Miami-Dade County in the United States has announced Clean Earth Innovations as a winner of its fifth public innovation challenge, an initiative led by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, the Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM), and the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority (MDIA). This challenge, which attracted over 80 applicants, seeks to identify and fund scalable solutions for diverting waste from county landfills. Clean Earth Innovations was selected for its biochar-focused proposal and will receive $100,000 to pilot its technology within the county’s solid waste system.

The county faces a significant logistical and environmental challenge, generating over five million tons of waste annually. With landfill space diminishing, Miami-Dade is pursuing a Zero Waste Master Plan. Compounding the issue is a recycling rate of only 37 percent, which is hindered by a high contamination rate of approximately 39 percent. New mandates require a 40 percent reduction in landfill-bound waste, placing urgency on finding effective solutions for organic waste, which constitutes a substantial portion of the waste stream.

To address this, Clean Earth Innovations will deploy its rotary pyrolysisPyrolysis is a thermochemical process that converts waste biomass into bio-char, bio-oil, and pyro-gas. It offers significant advantages in waste valorization, turning low-value materials into economically valuable resources. Its versatility allows for tailored products based on operational conditions, presenting itself as a cost-effective and efficient More technology to process organic waste. This process will create a nutrient-rich biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More, providing a value-added product from a material source that would otherwise be landfilled. The solution directly targets the county’s goals of diverting organics and increasing reuse. Two other winners were also selected for complementary solutions: Fertile Earth Worm Farm for composting and Scrapp for a resident-education app to improve recycling practices.

Beginning in 2026, Clean Earth Innovations will conduct its pilot test at the South Dade Landfill and Old South Dade Landfill. This real-world validation, funded by the $100,000 prize, will provide critical data to inform the county’s Zero Waste Master Plan. The pilot offers a formal opportunity to test and validate the company’s pyrolysis solution in collaboration with the DSWM, demonstrating its viability as part of a municipal-scale waste management strategy.

The Miami-Dade initiative is an excellent example of the power of public-private partnerships. By engaging directly with municipal innovation authorities, biochar technology providers can gain funding, validation, and a direct path to integration within public waste infrastructure. This model positions pyrolysis not just as an environmental concept but as a practical, fundable solution for municipalities working to achieve ambitious zero-waste targets.