SEFAA’s Efforts Fighting Excessive Fees Pay Off!

By: Ashley Ligas, Government Affairs Director
South East Florida Apartment Association
Tel: 561-447-0696
ashley@sefaa.org

The City of Miami Beach has been considering a proposal to penalize multi family housing and commercial properties when trash and recyclables are comingled. This proposal goes far beyond the existing County recycling ordinance mandating that these same properties have a recycling program on site. The proposed penalties were originally $350 for the 1st violation, $500 for the 2nd violation, $1000 for the 3rd violation, and $5000 for the 4th and subsequent violations. After communicating our industry’s concerns with the Commission, the revised proposal drops the penalties to a warning for the 1st violation and $100 for all subsequent violations. The ordinance is still being reviewed by the City’s Finance & City Wide Project Committee and if it passes out of that committee, it will then be set for a public hearing before the entire City Commission. SEFAA is working hard to eliminate this portion of the recycling proposal altogether, but this revised proposal is nevertheless a big step in the right direction.