Updates made to solid waste plan and submitted for approval

Staff reviewed feedback received during the public comment period for the Solid Waste Management Plan and made changes to the plan, which are summarized below.

The updated solid waste plan (PDF)(External link) has been shared with commissioners and will be discussed in the Public Works committee meeting on October 8. See board meeting materials(External link).

The county’s plan must be approved by the board and submitted to the MPCA no later than October 29, 2024.

Changes made to the Solid Waste Management Plan

The following changes were made based on public feedback.

Improving the reliability of the data

Strategy #3. Require waste composition study at least once every 5 years at all landfills that are located within the county.

This requirement does not apply to Hennepin County because there are no operating landfills in the county, the county is committed to collecting data to measure progress and inform our approach to program implementation and policy development. This strategy was edited to add that the county will conduct at least two waste sorts at a county facility or in collaboration with partners during the term of the solid waste management plan.

Regional solutions

Strategy #10. Commit to standardized outreach and education.

This strategy was edited to include actions from the county’s Zero Waste Plan related to culturally relevant outreach. The county will expand partnerships and continue to improve efforts to customize strategies, approaches, and messaging to resonate with different audiences. This aligns with comments that education should meet community needs and cultural differences.

Waste reduction

Strategy #16. Implement a formal county sustainable purchasing policy using MPCA guidance.

Commenters pointed out that the federal government recently announced a new directive related to single-use plastics and recommended that the county do the same. This strategy was expanded to reference that directive and say the county will review and consider integrating similar policies and practices.

Reuse

Strategy #21. Implement a green meeting policy.

This strategy was modified to clarify that it will be an internal county policy. The county will share its policy with cities and encourage implementation of similar policies at the city level.

Strategy #22. Implement a county policy encouraging the use of reusable food and beverage service ware.

Commenters said this strategy should do more than simply encourage use, and the county should lead by example in this area. This strategy was edited to say the policy will apply to both county-hosted events and county spaces. As with strategy #16, there is overlap with new federal policies for single-use plastics, which the county will look at to potentially incorporate.

Strategy #23. Adopt an ordinance with a mandatory consumer charge or ban for single-use items.

Commenters emphasized the importance of reuse as part of this initiative. This strategy was edited to include a focus on increasing reusable serviceware over disposables.

This strategy was also expanded to explain that the county will continue to allocate resources to existing programs that address single-use plastics. The MNinmize campaign, business, school, and multifamily waste prevention and recycling grants, and new zero waste community grants all provide incentives to switch from single-use plastics to reusables. The new extended producer responsibility for packaging legislation has the potential to help address this issue as well.

In addition to continuing our existing work, the county’s newly hired position to address plastic waste will work on expanding programming and policy on this issue.

Strategy#26. Establish a reuse location for residential drop-off and pick-up.

The county already provides a reuse location and provides funding for this type of activity, feedback suggested the county should go further. This strategy was edited to say the county will explore options for establishing a reuse hub.

Strategy #27. Establish a curbside set-out day to allow residents to set out used items for reuse.

Residents highlighted the need for additional collection and drop-off options, and cities had questions about the role of the county in this strategy. Thie strategy was clarified to say the county will commit funding to pilots and expand efforts.

Collection best practices

Strategies #33 & #34. Contracting for waste collection.

Many comments were supportive of organized collection, though we also heard that more discussion is needed. This strategy was expanded to say the county will commit resources to engage with cities and other partners on the organized collection process to identify and push for legislative changes to make the process easier.

Recycling management

Strategy #37. Provide assistance to multifamily properties to improve recycling.

Residents and cities expressed a desire for more equitable services for multifamily properties. The need for more support and resources goes beyond traditional recycling and extends to organics, mattresses, household hazardous waste, and more. This strategy was edited to say that county will continue to explore ways to provide the same level of access to waste services at multifamily properties that is available to residents through city programs.

Organics market development

Strategy #55. Require food-derived compost in county construction and landscaping projects.

Cities said they are looking for more support from the county on this strategy. This strategy was edited to add that the county will provide specifications and provide technical assistance. Changes also made it clear that the county will explore requiring the use of food-derived compost in city projects.

Additional edits

Additional edits were made to reference the policy plan objectives and add the county’s zero-waste dashboard metrics (page 22). The legislative zero-waste priorities needed to reinvent the county’s solid waste system were added to the supporting materials.

Acknowledging HERC

There continues to be productive tensions around the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) and its role in the county's waste management system. The county remains committed to implementation of the Plan to Reinvent the Solid Waste System and continued conversations about HERC and its future.

The county is bound by state law to address the waste hierarchy to reduce waste, increase recycling, and process waste to recovery energy to reduce landfilling in this solid waste management plan. (Minn. Stat. §§ 115A.02, 473.149, 473.803)

The Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Plan:

• Complies with statutory mandates, covers solid waste planning for the period of 2024-2029, and advances a zero-waste future.
• Includes a statement to accelerate the closure and repurposing of the HERC (page 4).
• Describes the established zero-waste dashboard that defines the criteria to be met to responsibly close HERC (page 26) and as the metrics for tracking progress toward metro policy plan objectives and the county’s zero-waste goal (page 22).
• References the key operational and legal steps that would need to be completed to stop incinerating trash at HERC at any point in time (page 26).

Recognizing the need to go further, faster

The feedback on this plan from the public asked the county to go further and faster to achieve zero waste. With board adoption of this plan, the county’s vision of a reinvented solid waste system will be defined: a zero-waste future where less waste is created in the first place, where everyone shares responsibility, and where everyone benefits from easily accessible services. This system has widespread participation in programs and social norms that align with zero waste.

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

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

The county is investing in this vision that will result in a circular economy, ensure an equitable system, and achieve climate and zero-waste goals.