November 28, 2024

Eric Trump Joins Doral Residents in Opposing New Incinerator Amid Environmental Concerns

Son of President Donald Trump fights the city

Doral, FL — Eric Trump, son of  President Donald Trump, has added his voice to growing opposition against Miami-Dade County’s plan to build a new waste-to-energy incinerator in Doral. The proposed facility, slated to replace the original plant destroyed by a massive fire earlier this year, has drawn significant backlash from Doral officials, residents, and now a high-profile local stakeholder.

The Trump family owns and operates the Trump National Doral Resort, located just miles from the proposed site. Eric Trump met with Miami-Dade Commissioner J.C. Bermudez and resort management this week to raise concerns about the incinerator’s environmental and economic impact. Trump called on the county to reconsider its plans, emphasizing the potential harm to both the community and the resort's operations.

“We’re talking about an area that’s become a vibrant, growing hub of South Florida,” said Trump in a statement. “This facility could have long-term consequences for families and businesses who’ve invested in Doral.”

The original waste-to-energy incinerator, located on NW 97th Avenue in Doral, was rendered unusable after a massive fire in February 2023. The fire, which burned for several days, not only disrupted waste processing in Miami-Dade but also heightened local concerns about air quality and safety. Following the fire, the county announced plans to replace the incinerator and considered several locations for the new facility, including Medley, Okeechobee, Opa Locka West Airport, and rebuilding at the original Doral site.

Initially, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava recommended the Opa Locka West Airport as the most viable option. However, citing the high costs associated with land acquisition and relocation, the mayor later reversed her decision, proposing Doral as the preferred location for the replacement facility.

“This has not been an easy decision, and there is no perfect site for the Solid Waste Campus,” Levine Cava said in a statement earlier this month.

The mayor’s reversal has been met with sharp criticism from Doral officials and residents, who argue that the city has already borne more than its fair share of the county’s waste management burden. For years, the community has dealt with odors, emissions, and health concerns linked to the previous incinerator, and many feel that rebuilding the facility in the same location would disregard their ongoing efforts to improve local quality of life.

“We’ve made significant strides to turn Doral into a thriving, family-friendly city,” said Commissioner Bermudez, whose district includes Doral. “Placing this incinerator here would undo much of that progress.”

Local environmental advocates have also sounded the alarm, warning of potential health risks from pollutants that could be released by the new facility. Some residents have raised concerns about increased truck traffic, noise, and the long-term implications for property values in the area.

The Miami-Dade County Commission is scheduled to vote on the incinerator’s location on December 3, a decision that will have lasting implications for both the county’s waste management infrastructure and Doral’s future. While the mayor’s office has hinted at the possibility of delaying the vote for further consideration, tensions remain high as community leaders and residents await the outcome.

If approved, the Doral site would once again serve as the heart of Miami-Dade’s waste-to-energy operations. However, opposition from high-profile figures like Eric Trump adds a new layer of complexity to the debate. The Trump National Doral Resort, one of the area’s largest employers, has played a key role in Doral’s economic growth, and the family’s involvement could draw national attention to the issue.

For now, the question remains: Should Doral continue to shoulder the county’s waste infrastructure burden, or is it time for Miami-Dade to explore alternatives?

The Doral incinerator debate underscores a broader challenge facing South Florida: how to manage growing waste volumes while balancing environmental, economic, and community concerns. Miami-Dade County processes over 1.1 million tons of waste annually, and the need for an efficient, sustainable system has never been greater.

Yet, with climate change concerns and rapid urban development shaping public opinion, decisions about where and how such facilities are built are increasingly fraught. The outcome of the December vote will likely set a precedent for how South Florida navigates these tensions in the years ahead.

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