Mayor Levine Cava and the Department of Solid Waste Management unveil winners of Public Innovation Challenge tasked with propelling waste diversion and sustainable solutions across Miami-Dade

Today, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava alongside the Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) County officials and the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority (MDIA) proudly announced the winners of MDIA’s fifth public innovation challenge. This challenge focused on solutions that will divert waste, particularly organic waste, from County landfills, enhance recycling efforts, and strengthen strategies to reduce waste and educate and engage residents.

Miami-Dade County produces over five million tons of waste annually. According to Florida's Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) only 37 percent of the County’s waste is actually recycled with a contamination rate of approximately 39 percent. Piloting innovative technologies and easy‑to‑use tools will help the County increase recycling participation, divert more material, increase re-use of organic waste and recyclables, and reduce environmental impact.

The announcement event included demonstrations of the three winning technology solutions. Beginning in 2026, two of the startups will participate in a pilot test conducted at South Dade Landfill and Old South Dade Landfill; the other pilot will be deployed county-wide to educate residents on how to sort their waste. The selected winners include two local South Florida companies: Clean Earth Innovations, which will process organic waste through a rotary pyrolysis to create nutrient-rich biochar; and Fertile Earth Worm Farm, which deploys a composting solution to create high-quality, organic soil blends. The other winner is Scrapp, whose phone-based app educates and engages residents on proper waste disposal practices.

“As we advance our Zero Waste Master Plan, Miami-Dade is taking bold action to reduce landfill waste and build a more resilient Miami-Dade by pressure testing these solutions in real-world settings,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We’re running out of space in our landfills, and the time to act is now. Every innovative step we take helps protect our planet, reduce waste, and create a cleaner, more sustainable future for generations to come, which is why we’re positioning Miami-Dade County to lead in Zero Waste innovation while solving real problems for the residents we serve."

Piloting the innovative technologies selected through the Public Innovation Challenge will inform and complement the County's Zero Waste Master Plan, a comprehensive roadmap that outlines a path forward to divert, reduce, and reuse overall waste in our community.

“Miami-Dade's new waste mandates require at least a 40% reduction in waste sent to landfills and such a substantial portion could be composted or reused," said Leigh-Ann Buchanan, President and CEO of MDIA. “Through the pilots of these winning solutions, we're demonstrating that innovation and technology can be at the forefront of optimizing efficiencies in waste diversion.”

MDIA’s Public Innovation Challenge sources, selects, funds, and facilitates pilots by early‑to growth‑stage companies to help solve high‑impact public problems. MDIA, in partnership with DSWM, selected the Public Innovation Challenge winners from a competitive pool of over 80 applicants, including local and global technology companies, after the challenge launched in March 2025. Each selected company will receive funding for $100,000 and the opportunity to test and validate their solutions with DSWM in a pilot setting.

"Our commitment to serve Miami-Dade residents means constantly improving how we manage waste and protect our environment,” said Miami-Dade County DSWM Director Aneisha Daniel, PhD. “By partnering with startups through this challenge, we’re exploring practical, sustainable solutions that serve our communities better and ensure a cleaner, healthier future for Miami-Dade County residents."

As the County’s population continues to grow, waste diversion remains a critical strategy in mitigating environmental impact. By reducing the amount of waste being disposed of, communities can conserve natural resources, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, prevent soil and water contamination, and reduce the need to extract new resources for manufacturing. The four companies selected as winners of this Public Innovation Challenge will support these efforts and position Miami-Dade County as a leader in pursuing innovative approaches to its solid waste challenges.

To learn more about The Miami-Dade Innovation Authority, Inc. please visit: https://www.mdia.miami.

About Miami-Dade Innovation Authority (MDIA)

MDIA bridges gaps between private innovators and the public sector to fast-track the procurement of technology and innovative solutions that enable municipalities to more effectively and efficiently address pressing issues that impact resident quality of life in cities. Through its signature Public Innovation Challenge, it identifies, invests in, and supports early-to-growth stage companies to pilot, test, and validate their technology in collaboration with the economic engines and local government. For more information, visit: www.mdia.miami

About the Miami-Dade Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM)

The DSWM provides curbside waste and recycling collection services to more than 350,000 households in unincorporated Miami-Dade County and ten municipalities, including Aventura, Cutler Bay, Doral, Miami Gardens, Miami Lakes, Opa-locka, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Sunny Isles Beach, and Sweetwater. For additional details about the DSWM, please visit miamidade.gov/solidwaste.

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“Through the pilots of these winning solutions, we're demonstrating that innovation and technology can be at the forefront of optimizing efficiencies in waste diversion.” Leigh-Ann Buchanan, President and CEO of MDIA