Becoming a Sustainable and Resilient City

By: Doral Councilwoman Maureen Porras, Esq. 

During the January council meeting, I was proud to present Resolution 24-5423, supporting the County’s “Plastic Free 305” program and directing the city’s administration to implement a plan to work towards becoming a 100% single-use plastic free city.

By adopting this resolution, the City of Doral took a significant step towards the goal of becoming a sustainable and resilient city.

The “Plastic Free 305” program is a voluntary three-tiered certification program for businesses located within Miami-Dade County committed to reducing and eliminating single-use plastics from their day-to-day operations.

Businesses can start by pledging to eliminate single-use plastics and move up the tiers as they make progress toward that goal. 

The program celebrates businesses dedicated to reducing or eliminating the purchase and use of single-use plastics through the adoption of reusable and sustainable replacement strategies.

Over the past year as your councilwoman, and as part of my commitment to investing in an environmentally friendly future, I have actively worked with environmental groups to bring forth different initiatives, such as Resolution 24-5423.

The goal of these initiatives is to reduce waste and adopt environmentally friendly policies. I have also proudly supported the efforts made by student leaders in our community to promote sustainability business practices.

As a graduate of Catalyst Miami’s Community Leadership on the Environment, Advocacy, and Resilience (CLEAR), a ten-week environmental leadership program, I understand the importance of educating our community and preparing our future leaders. 

For over forty years, Doral residents have been negatively impacted by the Waste-to-Energy facility (Covanta Incinerator) located within the city, and the landfill located within close proximity to the city.

Now more than ever, it is important for our city to become a leader in reducing waste and adopting sustainable policies, including by supporting initiatives that will help reduce litter, pollutants, and the use of plastics, such as the “Plastic Free 305” program.

These initiatives are beneficial to our environment, businesses, quality of life, health, and future. I am committed to continuing my work to protect the health of our residents and elevating Doral’s status as a green city.