Director Nick Gerald presented the Climate and Infrastructure Committee with a status report Oct. 30 on a legislative directive directing updates on the city’s recycling rates and 0-waste strategies.

Gerald said the city adopted an 80% diversion-by-2030 goal in 2015 but that current projections put Minneapolis on a path closer to 50% by 2030 without significant policy or operational changes. “We understand that our target is 80% by 2030, but what we have in there reaching 50% by 2030 is what the current path we’re projected at would kinda get us to that point, not all the way to the 80,” Gerald said.

The presentation covered capture-rate targets (residential sector) from a 2022 study, outreach and education planned through Climate Legacy Initiative funding, compliance and enforcement responsibilities across departments, proposed ordinance changes for multiunit buildings and rental licensing, and a funding-mechanism (clean-community fee) study due in final draft by December 2025.

Key specifics Gerald provided include:

- Residential and commercial diversion trajectory: city goal is 80% diversion by 2030; current projection without programmatic changes is roughly 50% by 2030.

- Capture-rate targets and outreach: the 2022 capture-rate study established material-specific capture targets for 2030; outreach and a marketing campaign funded by the Climate Legacy Initiative will begin soon to increase proper recycling (Gerald cited an example that roughly 50% of aluminum still goes to garbage in current streams).

- Compliance and verification: staff reported they have verified recycling service at 91% of buildings and have 347 buildings left to verify. Regulatory Services enforces commercial recycling on a complaint basis and inspects large buildings on a routine cadence (roughly every seven years unless a complaint accelerates review). Environmental Health (Food, Lodging and Pools) enforces the Green to Go ordinance; Gerald said Green to Go compliance was about 85% in 2025 with an expectation of 95% by 2030.

- Mandatory recycling and managed enforcement: staff described a phased approach. The city plans outreach now, consult with the City Attorney in 2026 to amend ordinances, target mandatory recycling for city service properties in 2027, and phase in managed enforcement—starting with warnings and moving to low-level fines beginning in 2028. Gerald said approximately 3% of solid-waste-recycling customers currently lack a recycling cart.

- Multiunit rules and rental licensing: Gerald said the existing multiunit ordinance lacks a definition of “adequate” recycling capacity. Staff plan to work with Regulatory Services to set volume standards, require recycling plans as part of rental licensing, and provide education and assistance to property managers; fines would be phased in after an education period.

- Organics policy: Gerald recommended caution on mandatory residential organics to avoid contamination and higher processing fees. Staff proposed sequencing (achieve mandatory recycling compliance first, comprehensive education, and a rate study to align billing incentives). For multiunit organics, staff proposed a demand-triggered approach (require organics where a specified share of tenants request service) rather than citywide mandatory organics at this time.

- Food-generator requirements and county coordination: Gerald noted the climate equity plan includes a strategy to align with Hennepin County’s ordinance 13 requiring large food scrap generators to divert food waste; staff will coordinate with county staff and evaluate whether a separate Minneapolis ordinance is necessary.

- Funding study: a clean-community fee/funding-mechanism study reviewed seven peer cities; staff expect a final draft in December 2025, plan to present outcomes in 2026, and to consult the City Attorney in 2027 on authority to implement recommended funding mechanisms.

After the presentation, Chair Katie Cashman thanked staff, emphasized multifamily recycling and food-establishment organics as priorities, requested follow-up on whether building owners must provide organics pickup for food tenants, and asked the clerk to file the report. The clerk filed the report and the committee adjourned.