OUR VISION
Educate and increase awareness of local communities on the danger of incineration and engage communities to action.
THE PROBLEM:
Palm Beach County currently operates two waste incinerators, known as Renewable Energy Facilities (REFs). Now, the Solid Waste Authority plans to replace the older facility with an even larger incinerator that would burn more waste and release more pollution, significantly increasing harmful pollutants like mercury, cadmium, dioxins, and greenhouse gases into our air.
Instead of solving our waste problem, it would transform our trash into toxic air pollution and leave behind a smaller, but far more hazardous, pile of toxic ash. This will result in increased risks of asthma, cancer, and reproductive harm for our communities.
of residents within 2.5 miles of the proposed location are people of color, exposing these neighborhoods to a higher risk of health issues.
Beyond Burning’s mission is to galvanize communities to reduce waste and end incineration. We aim to achieve science-driven, locally-sourced solid waste solutions that result in clean air and environmental justice. Join us.
Solutions:
While not ideal, landfills are less harmful to public health and the environment than incinerators. Studies show that incineration (and landfilling the ash) is 2–3 times more harmful to human health and the environment than sending waste directly to landfills.
Solutions:
Refusing, reducing, and reusing cost individuals nothing. Zero waste is a set of policies and programs that other cities and counties have adopted, providing us with healthy, sustainable options.
OUR PARTNERS
Who decides, how and when? County Commissioners on the Solid Waste Authority (SWA) board, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for permitting and the state legislature.
Voice your opinion:
Show your support at upcoming events listed below.
To write all County Commissioners:
BCC-AllCommissioners@pbc.gov
Call and email your commissioners:
Join Us
Educate your community and contact us to request a Beyond Burning presentation.
Join our public events, SWA and commissioners meetings,
state hearings and comment deadlines.
October 8, 2025, 9:30 A.M.
December 10, 2025, 9:30 A.M.
SWA Administration Building Auditorium, 7501 N. Jog Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33412
Fill in a comment card before 9:30 A.M. Sit and wait for your name to be called and speak. You can speak for 3 minutes about anything waste related. If you cannot speak, you can fill in an electronic comment card here. Be sure to ask to have your comment read into the record.
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Doors Open 2:00 PM, Panel discussion 2:30-5:00 PM
Delevoe Memorial Park, 2520 NW 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Panel includes Marcelo Balladares, Richard Ramcharitar, Dr. Philip Stoddard and Anagha Iyer
Incineration & Landfills
Waste Facilities Map
Map of existing, proposed, closed and defeated dirty energy and waste facilities in the United States
The Problems with Waste Incineration (a.k.a. “Waste-to-Energy”)
– Energy Justice Network
Florida: Trash Incineration Capital of the U.S.
Energy Justice Network
It’s Not Green: New Trash Incinerators in Palm Beach County are Expensive Major Air Polluters
– Energy Justice Network
A modern new incinerator would be among the largest industrial air polluters in the county.
Incineration vs. Landfilling Report – PDF
Operating Track Record of the “Cleanest and Greenest” Trash Incinerator in the United States
– Energy Justice Network
Documenting 176 incidents at the Palm Beach Renewable Energy Facility 2 trash incinerator in its first decade of operation
Most Responsible Landfill Options for Miami-Dade County
– Energy Justice Network
Evaluating 63 landfills in FL and GA and identifying the best of them
Incineration and Environmental Racism
– Energy Justice Network
Dioxins & Furans: The Most Toxic Chemicals Known to Science
– EJnet.org
Landfill Gas to Energy Facilities Policy – PDF
– Sierra Club
Report on Landfill-Gas-to-Energy
– Sierra Club
Don’t Incinerate, Innovate!
– Sierra Club
Conventional Biomass Incineration: A Dirty Energy Source
– Sierra Club
Zero Waste
Zero Waste Community Planning Toolkit
– Zero Waste USA
Zero Waste Community Planning Toolkit Manual
– Zero Waste USA
Basic Information about Anaerobic Digestion
– U.S. EPA
Managing and Transforming Waste Streams: A Tool for Communities
– U.S. EPA
Eight Steps on the Path to Zero Waste – PDF
– Zero Waste USA
From Burning Trash to Zero Waste
– Sierra Club
Hazardous Waste Management
– Sierra Club
Zero Waste Guidance on Destructive Disposal
– Sierra Club
Berkeley Moves The Ball Forward For Salvage and Reuse
– Northern California Recycling Association
Resource Recovery Parks: A Model for Local Government Recycling and Waste Reduction
– California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)