REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

The City of Aventura Promoting Green Initiatives and Enforcing County Code on Solid Waste

I like the steps the city of Aventura is taking with the City Programs to Promote Green Initiatives. Let me comment on your very last point which says, “An article in the next newsletter will address promoting individual condominiums and homeowners associations to institute or expand recycling programs. We also intend to feature and recognize successful programs in upcoming newsletters.” In parallel with promoting Green Initiatives, the city of Aventura should be enforcing what's already law. As said in this Conscious Recycling vflyer, Miami-Dade County has a code which requires all rental property owners and condominium associations to provide recycling programs.

Please refer to http://www.municode.com/Resources/gateway.asp?pid=10620&sid=9, Sec. 15-2.2. Recycling programs required for multi-family residential establishments. (a) No later than nine (9) months from the effective date of Ordinance Number 91-123, every multi-family residential establishment shall provide for a recycling program which shall be serviced by a permitted hauler or the appropriate governmental agency and shall include, at a minimum, the five (5) materials listed in Section 15-2.2 below.Recyclable Materials: Multi-family

(1) Newspaper
(2) Glass (flint, emerald, amber)
(3) Aluminum cans
(4) Steel cans
(5) Plastics (PETE, NDPE-natural, HDPE colored)(b) The failure of a multi-family residential establishment to provide a recycling program or a modified recycling program pursuant to Section 15-2.4 hereof shall constitute a violation of this section for which the property owner(s) shall be liable, provided, however, that in the case of a condominium or cooperative apartment having a condominium association or cooperative apartment association, said association, rather than individual unit owners, shall be liable for any such violation.(Ord. No. 91-123, § 4, 10-15-91) The core of the problem is that the government has not been enforcing the law as strictly as they should have. New laws and programs that set the conditions for a greener more sustainable world should be always welcome, but it’s equally important to begin enforcing those regulations that already exist. Otherwise, why wasting tax dollars, human resources and brain power to create them in the first place?

Submitted by:

Sebastian Aroca
Conscious Recycling Action Team

Have a Green Week, Sebastian

The City of Aventura has organized GO GREEN AWARDS. Have you seen the little signs all around town? To find out more information about how to vote check out the City of Aventura website. Click to get the GO GREEN application.

I think this is a very important CALL TO ACTION that the city is trying to promote. My concern is that not enough people will hear about it or those that do won't take the time to participate. Please pass it on, spread the word and VOTE!

Does Aventura Florida recycle?

Going Green, From the City of Aventura Out to the World

I think it’s important, not to say vital, to get the message of this Conscious Recycling vflyer out in every city of the United States. But since the work starts in our own backyard and extends around the world, then we ought to look for ways through which we can reduce global warming pollution right where we are. One simple and immediate action we can take is to recycle more.

We can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by recycling half of our household waste. There are over 10,000 apartment and condominium buildings in Miami-Dade County, many of which are in Aventura. Some sources cite that the city was named "Aventura" because that was the name of the original group of condominium developments in the area. So I envision the city of Aventura becoming by the end of 2008 a pioneer on providing recycling programs to some of the Miami-Dade area's tallest and most prestigious condominium towers.

Miami-Dade is still on its nascent stage when it comes to providing recycling programs for condominiums and businesses so if taken purposefully and done with the same sense of urgency the issue calls for, Aventura could take a lead on that arena, and why not in the near future become the city in South Florida to which other cities come for consultation on Green Initiatives to learn best practices on how to engage its entire community in conscious recycling. But as actions speak louder than words, let’s make it happen working together, citizens and government of Aventura collaborating with one another with a common objective of creating a greener more sustainable community… and as a consequence, a greener world!

Submitted by:
Sebastian Aroca
Conscious Recycling Action Team

Miami Dade County is spreading the word

Keep on Truckin

I grew up in the City of Aventura, since before this area was known as Aventura. It was all marsh land, but that would change once the Aventura Mall was built. Soon the mall became a popular destination and several new condos and communities were slowly created. As we all know the construction did not stop and it's still happening before our eyes. Growth is great, but I hope that the people of this city don't loose sight of the big picture. The City of Aventura spans ONLY about 3 miles, that's not much - let's learn to respect the land we inhabit.



Lately, I've been walking the trail around the golf course at the Fairmont Resort in Aventura. This is also known as "The Circle." It's a three mile circle around Country Club Drive. I've noticed that Aventura has made an effort to help its residents keep the city clean by placing city garbage cans around the circle and other areas.



These cans are great to keep Aventura clean; however, plastic recycling cans would be a great addition. The track is filled with bike riders, runners, walkers, and dog walkers each holds a plastic water bottle. If there was an option to recycle on the trail it would be appreciated by all the residents.