Solid Waste Management Plan adopted

30 Oct 2024

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners has adopted the 2024 – 2029 Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Plan (PDF)(External link).

With the completion of this plan, the county has concluded a significant effort in solid waste planning that began with the Climate Action Plan in 2021, the creation of the Zero Waste Plan in 2023, a prioritization of the highest impact zero-waste actions in the Plan to Reinvent Hennepin County’s Solid Waste System in early 2024, and the development of the county’s required Solid Waste Management Plan based on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Metro Policy Plan.

These plans were developed with feedback from more than 2,300 participants. Thank you to everyone who gave their time and input to create and improve on these plans.

New investments in zero waste

The county’s waste reduction and recycling staff will now fully focus on implementing the various plans’ actions. With additional investments made in 2024 to expand staff, programming, policy, and infrastructure, the county is:

  • Providing resources to cities to increase participation in waste prevention and recycling efforts
  • Increasing compliance with existing food waste diversion and recycling requirements
  • Expanding collection and drop-off options
  • Completing a food waste prevention plan
  • Developing a plastics prevention plan
  • Launching a new Community Zero Waste Grant program
  • Partnering with cities to expand community swaps
  • Expanding reuse of construction and demolition materials

Reinventing the solid waste system

The county also recognizes that the success of these plans will be determined by the level of systemic change made, including:

  • Ability for counties, cities, agencies, and environmental advocates to align efforts
  • State leadership on zero-waste policies
  • Funding and infrastructure development that matches the scope of the challenges and the ambition of the goals
  • Actions by businesses and residents to make zero waste a reality

The county’s investments and making progress on systemic changes will result in a circular economy, ensure an equitable system, and achieve climate and zero-waste goals.