Background

The SWA’s current landfill, located on Jog Road in West Palm Beach is expected to be fully depleted in 2024. In order to extend the life of the existing landfill to provide disposal capacity for incinerator residue and ash from the Authority’s Waste-to-Energy Facility through 2030, the Authority intends to bring the replacement landfill online by 2015.

The Authority currently owns a 1,600 acre site, referred to as the Western Site, approximately 8 miles south of CR880 and immediately to the west of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). This site was acquired in 1996 through a land swap with the South Florida Water Management District. Due to concerns expressed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which operates the Refuge, and various environmental interests, the SWA Governing Board in August 2007 directed the Authority to identify potential alternative sites.

In January 2008 the Authority issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) requesting responses from landowners interested in selling land to the Authority. This RFEI was publicly advertised and sent to every major landowner in the EAA. In February 2008 the Board authorized the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP). Three proposals were received in May 2008 and subsequently evaluated by the Authority and its engineers.

A Selection Committee ranked the proposals. This ranking was presented to the Board in January 2009, at which time the Board delayed action for 60 days to allow for additional public input and to contact the South Florida Water Management District to determine if they had any interest in a land swap for our existing Western Site. The Board will be meeting on March 18, 2009 at which time the Board may select one of the three alternative sites and direct Authority staff to acquire the property.

Related Materials

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Acquisition Documents

Governing Board and Selection Committee Meetings

Other Materials