Did you know that a 2012 City of Miami Beach Recycling Ordinance requires all Multifamily Residences (condos with 9 units or more) and all Commercial Establishments to RECYCLE in Miami Beach?

I – Multi-Family Residential Establishments (Condos with 9 units or more)

As of January 1, 2013, Miami Beach’s New Recycling Ordinance No. 2012-3768 requires that all every Multifamily residences of nine (9) dwelling units or more shall be required to use a single stream recycling process to separate, from all other solid waste, the five (5) following Recyclable Materials:

Paper (Newspaper, Magazines, Office paper, Phone books) | Glass (excluding automotive glass parts) | Metal Containers (steel, tin- plated steel, aluminum and bimetal) | Plastics ( Number 1-7)

Property owners or Condo Associations are required by the City’s Ordinance to hire, by means of a contract, a private recycling contractor licensed by the city and state, for their regular recyclables pick-up.

II – Commercial Establishments

Commercial recycling also became mandatory in the City of Miami Beach as of January 2013; Commercial establishments shall provide a recycling program pursuant to the Ordinance No. 2012-3768 or a City approved modified recycling program pursuant to section 90-344.  The failure of a commercial establishment to provide a recycling program or a modified recycling program shall result in joint and several liability for the Owner, Owners, and Operators. The Ordinance requires all Commercial Establishments to recycle the following seven (7) materials:

Paper (Newspaper, Magazines, Office paper, Phone books) | Glass (excluding automotive glass parts) | Metal Containers (steel, tin- plated steel, aluminum and bimetal) | Plastics (Number 1-7) | Textiles | Wood (wood waste and/ or pieces generated as by-products from manufacturing of wood products)

Owners of commercial establishments in the City of Miami Beach must provide a recycling program for their employees and tenants, using the services of an authorized waste or recycling hauler.

IMPLEMENTING RECYCLING IN YOUR HOME OR PLACE OF WORK!

For Commercial Establishments or Condos with 9 units or more:

• Contact your property manager/owner, or your employer, and ask why recycling services are not being provided.
• State that “recycling is very important”, that you wish to recycle, and that, as of July 2012, every Commercial Establishments or Condos with 9 units or more must subscribe to the recycling services of an approved recycling hauler. IT’S THE LAW. Management may contract the recycling services from its present waste hauler or contract services from a licensed recycling hauler approved by the city and state. A monthly fee will apply and costs divided amongst all property owners / tenants.
• If management refuses to provide the service, which is against the Recycling Ordinance mentioned above, contact Betsy Wheaton at the City of Miami Beach Environmental Resources Division (department responsible for the enforcement of the recycling ordinance) at (305) 673-7080 or email her at [email protected] to file a formal complaint against non-compliance with the 2012 City of Miami Beach Recycling Ordinance. 

IMPORTANT

Be ready to provide the property’s address, manager’s name, phone number and email address.