In lush South Florida, trees and bushes grow all year round. And that means yard waste and dead trees never stop piling up. But leaving them in a landfill is a climate-warming issue. Two South Florida governments think they have a new solution — light it on fire, but in a planet-friendly way. Miami-Dade County and Coral Gables, one of the richest cities in the region, are both turning to new technology that leans on ancient farming practices to transform wood waste into a charcoal-like material called biochar. The material known as “black carbon” has the potential to clean dirty water, nourish soil and even be used in roads. Plus, it has lower emissions than a simple bonfire, leading to cleaner, healthier air that contributes less to climate change. “We need to evolve. We need to find solutions that are outside your standard box,” said Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, who began looking for green waste alternatives years ago. “The way that we have been disposing of waste and garbage over the last 25 years is outdated, and it’s not environmentally friendly.” ✍️: Ashley Miznazi, Michelle Marchante 📹: Ashley Miznazi 📸: Matias Ocner