Hennepin County progresses SCORE funding policy to full board after debate over Minneapolis reporting and HERC

The Hennepin County Public Works Committee on Oct. 21 voted to progress a proposed three-year residential waste reduction and recycling funding policy to the full board after lengthy discussion about reporting requirements for cities of the first class and concerns over how waste would be processed regionally.

Ben Knudson, who presented the policy, summarized the proposal: "we receive about 4,400,000 in SCORE funds every year from the state. SCORE is the select committee on the environment and on recycling in the environment. It's been around since 1989," and "we pass 100% of these funds through to cities to support their programs on the front line." He said the draft policy sets a three-year term through 2028, increases a minimum payment for small cities to $3,300 for curbside organics, raises curbside organics sign-up targets (60% for citywide programs; 30% for others), and adds performance standards and negotiated improvement plans for cities of the first class.

Committee members raised concerns about two related issues: (1) whether Minneapolis (the county's city of the first class) provided consistent information and whether its staffing and departmental structure would meet county reporting and performance expectations, and (2) the future of regional processing facilities, including HERC (the county'area resource/energy recovery facility). Commissioner Connolly said she found inconsistencies in the material submitted by the city of the first class and noted the city lacks a dedicated 0-waste division to oversee all related programs and ordinances. Commissioner Lundy warned that closing regional facilities without local capacity to receive waste would shift truck traffic and environmental burden to neighboring communities, saying, "There isn't to be no way I'll ever vote to shut down the HERC until they have a transfer station in their city to deal with their trash."

Commissioner Fernando framed the environmental equity question: "it is appropriate to have a solid waste facility in the city that generates the most trash," while other commissioners pushed for clearer data on which cities are achieving participation and how SCORE dollars are distributed. Staff said they will provide distribution details and projections for 2026 and will meet with Minneapolis staff for further review. After discussion the committee voted to progress the policy to the full board so staff can follow up on outstanding questions and city reporting.