A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MIAMI BEACH GARDEN CONSERVANCY, INC (THE “CONSERVANCY”) FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE NORTH BEACH COMPOSTING PROGRAM DURING FY 2021/2022, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000; AND FURTHER APPROVING THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM BY THE CONSERVANCY IN FUTURE YEARS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000 PER FISCAL YEAR, SUBJECT TO FUNDING APPROVAL DURING THE CITY’S ANNUAL BUDGETARY PROCESS.

This purpose of this Resolution is to execute a new Professional Services Agreement with the Miami Beach Botanical Garden (Miami Beach Conservancy, Inc) to continue the day-to-day management and operations of the North Beach Community Composting Hub through FY 21/22, utilizing operating funds from the Environment and Sustainability Department’s Professional Services account. The existing agreement expired December 31, 2021.

In 2019, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2019-3091, approving the seventh amendment to the capital budget for FY 2018/2019. This amendment included granting $75,000 to begin a pilot community composting program in North Beach at 85th Street and Collins Avenue.

On January 23, 2020, the City executed a Professional Services Agreement (“Agreement”) with the Miami Beach Conservancy, Inc. (“the Conservancy”), with an initial budget of $37,400 for the management of the North Beach Community Composting Pilot Project Hub. Services provided included a full-service composting program with logistical assistance, compost transformation, and community education (“the Program”). The Agreement allowed for one (1) renewal option, for a period not to exceed one (1) year, expiring on December 31, 2021.

On August 26, 2020, the North Beach Composting Hub located at 85 Street and Collins Avenue was officially opened to the community. In September 2021, to continue the Services provided by the Conservancy, the City and the Conservancy executed amendment No.1 exercising the renewal term and increasing the project budget by $15,000 for a total project amount of $52,400.00.

The continued operations for the program may be paid through the existing operating budget under the Environment and Sustainability Department for FY21/22. Funding for the program in upcoming fiscal years will need to be identified through the annual budget process to ensure the continuation of the program.

More than 330 individuals and families have registered for the composting program and participation continues to grow weekly. An approximate, 20,000 lbs. of food waste is dropped off monthly by participants, which totals over 340,000 lbs. of waste diverted since the launch of the program. Miami-Dade County, like many other communities, does not have large scale public composting facilities; therefore, community programs such as this one have become an integral part in the reduction of food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

The goal of the collaboration with the Miami Beach Conservancy, Inc. is to provide residents with an easily accessible compost option to reduce the amount of food waste that is sent to landfills. The North Beach Compost Hub collects food scrap material and transforming that food waste into nutrient rich soil. Creating awareness on the importance of waste reduction, repurposing of materials, and creation of organic gardens also enhances the community’s sustainability.

Food scraps and yard waste currently make up 20-30% of what is disposed of in landfills. This equates to approximately 35 million tons of food per year. Once in the landfill, the nutrients in the scraps are lost, taking up space and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions in the form of methane. In addition to promoting waste reduction, communities can help combat this issue through the establishment of composting programs. Composting is the method of taking organic materials such as leaves, vegetables, and food scraps and turning them into a rich soil mixture (compost) using four basic ingredients: nitrogen, carbon, water, and air. Diverting food scrap waste into a regenerative system can improve the health of the soil and provide multiple community benefits through a closed loop system.

The 2019 Community Survey results indicate that 77.8% of residents have taken steps to reduce solid waste, including recycling & reducing single-use plastic.

The Administration recommends the adoption of the Resolution and the continuation of North Beach composting program as an important way to reduce food waste and create nutrient rich soil for more than 300 individuals and families that participate.  Creating awareness of the importance of waste reduction, repurposing of materials, and organic gardens enhances the community’s sustainability.