Broward commission approves Monarch Hill Landfill expansion amid opposition

Despite strong opposition from some residents and officials, Broward County commissioners have approved waste management’s plan to expand the Monarch Hill Landfill, adding about 10 stories in height and extending it by 24 acres.

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The decision, which passed in a 5-3 vote, sparked heated debate during Tuesday’s meeting.

“Mr. Mayor, if you’re not going to ask for order, I will,” Broward County Commissioner Steve Geller said as tensions rose in the chamber.

Commissioner and Vice Mayor Mark Bogen, who voted against the expansion, argued that residents have long opposed the landfill’s growth and that other options should still be explored.

“I represent a community that is opposed to this,” he said. “They’ve been opposed to this for a decade, and every time they’re told this is the last time, waste management keeps coming back, and coming back and at some point, it’s got to stop.”

Broward County’s Solid Waste Authority is still working on a long-term waste management plan, but officials say the Monarch Hill Landfill is already approaching capacity. Waste management representatives defended the expansion, saying it is a practical solution.

“So it makes sense from a regional perspective to utilize a facility that’s been there since 1965 and make sure it maximizes its space,” said Waste Management spokesperson Dawn McCormick.

The approval has prompted threats of legal action. Coconut Creek leaders have formally notified commissioners that it intends to challenge the decision in court.

“Today, the Broward County Commission isn’t protecting the residents in northwest Broward,” Coconut Creek Commissioner Joshua Rydell said. “Thank God we have a court system in this country where this issue is going to formally play out.”