HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 2024-022
C ITY OF P LYMOUTH
R ESOLUTION N O. 2024-022
R ESOLUTION OF R ESPONSE TO P ROPOSED H ENNEPIN E NERGY R ECOVERY C ENTER (HERC)
C LOSURE P LAN
WHEREAS, the Hennepin County Recovery Center (HERC) is the only municipal solid waste (waste) to
energy facility in Hennepin County, and one of three serving the Twin Cities area; and
WHEREAS, the HERC’s primary function is to process waste, including waste collected within the City
of Plymouth from private haulers; and
WHEREAS, the HERC remains a crucial instrument in 90% reduction of waste; and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County passed resolution 23-0384 R1 on October 24, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 23-0384 R1 seeks feedback and input from Hennepin County Cities; and
WHEREAS, the documents listed below are included by reference in Hennepin County
correspondence; and
1. Hennepin County Resolution 23-0384 R1
2. Hennepin County Recovery Center (HERC) Fact Sheet
3. The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center and its role in the solid waste system, a staff report for
the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, September 2023
4. The Memo - Hennepin County Climate Action Plan/Zero Waste Plan and HERC –
Recommendation Memo from David Hough and Lisa Cerney to the Hennepin County Board of
Commissioners, September 20, 2023
5. Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan 2022-2042, prepared by the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
6. Hennepin County Zero Waste Plan
7. Hennepin County Climate Action Plan
8. Residential Waste Reduction and Recycling Funding Policy
WHEREAS, “The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center and its role in the solid waste system, a staff
report for the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, September 2023” details a thorough analysis of
consequences of premature closure of the HERC; and
WHEREAS, “The Recommendation Memo - Hennepin County Climate Action Plan/Zero Waste Plan
and HERC – from David Hough and Lisa Cerney to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, September
20, 2023” contains numerous conditions that need to occur prior to consider closure of the HERC; and
WHEREAS, the State Legislature has recently removed classification of the HERC as a renewable
energy source; and
WHEREAS, the State Legislature has tied $26 million in state funding to help fund a Hennepin County
anaerobic digestion organic waste processing facility, contingent on a cessation plan for operations of the
HERC; and
Resolution 2024-022
Page 2
WHEREAS, Hennepin County has reported $37.7 million in debt services on the HERC as of December
31, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the City of Plymouth annually receives $160,000 for Select Committee on Recycling and
the Environment (SCORE) grant funding to assist with recycling and waste reduction programs, which could
be jeopardized as grant funding is tied to County compliance with MPCA solid waste management statutes;
and
WHEREAS, the HERC has consistently demonstrated compliance with MPCA air quality requirements;
and
WHEREAS, the HERC remains an integral source of energy, heat, and maintaining climate resiliency
for Target Field Transit Station, Target Field, and burgeoning North Loop and Warehouse districts in
Minneapolis; and
WHEREAS, according to Major League Baseball, over 30 million attendees at the open-air Target Field
have not had major complaints about smell, odor, or air quality from the HERC, located 150 feet away; and
WHEREAS, the increasing diversion of organic materials from the HERC will serve to increase the
efficiency of the HERC; and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County estimates an additional 10,000 semi-truck trips would result from
closure of the HERC; and
WHEREAS, the MPCA estimates waste generated in the Twin Cities Metro will grow 19% by 2040; and
WHEREAS, current landfills within the Twin Cities are in the process of expanding to meet the
growing demand, while the HERC and two other waste to energy facilities are operating at full capacity; and
WHEREAS, the MPCA has goals for total waste processing to be 75% to recycling and organics, 5% to
landfills, and 20% to waste to energy facilities; and
WHEREAS, previous efforts to reduce waste have fallen short of goals; and
WHEREAS, in 1991 the MPCA set a state recycling goal of 45% by 1996; and
WHEREAS, MPCA have current estimates of recycling and organics diversion of 45%; and
WHEREAS, the Hennepin County Zero Waste Plan has set an aggressive goal to reduce waste to 10%
of current waste levels, or approximately 62,000 tons per year, of generated waste by 2040 without regard
for its disposal methods; and
WHEREAS, the City of Plymouth supports the analysis and conclusions of Hennepin County staff in
regards to the consequences of premature HERC closure, and conditions required to close the HERC; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is committed to environmental stewardship, waste reduction and proper
disposal of waste by organizing curbside recycling and organics, centralized recycling center, yard waste drop
off site, special collection events, fix it clinics, and providing community outreach and education.
Resolution 2024-022
Page 3
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH,
MINNESOTA that:
1) The city reiterates and emphasizes its support of environmental stewardship, waste
reduction and proper waste management.
2) The city supports Hennepin County with efforts of waste reduction and diversion of
recyclable materials, including source separated organic materials.
3) The city supports the Hennepin County position to recommend an anticipated year range
closure for HERC of 2040 to 2050, and possible delay beyond that window should certain
conditions not be met as listed in the Hennepin County Climate Action Plan/Zero Waste Plan
and HERC – Recommendation Memo from David Hough and Lisa Cerney to the Hennepin
County Board of Commissioners, September 20, 2023:
a. Compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
b. Achieving the county board approved Climate Action Plan goals.
c. Achieving the metrics identified in the county’s Zero Waste Plan.
d. The State of Minnesota is at or near its 100% renewable electricity goal.
e. Recycling rate of at least 85%.
f. Food waste, paper, and other biogenic materials make up less than 10% of trash
needing disposal.
g. Alternative funding sources are secured for county natural resources, forestry, zero
waste, and climate work.
h. Alternative energy sources are found to heat, cool, and electrify homes and businesses.
i. Adopt policies on par with national zero waste leaders - including but not limited to
packaging, organized collection, hauler licensing and material bans at landfills.
j. Invest in recycling infrastructure, advancing circularity and waste reduction and reuse –
including but not limited to increasing SCORE recycling grants, funding of a pre-
processing facility in Hennepin to recover reusable and recyclable materials from trash,
fully funding the anerobic digestion facility, increasing state taxes/fees on landfills to
fund county zero waste programs and other investments.
k. Reduce disproportionate impacts from the solid waste system – including but not
limited to direct funding to areas of environmental justice concern, phased in emissions
requirements for waste trucks and updating landfills to achieve greater environmental
outcomes.
l. Amend existing policies to remove disincentives – including but not limited to adopting
a food waste composting requirement in MnDOT specs, reducing barriers for businesses
to use refillable containers, revising building codes and zoning ordinances that inhibit
recycling and revising the current system to cover collection of all electronic waste.
m. Revise Recycling Ordinance 13 to provide clarity in existing language and expand
requirements.
n. Require the use of food waste compost in county construction and landscape projects.
o. Bolster the county’s sustainable purchasing policy using MPCA guidance.
p. Fully implement a county plan to eliminate food waste.
q. Evaluate needed collaboration in providing zero waste infrastructure.
r. Expand recycling drop-off options.
s. Establish brick-and-mortar reuse and repair centers.
t. Support innovation hubs, districts, and resource recovery parks
u. Study options for recovering recyclables from the trash.
Resolution 2024-022
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that:
1) The City of Plymouth promotes local control; thus, it requests Hennepin County to partner
with the city, rather than mandate to the city, developing mutually agreeable policies that
includes adequate funding assistance to fund staff and resources required to achieve
desired efforts. These efforts may or may not include the list outlined here, as originated by
the county:
a. Transition to organized waste collection countywide, which cities would oversee and
implement.
b. Mandate participation in recycling and composting programs, which cities would
oversee and implement.
c. Require cities to add multi-family waste service to single-family residential service.
d. Adopt a single use ban and zero waste packaging requirement for food service.
e. Establish food waste reduction targets and timeline.
f. Establish organized commercial collection, including multi-family.
g. Require mandatory large generator waste reduction and diversion plans.
h. Increase hauler accountability by requiring reporting and service standards.
i. Implementing multi-family recycling programs with adequate staffing.
j. Improve options for managing large items and specialty recyclables in the multi-family
sector.
k. Adopt specifications to increase the use of food-derived compost in city projects.
l. Develop a construction and demolition waste diversion ordinances requiring recycling
on construction and demolition projects.
m. Enhance enforcement of existing city ordinances.
2) Hennepin County should obtain formal approval from the MPCA to diverge from their stated
goals of 75% to recycling and organics, 5% to landfills, and 20% to waste to energy facilities.
3) Hennepin County should obtain formal approval from the Counties of Dakota, Scott, Wright,
Washington, and any other county containing a landfill that could receive waste from
Hennepin County that is currently processed by the HERC, and this additional waste is
accounted for within their long-range forecasting for landfill capacity.
4) Environmental review and justice shall be analyzed for not only areas around the HERC, but
justices in areas around impacted landfills, and repercussions of sending Hennepin County
waste to neighboring counties.
5) The city wishes to clarify inclusion of Plymouth as a suburb that utilizes the HERC to process
its waste.
6) The city encourages investment and maintenance of the HERC to maintain its optimal
performance and effectiveness with waste reduction and environmental protections.
APPROVED by the City Council on this 9th day of January, 2024.