Tampa鈥檚 Solid Waste and Environmental Program Management Department is highlighting its increases in total waste collection and the importance of refusing, reducing, reusing, composting, and recycling, when possible. Over the past five years, the McKay Bay Waste-to-Energy Plant 鈥� where all of the city鈥檚 waste is processed and burned into energy instead of being transported to a landfill 鈥� has seen about a 25% increase in total garbage from 2020 to 2024. Servicing approximately 90,000 households and businesses across Tampa, and with more people moving to the city every year, the plant operates near full capacity every day of the year to dispose of waste nearly as quickly as it comes in.
Tampa鈥檚 Department of Solid Waste and Environmental Program Management strives to reduce this amount of waste by promoting waste reduction initiatives and programs, like the backyard composting, bead reuse, recycling, and yard waste compost programs. 鈥淐ollectively, these mindful changes in daily habits can have a big impact on our environment and prolonging the lifespan of our waste processing infrastructure, which is critical for a healthy city,鈥� said Mayor Jane Castor. 鈥淓arth Month reminds us of the important role each person plays in this effort.鈥�
At 22%, food waste makes up the single largest category of material placed in residential garbage carts, with recyclables and yard waste following closely behind. This mirrors national statistics with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimating between 30 to 40% of the food supply resulting in waste. While food waste occurs in businesses, households produce over half of all wasted food in the United States. Individuals can help reduce wasted food in their homes by implementing habits like buying only what they need, cooking and consuming the food before it spoils, and composting kitchen scraps.
In 2024, the McKay Bay Waste-to-Energy Plant underwent a $100 million retrofit to upgrade the facility and secure its functionality for years to come. Originally established in 1985, the facility converts over two million pounds of waste daily into electrical energy, powering approximately 15,000 homes monthly. Tampa鈥檚 increases in waste generation showcase the importance of sustainable materials management and continued proactive exploration of additional opportunities for waste diversion.