Newly proposed resolution would call for a shutdown date for the facility and seeks restitution for residents impacted by the incinerator
By ZERO BURN COALITION
The Minneapolis City Council’s Climate & Infrastructure Committee held a public hearing on October 10 focusing on a resolution to support the permanent closure of the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC). The resolution marks a significant step in addressing decades of environmental and health concerns raised by local residents, scientists, and environmental advocates.
The resolution calls for a definitive closure date for HERC, restitution for communities impacted by the facility’s 35 years of operation, and frontline community leadership in determining the future of the site. It also urges the City to implement its 2017 Zero Waste Plan, aiming to reduce waste and promote sustainability.
For over three decades, local residents and health experts have been vocal about the harmful effects of waste incineration at HERC, which disproportionately affects low-income and marginalized communities. The closure of HERC is seen by many as a crucial step toward environmental justice and a healthier future for Minneapolis.
“I am honored to represent a Ward who cares so deeply about the health of their children, neighbors, and elderly, and who are showing us how we move beyond our current systems of waste and pollution. I am proud to fight alongside my constituents on the Northside to bring the era of HERC and environmental racism to a close,” said Councilmember Ellison, who represents a ward that is heavily impacted by HERC and is a co-author of the resolution.
The proposed resolution also addresses Hennepin County’s delayed response to its own resolution for a closure plan, pressing for action in alignment with the city’s sustainability and equity goals. Around 40 community members, advocates and experts, including health, labor, and education leaders, provided testimony on the facility’s impact.
Commenting at the hearing, Chef Lachelle Cunningham, a mother, North Minneapolis resident, business owner, and Executive Director of Frogtown Farm, had this to say:
For 35 years, HERC has emitted toxic pollutants—lead, mercury, arsenic, and PFAS—that have caused asthma, heart conditions, cancer, and more in the people living around it. These impacts cannot be ignored or minimized by reports that claim HERC’s pollution is less than vehicles. HERC has been burning trash in a community that is already overburdened by pollution and public health crises. It’s time for HERC to be held accountable, and the way forward is through a commitment to Zero Waste. Shutting down HERC by the end of 2025 is a crucial first step, but it cannot end there.
This isn’t just about eliminating incineration; it’s about creating a sustainable, equitable system where our waste management practices no longer harm vulnerable communities. Zero Waste is not just an environmental goal—it’s a public health and justice issue. It’s about ensuring that the most impacted communities lead the transition away from incineration, and that future decisions about waste management benefit everyone, not just a select few.
I urge you to support the closure of HERC by 2025 and to commit to a community-driven Zero Waste future for Minneapolis.
A final vote on the resolution is anticipated on October 31, after this issue of the alley goes to print.
The Zero Burn Coalition consists of over 50 organizations and hundreds of individuals including impacted community members, waste experts, non-profits, labor unions, businesses, and grassroots organizations. The coalition is dedicated to pursuing environmental justice for all and returning to zero waste, and is currently focused on shutting down the HERC trash burner in Minneapolis. For more information on the Zero Burn Coalition, visit: linktr.ee/zeroburn
