Hennepin County Defends Trash-Burning Plant Amid Closure Calls

Environmental activists protest the facility's emissions and impact on nearby neighborhoods.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:52pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a trash incinerator smokestack repeated in a tight grid pattern, utilizing vibrant neon color palettes and heavy black outlines to transform an industrial object into modern pop art.A pop art interpretation of the controversial Hennepin Energy Recovery Center, the focus of an ongoing debate over the environmental impact of urban waste management.Minneapolis Today

Environmental activists in Minneapolis have launched a hunger strike to demand the closure of the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC), a trash-burning plant that processes over half of Hennepin County's waste. However, county officials argue the facility is a necessary part of the waste management system, producing steam to power thousands of homes while operating within permitted emissions levels.

Why it matters

The debate over HERC highlights the ongoing tensions between environmental concerns and practical waste management needs in urban areas. Activists argue the plant's emissions are harming nearby communities, while the county maintains the facility is a vital part of the region's infrastructure.

The details

The HERC facility has been operating since 1990 and processes around 365,000 tons of the 700,000 tons of trash produced in Hennepin County each year. While some waste goes to landfills, the county says 75% of the trash comes from Minneapolis. Officials argue the plant's emissions are well below permitted levels and that nearly half the facility is dedicated to removing chemicals and pollutants.

  • The HERC facility has been operating since 1990.
  • A group called the Zero Burn Coalition organized a hunger strike starting on April 10, 2026 to demand the plant's closure.

The players

Dave McNary

An official with Hennepin County Environment and Energy, who oversees operations at the HERC facility.

Zero Burn Coalition

A nonprofit organization dedicated to shutting down the HERC trash-burning plant, which they say is poisoning nearby communities.

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What they’re saying

“We're a 24/7, 365 operation. There's 700,000 tons of trash produced in Hennepin County every year. We can only process 365,000 tons per our permit.”

— Dave McNary, Hennepin County Environment and Energy official

“Our neighborhoods are not a dumping ground, our lungs are not collateral, our lives are not negotiable.”

— Protester

What’s next

The county will continue operating the HERC facility while working to address activists' concerns about emissions and environmental impact. The hunger strike organized by the Zero Burn Coalition is ongoing as they push for the plant's closure.

The takeaway

This dispute over the HERC trash-burning plant highlights the complex trade-offs between environmental justice and practical waste management needs in urban areas. While activists argue the facility is harming nearby communities, the county maintains it is a vital part of the region's infrastructure that operates within regulations.