Beyond Burning

OUR VISION

Educate and increase awareness of local communities on the danger of incineration and engage communities to action.

THE PROBLEM:

New trash incinerator in Palm Beach County will cost a minimum of $1.5 Billion.

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.

A Matter of Environmental Justice:

68%

of residents within 2.5 miles of the proposed location are people of color, exposing these neighborhoods to a higher risk of health issues.

We care about the health of our planet and our loved ones.

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:

End Incineration

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.

  • Landfills release fewer toxic pollutants and no hazardous ash
  • Landfilling is more affordable than building and operating an incinerator.
  • Incinerators need to be fed minimum amounts of waste. The county can save money by reducing waste if using landfills.

Solutions:

Zero Waste

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.

  • Improve waste systems. Support reduce, reuse, repair, and sustainable products.
  • Expand recycling access in businesses and high-density housing.
  • Promote composting commercially and residentially.
  • Yard waste recycling and composting

OUR PARTNERS

Take Action

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.

Upcoming Events

Join our public events, SWA and commissioners meetings,
state hearings and comment deadlines.

Solid Waste Authority, SWA Governing Board Wednesday Meetings

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.

What do we do with our trash? Panel Discussion

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

Educational Resources

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