Activists Demand Closure of Toxic Incinerator in Minneapolis

During a recent Minneapolis City Council meeting, community members voiced strong opposition to the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC), calling for its closure by 2025 due to its detrimental health impacts on local residents, particularly in low-income and minority neighborhoods. The HERC, which incinerates waste, has been criticized for contributing significantly to air pollution, including high levels of nitrogen dioxide and dioxins, which are known to cause serious health issues.

Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden of pollution on communities of color, with many residents reporting respiratory problems and other health complications linked to the facility's emissions. Joe Hesla, a resident of Ward 9, emphasized that the HERC has failed to fulfill promises made when it was built, and he called for urgent action to address the environmental injustices faced by affected neighborhoods.

Bonnie Beccel, a retired teacher, echoed these sentiments, arguing that the continued operation of the HERC contradicts the city's goals for a zero-waste future. She urged the council to take responsibility for the waste produced and to implement policies that promote recycling and sustainability rather than incineration.

Community organizer Cassandra Hendricks shared examples of grassroots initiatives in her neighborhood aimed at reducing waste and promoting sustainability, underscoring the community's commitment to environmental justice despite systemic challenges. She criticized the council for allowing the HERC to continue operating, stating that it perpetuates a cycle of harm to the very communities that are working towards solutions.

Several speakers, including Maxime and Frank Hornstein, a state representative, called for the council to act decisively against the HERC, framing the issue as not only an environmental concern but also a matter of public health and social justice. They urged the council to support the resolution to close the facility and to invest in sustainable waste management practices.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from council members to consider the voices of the community in their decision-making process regarding waste management and environmental policies, as they prepare for further discussions on the zero-waste agenda in upcoming sessions.