Local bill would require new feasibility study and hearing before Broward landfill expansion; industry warns of cost and delay

Representative Daley presented HB 4039, a local bill asking Broward County to complete a feasibility study and hold a public hearing prior to increasing the size of an existing landfill. Daley said the landfill saga had persisted for years and that a completed feasibility study and further public review were long overdue.

Kita Khoury, representing the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), testified in opposition. Khoury said Broward already has held at least 11 public hearings and argued a new mandated feasibility study would be duplicative, time-consuming and costly. She cited a staff estimate that Broward County would incur an approximate cost of $700,000 to complete the study and warned that delays could postpone host fees and recycling program implementation.

Daley responded that, in his view, a feasibility study was not completed during earlier hearings and that requesting an additional six months to finish such a study was reasonable. Committee debate was limited. On roll call the committee recorded 16 yays and 0 nays and reported HB 4039 favorably.

The committee’s action moves the local bill forward in the House process; proponents and opponents indicated they expect continued engagement at subsequent stages.