Pending

Miami-Dade County Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance

Composting is not required in Miami-Dade yet, but recycling is: businesses and multifamily buildings must provide a recycling program today. The county's Zero Waste Master Plan (July 2026) proposes two countywide ordinances for the next 1 to 4 years: a Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance that gives every sector composting service, and Food Waste Diversion Requirements for restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, hospitals, schools and food processors. All 34 municipalities must follow both once adopted.

At a glance Pending

Read the official rules (opens in a new tab)

Ordinance: Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance + Food Waste Diversion Requirements (proposed in the Zero Waste Master Plan, July 2026)
Who’s covered: Proposed: every sector must have recycling and composting service (homes, multifamily, businesses, institutions); food businesses (restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, hospitals, schools, food processors) must donate edible food and/or separate food scraps
Apartment buildings must provide compost: Proposed
What you have to do: In force today: businesses must provide a recycling program through a permitted hauler; multifamily buildings must provide a recycling program (Sec. 15-2.2); recyclables must be separated from garbage (Sec. 15-2.6); food scrap haulers need a county Compost Hauling Permit (Resolution R-979-25); composting sites generally need a Community Composting Facility Permit (R-25-105). Composting is not required yet
Key dates: Not enacted. Both ordinances are short term in the plan (1 to 4 years), with a phased start and an educational grace period; thresholds not set yet

Worth knowing: Countywide: all 34 municipalities must follow both. Later (5 to 9 years): compostables added to mandatory separation with fines, and recycling + organics collection required wherever garbage is collected

In Miami? Melly’s picks up food scraps here. Get a compost bin at mellysrecycling.com →

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