District WWTP. |
| Florida solid waste concurrency requirement | County must demonstrate disposal capacity before issuing development permits | Former DSWM Director warned of permit moratorium risk. Ongoing pressure to secure long-term capacity. |
Table 4.1 — Regulatory Baseline Summary
Source: wastedive.com (Jul/Oct/Dec 2025); miamidade.gov BCC records; DSWM public communications
Executive Implications — Regulatory
- The WTE bid award is the irreversibility event. Once a 25–40 year WTE contract is executed, the county's MSW feedstock stream and disposal cost structure are locked. The ACM engagement window is the period between now and that award date — confirmed by commissioners as Q1–Q2 2026.
- No incumbent thermal contract exists today. The absence of any active WTE or RDF contract since February 2023 means there is no contractual exclusivity barrier to an ACM facility receiving county MSW — a uniquely open position that will close at contract award.
- Landfill capacity is finite and converging. South Dade closes around 2029; North Dade (Class III) is already constrained. The county's contracted private landfill agreements with WM and Waste Connections extend to 2035 but at undisclosed per-ton rates. The FWDC of $92.78/ton reflects today's contracted rate — not the forward cost trajectory under a new WTE award.
- A Community Feasibility Study initiated before WTE award preserves the ACM pathway and provides the analytical basis for the county to negotiate from an informed position regarding competing long-term disposal contracts.
Section 5
Feedstock OpportunityOportunidad de Materiales
§5.1 — System-Wide Addressable Volume Summary
| ClassificationClasificación | TPD | TPY | % of Total% del Total | NotesNotas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMMEDIATEINMEDIATO No contract barrier | 4,110 | 1,500,150 | 57% | MSW stream; no active exclusive disposal contract |
| CONDITIONALCONDICIONAL Requires access negotiation | 2,465 | 899,725 | 34% | Biosolids (WASD contract), C&D, yard waste, recyclables |
| ACCESSIBLEACCESIBLE Longer-horizon pathway | 650 | 237,250 | 9% | Commercial organics, special wasteOrgánicos comerciales, residuos especiales |
| TOTAL | 7,225 | 2,636,125 | 100% | All volumes ESTIMATED except biosolids |
§5.2 — Full Addressability Table
| StreamFlujo | TPD | TPY | Access ClassificationClasificación de Acceso | ACM PhaseFase ACM | Access BarrierBarrera de Acceso |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSW / Refuse-Derived WasteRSU / Residuos Sólidos Urbanos | 4,110 | 1,500,150 | IMMEDIATEINMEDIATO | InitialInicial | None — no active exclusive thermal/landfill contract |
| Construction & Demolition DebrisEscombros de Construcción y Demolición | 1,200 | 438,000 | CONDITIONALCONDICIONAL | MediumMedio | Multiple private processors; inter-local collection agreements |
| Recyclables (contaminated / rejected) | 600 | 219,000 | CONDITIONALCONDICIONAL | MediumMedio | WM recycling contract (5-year, 469 facilities); MRF diversion pathway |
| Yard Waste / Green WasteResiduos de Jardín / Poda | 400 | 146,000 | CONDITIONALCONDICIONAL | MediumMedio | County composting and mulching contracts; 13 TRC network routing |
| Biosolids (wet) — WASD | 265 | 96,725 | CONDITIONALCONDICIONAL | MediumMedio | WASD departmental control; no third-party contract confirmed; long-haul trucking currently used |
| Organics / Food Scraps — Commercial | 500 | 182,500 | ACCESSIBLEACCESIBLE | ExpandedExpandido | No diversion infrastructure; currently routes to MSW stream; organics separation program nascent |
| Special Waste / HHW / OtherResiduos Especiales / Peligrosos Domésticos | 150 | 54,750 | ACCESSIBLEACCESIBLE | ExpandedExpandido | Permitted hazardous waste disposal requirements; two HCC locations |
Table 5.2 — Full Addressability Table
Access Classification: IMMEDIATE = no contractual barrier today · CONDITIONAL = access requires negotiation or contract transition · ACCESSIBLE = longer-horizon pathway requiring program development
§5.3 — Phase Configuration PreviewVista Previa de Configuración por Fase
Conservative (Phase Initial — 500 TPD): Draws from the IMMEDIATE MSW stream only. No third-party contract negotiation required. 500 TPD represents 12% of the immediate addressable volume. Phase Initial CapEx: $305M.Conservative (Phase Initial — 500 TPD):Conservador (Fase Inicial — 500 TPD):
Full deployment (Phase Expanded — 6,000 TPD): Draws across all seven streams at or near full addressable volume. Requires conditional stream access negotiations (biosolids, C&D, recyclables, yard waste) and development of commercial organics diversion infrastructure. Phase Expanded CapEx: $3.47B. Phase Expanded capacity (6,000 TPD / 2,190,000 TPY) exceeds the current total ESTIMATED addressable volume (7,225 TPD / 2,636,125 TPY), confirming that the full Phase Expanded build would serve a broader regional feedstock draw — consistent with the dual in-county + rail-connected site strategy.Full deployment (Phase Expanded — 6,000 TPD):Despliegue completo (Fase Expandida — 6,000 TPD):
Section 6
Infrastructure Map — Waste System FacilitiesMapa de Infraestructura — Instalaciones del Sistema de Residuos
The following two-panel display shows current active and historical waste management facilities across Miami-Dade County. The right panel is always visible. When a Google Maps API key is configured in config.js, the interactive map renders in the left panel with bidirectional interaction.
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Facility data is fully available in the panel →
Miami-Dade Waste FacilitiesInstalaciones de Residuos Miami-Dade
Doral Resources Recovery Facility CLOSED
Reworld (formerly Covanta Dade Renewable Energy, LLC) · Doral, FL
South Dade Landfill ACTIVE — Class I
Miami-Dade DSWM · 23707 SW 97th Ave, Homestead, FL
North Dade Landfill ACTIVE — Class III
Miami-Dade DSWM · 21500 NW 47th Ave, Miami Gardens, FL
WM Medley Landfill ACTIVE — Private
Waste Management, Inc. (WM) · 9350 NW 89th Ave, Medley, FL
Northeast Transfer StationEstación de Transferencia Noreste
Miami-Dade DSWM · 18701 NE 6th Ave, Miami, FL
Central Transfer StationEstación de Transferencia Central
Miami-Dade DSWM · 1150 NW 20th St, Miami, FL
West Transfer StationEstación de Transferencia Oeste
Miami-Dade DSWM · 2900 SW 72nd Ave, Miami, FL
WASD Central District WWTP
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) · Virginia Key, Miami, FL
WASD South District WWTP
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) · 8950 SW 232nd St, Miami, FL
Active landfill (Class I)
Landfill (Class III / private)
Transfer station
WWTP / Biosolids
Closed / historical
Executive Implications — Feedstock System Assessment
- 7,225 TPD of manufacturing feedstock is available — 4,110 TPD with no contractual barrier today. The immediate MSW stream (IMMEDIATE classification) has no incumbent exclusive disposal contract. This is a direct consequence of the February 2023 RRF closure — a window that closes at WTE contract award.
- The verified all-in disposal cost is $92.78/ton. This is the established planning basis. It is the comparator against which the ACM TMC Fee of $88.00/ton is priced — delivering an immediate per-ton advantage of $4.78/ton from day one of operations.
- South Dade Landfill reaches capacity ~2029 — three years from today. The county's only active Class I county-owned facility closes within the Phase Initial construction timeline. Post-2029, full MSW dependency shifts to private contracted landfills at undisclosed escalating rates.
- The WTE bid award is the point of no return. Commissioners confirmed a Q1–Q2 2026 decision timeline. An executed WTE contract locks Miami-Dade County's per-ton disposal cost trajectory for 25–40 years under an arrangement the FPL proposal prices at $105/ton escalating 2.5% annually — reaching $142/ton by 2040 and $272/ton by 2065.
Appendix A — Evidence ChainApéndice A — Cadena de Evidencia
Appendix A
Source Traceability by Key Claim
| ClaimAfirmación | SourceFuente | DateFecha | TypeTipo |
|---|---|---|---|
| FWDC contract rate: $76.12/ton | DSWM Disposal Facility Fee Schedule (official published document) | Oct 1, 2025 | VERIFIED |
| Transfer station fee: $16.66/ton | Same DSWM fee schedule | Oct 1, 2025 | VERIFIED |
| Former RRF capacity: 1,000,000 TPY | wastedive.com / reworldwaste.com — emissions data announcement | Multiple sources | VERIFIED |
| RRF closure date: February 12, 2023 | wastedive.com; DSWM public communications | Feb 2023 | VERIFIED |
| WM contracted capacity: 2.7M TPY through Sept 2035 | wastedive.com — mayor's memo coverage, Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | VERIFIED |
| Waste Connections contracted: 800,000 TPY through 2035 | wastedive.com — Feb 2025 | Feb 2025 | VERIFIED |
| FPL WTE tipping fee: $105/ton +2.5%/yr | wastedive.com; miamidade.gov/govaction — Dec 2025 BCC item | Dec 2025 | VERIFIED |
| South Dade capacity through ~2029 | miamidade.gov landfills page; DSWM executive summary 2023 | 2023–2025 | VERIFIED |
| WASD biosolids volume: ~530,000 lbs/day | Wastewater Digest — WASD Central District upgrade announcement, 2024 | 2024 | VERIFIED |
| MSW stream: 4,110 TPD | Inferred from former RRF capacity (2,740 TPD) + landfill-directed surplus; 2× national per-capita average (Commissioner Regalado, Jul 2025) | 2025 | ESTIMATED |
| C&D, yard waste, recyclables, organics volumes | Carbotura standard scaled parameters; pending DSWM waste characterization study | Mar 2026 | ESTIMATED |
Appendix B — Change FactorsApéndice B — Factores de Cambio
Appendix B — Five Key Change Factors
- WTE contract award (Q1–Q2 2026 expected). An executed long-term WTE agreement with FCC or FPL would lock the county's primary MSW disposal pathway for 25–40 years. If awarded before an ACM engagement is initiated, the IMMEDIATE classification of the MSW stream would convert to CONDITIONAL or INACCESSIBLE for the COA term, depending on contract exclusivity provisions.
- South Dade Landfill capacity expiration (~2029). As Cell 4 fills and Cell 5 reaches capacity, the county loses its only remaining county-owned Class I disposal option. This escalates dependency on and cost sensitivity to WM/Waste Connections private landfill agreements, increasing the fiscal value of a fixed-rate manufacturing service fee.
- WASD biosolids program evolution. WASD is piloting a Biosolids-to-Hydrogen process (FDEP $1.5M grant) and completed major centrifuge upgrades at Central District WWTP. If the hydrogen pilot scales, biosolids routing options diversify. Conversely, if the pilot does not proceed to commercial scale, biosolids remain available for ACM co-processing — currently trucked to North Florida at significant cost to WASD.
- Zero Waste Master Plan adoption. A 40% diversion target would reduce the gross addressable MSW volume over time, modestly affecting the addressable stream size. However, at current diversion rates and the 2.7M population base, residual MSW volumes exceed any single ACM deployment scenario through the COA term.
- New WTE facility siting delay or failure. Three years of failed siting processes (Opa-Locka West Airport rejected; Doral site rejected; FPL Okeechobee site under negotiation) have already extended the window of opportunity significantly. If siting continues to fail, the county's reliance on private contracted landfills deepens — increasing the relative value of a fixed-rate ACM alternative and extending the engagement window.
Appendix C — Sources and ReferencesApéndice C — Fuentes y Referencias
Public Sources — All Citations External and Readable
- DSWM Disposal Facility Fee Schedule (Oct 1, 2025) — miamidade.gov/resources/solid-waste/documents/disposal-facility-fees.pdf · Official fee schedule; $76.12/ton contract rate; $16.66/ton transfer fee · Age: Current
- DSWM Landfills page — miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_service=ser1464799833678390 · South Dade Landfill capacity (Class I, through ~2029); North Dade (Class III, yard waste/C&D) · Age: Current
- DSWM Regional Transfer Stations page — miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_service=ser1464808248005568 · Three transfer stations; 1,200–1,300 TPD each; transfer vehicle description · Age: Current
- Miami-Dade County BCC — WTE Commission Reports — miamidade.gov/global/solidwaste/sustainable-solid-waste/wte-commiss-reports-and-documents.page · Reworld/Covanta operator identification; AtkinsRéalis design criteria contract · Age: 2023–2025
- Waste Dive — "Miami-Dade votes to advance plans for new WTE facility" — wastedive.com/news/miami-dade-county-wte-waste-diversion-plans/753427/ · FCC + FPL proposals; WM/Waste Connections capacity · Age: July 18, 2025
- Waste Dive — "Miami-Dade to consider FCC, Reworld incinerator proposals" — wastedive.com/news/miami-dade-incinerator-reworld-fcc-proposals/803569/ · AtkinsRéalis market research; $45–75/ton WTE OPEX; $78.50/ton landfill OPEX · Age: Oct 23, 2025
- Waste Dive — "With Reworld out, Miami-Dade seeks compromise on incinerator plan" — wastedive.com/news/miami-dade-reworld-withdraws-negotiations-proceed/808138/ · FPL $105/ton tipping fee; +2.5%/yr escalator; Reworld withdrawal · Age: Dec 17, 2025
- Miami-Dade WASD — Capital Improvement Program — miamidade.gov/global/water/capital-improvement-program.page · $8.6B CIP; biosolids handling; Black & Veatch contract · Age: Current
- Wastewater Digest — "Miami-Dade completes major biosolids upgrade" — wwdmag.com/sludge-biosolids/news/55366766 · 530,000 lbs/day biosolids volume; centrifuge + GBT upgrade · Age: 2024
- Waste Dive — "Miami-Dade mayor backs off incinerator, proposes new $556M landfill" — wastedive.com/news/miami-dade-mayor-new-landfill-proposal-memo/738354/ · WM 2.7M TPY / Waste Connections 800K TPY capacity details · Age: Jan 27, 2025
- DSWM Executive Summary (2023) — miamidade.gov/govaction/legistarfiles/Matters/Y2023/231209.pdf · Collection fund deficit; landfill revenue risk; $32M+ annual disposal · Age: 2023
- FPL WTE Proposal (BCC item Y2025/252456) — miamidade.gov/govaction/legistarfiles/Matters/Y2025/252456.pdf · Okeechobee site; West Dade Nurseries; 40-year term; royalty structure · Age: 2025
All sources are publicly accessible. No internal Carbotura identifiers are used in citations above. Data age noted for each source.
Appendix D — Authoritative GlossaryApéndice D — Glosario Autorizado
Appendix D — Full Glossary
ACM — Advanced Circular ManufacturingACM — Manufactura Circular Avanzada
Carbotura's proprietary process that converts heterogeneous solid waste feedstocks into manufactured outputs. Capable of processing MSW, biosolids, C&D debris, recyclable rejects, and organic fractions. Addressability is determined by access constraints only — ACM has no technical capability limit across the streams listed in this assessment.
Access ClassificationClasificación de Acceso
Reflects the contractual, logistical, or regulatory barrier to directing a feedstock stream to an ACM facility. Three values: IMMEDIATE (no active contract barrier), CONDITIONAL (access requires negotiation or contract transition), ACCESSIBLE (longer-horizon pathway requiring program development). Never reflects a technology capability limit.
COA — Circular Offtake Agreement
The 30-year service agreement under which Miami-Dade County delivers feedstock to an ACM facility and pays the TMC Fee. The COA is the primary instrument analyzed in the Proposal document.
FWDC — Full Waste Disposal Cost
The all-in cost per ton incurred by the county when disposing of waste through the Regional Transfer Station system. For Miami-Dade County: $76.12/ton contract disposal rate + $16.66/ton transfer station fee = $92.78/ton (VERIFIED, DSWM fee schedule, Oct 1, 2025). This is the planning basis for all TMC Fee calculations.
TMC Fee — Total Manufacturing Cost Fee
The per-ton service fee paid by the county to Carbotura under the COA. Set at $88.00/ton — $4.78 below the FWDC — delivering an immediate per-ton savings from Phase Initial COD. The TMC Fee escalates at 2.5% annually over the 30-year COA term.
Circular Royalty
A cash payment made by Carbotura to Miami-Dade County beginning 13 months after the corresponding TMC Fee payment. The royalty starts at 120% of the Year 1 TMC Fee rate and escalates by +1 percentage point per year. At steady state, the Circular Royalty is designed to exceed the TMC Fee on a per-ton basis, producing a net positive fiscal position for the county.
TPD / TPY
Tons Per Day / Tons Per Year. Miami-Dade County's system operates 365 days per year. All TPY figures in this document use the formula: TPD × 365.
DSWM
Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management. The county agency responsible for residential and commercial waste collection, transfer station operations, and county-owned landfill operations. Also responsible for the WTE procurement process.
WASD
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department. Operates the water and wastewater treatment system for approximately 2.4 million residents — the largest water/sewer utility in the southeastern United States. WASD is the primary generator of biosolids in the county's addressable feedstock portfolio.
RRF — Resources Recovery Facility
The former Doral-based waste-to-energy facility that processed approximately 1,000,000 TPY of Miami-Dade MSW. Operated by Covanta Dade Renewable Energy, LLC (now Reworld Waste Management of Florida, Inc.). Closed permanently following a fire on February 12, 2023. No replacement thermal disposal facility is operational as of March 2026.
Phase Initial / Medium / Expanded
The three ACM deployment phases for Miami-Dade County. Phase Initial: 500 TPD / 5 modules / $305M CapEx / COD Q2 2028. Phase Medium: 2,000 TPD / 20 modules / $1.17B CapEx / full ops Q4 2029. Phase Expanded: 6,000 TPD / 60 modules / $3.47B CapEx / full ops Q2 2031. Intermediate milestones at 1,000 TPD and 4,000 TPD documented.
C&D Debris — Construction and Demolition Debris
Waste generated from construction, renovation, and demolition activities. Currently directed to South Dade Landfill and private C&D processors. Classified CONDITIONAL — access requires diversion of C&D streams currently serving private processors and the South Dade Class I landfill.
CSX Transportation
Class I freight railroad serving Miami-Dade County via the Okeechobee Subdivision and other lines. Miami-Dade County has explored using CSX freight rail to transport MSW to out-of-county landfills. Confirmed capacity of up to 400,000 TPY following construction of a dedicated rail transfer station. Rail connectivity is a key enabler for Site P3 (South Bay, Palm Beach County) in the ACM site candidate analysis.