16. Special Districts and Boards

Board of County Commissioners Meeting · 2026-05-19 · agenda_item

The Indian River County Solid Waste Disposal District (SWDD) has approved an Interlocal Agreement with St. Lucie County for processing recyclables. This agreement includes a new processing fee of $45 per ton starting October 1, 2026, which is expected to add about $1 million to the SWDD budget. The district is also exploring options for emergency diversion of recyclables to private facilities, which could cost up to $1.8 million annually. Furthermore, the Board has supported initiating a feasibility study for a local recycling processing facility, possibly through a public-private partnership, and investigating waste-to-energy technology. This project is currently under review, with staff to return with formal pricing for emergency diversion and next steps for the feasibility study. The scope of work will involve planning and analysis for potential new facilities and services, including waste processing and possibly energy generation. Local contractors, suppliers, and service providers in waste management, engineering, construction, and related fields should engage early to understand the evolving needs and potential opportunities as these studies progress.

processing fee

45 per ton

budget increase

1 million

emergency diversion cost

1.8 million

percentage of material affected

25 %

vote count

5 aye

vote count

0 nay