Back to All Events

Responsibly Handled Garbage: What are the Alternatives...

… to the HERC (aka garbage burner)?

The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) burns 365,000 tons of garbage (75% of that garbage is from Minneapolis and 25% comes from the 17 Hennepin suburbs that have organized garbage collection). There is a strong push from advocates concerned that there will be no incentive for zero waste and that this is a social justice issue because there are higher asthma rates in nearby neighborhoods. If it is closed down on quicker timeline of 2025-2028, will all this garbage go to landfill? What are the alternatives?