History: State statute requires metropolitan counties to prepare solid waste management master plans every six years that identify strategies to meet the recycling goals and objectives in the state’s Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan. The policy plan was adopted by the Commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) on April 6, 2017, and establishes the framework for managing solid waste in the metro area through 2036. The policy plan outlines aggressive goals, including specific and quantifiable objectives for eliminating landfilling of waste. The policy plan objectives emphasize product stewardship, waste prevention, reuse, and achieving the legislative goals for recycling and organics recovery.

In 2016, 51 percent of waste generated in Hennepin County was diverted from the trash. The recycling rate in the county has increased steadily over the past several years. The county’s Master Recycler/ Composter program, Fix-It Clinics, environmental education grants and recycling grants have been recognized for their achievements and replicated by many others. The county is also acknowledged for its support of organics recycling, household hazardous waste programs and education campaigns and resources. However, significant changes in behavior and waste management methods will be needed to achieve our aggressive recycling and waste prevention goals. The master plan was developed to maintain and strengthen the county’s leadership in waste management.

Current Request: Hennepin County developed its 2018 Solid Waste Management Master Plan to reach the state’s goal of recycling 75 percent of waste by 2030. The master plan demonstrates the county’s commitment to conserving natural resources, protecting the environment and ensuring public health and safety.

The county gathered input from more than 1,700 participants through meetings, one-on-one interviews and online surveys. Participants included residents, elected officials and representatives from businesses, business associations, cities, schools, community groups, multifamily property owners, haulers and other waste industry experts.

The master plan includes the following strategies to help meet our goals of increasing recycling, preventing waste, and sending zero waste to landfills:

• Focus on organics recycling, which is the greatest opportunity to reduce our trash, by proposing requirements for cities and certain businesses, increasing local capacity to manage organics, and working to prevent food waste.

• Build momentum for waste prevention and reuse by better understanding consumption habits and promoting waste prevention actions.

• Continue to serve residents where they are, including at single-family and multifamily residences, work, school and on-the-go.

• Promote drop-off disposal options for household hazardous waste and recyclables.

• Reuse and recycle construction and demolition waste.

• Support the MPCA's environmental justice policy in alignment with the county's disparity reduction efforts.

Impact/Outcome: The master plan was developed to be consistent with the county’s mission to enhance the health, safety and quality of life of our residents and communities in a respectful, efficient and fiscally responsible way. It is also consistent with Environment and Energy’s mission of protecting the environment and conserving resources for future generations.

The intended outcome of the county’s master plan is to guide the development and implementation of waste management programs and facilities that protect the environment, reduce the amount of waste generated, properly manage hazardous waste, recover material and energy from waste, and minimize the use of landfills. The impact of not successfully achieving master plan outcomes will be the continued and increased use of land disposal of solid waste at landfills in Minnesota and adjacent states; greater quantities of greenhouse gas emissions; less material recycled and composted; and less energy recovered from waste.