Resolution Title: Reducing Organics Waste and Food Insecurity Resolution:

We support eliminating organic material from landfills and incinerators across Minnesota and addressing food insecurity in our communities by prioritizing food waste reduction, supporting food rescue organizations, and expanding local composting programs that keep resources in the community, enrich our soil, and support environmental justice and public health.

Supportive Statements:

WHEREAS: diverting food waste from landfills reduces methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, helping Minnesota meet climate goals;

WHEREAS: food rescue programs can provide millions of meals annually to Minnesotans experiencing food insecurity;

WHEREAS: composting organic material locally improves soil health, water retention, and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers;

WHEREAS: communities near landfills and incinerators often face disproportionate environmental and health impacts, making waste diversion an environmental justice priority;

WHEREAS: investing in local composting and organics infrastructure creates jobs and supports Minnesota’s circular economy.

Title: Keep the Promise to Shut Down HERC Trash Burner 

Be it resolved that:

The DFL Party will combat environmental racism by demanding that the Hennepin County Board keep its promise and shut down the HERC trash burner as it resolved to do on October 24, 2023. HERC should be shut by 2027, in line with a resolution the City of Minneapolis passed on October 31, 2024.

 Supportive statements:

HERC is the largest industrial source of air pollution in Hennepin County and one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters in the state.  The incinerator burns 350,000+ tons of trash from Minneapolis and suburbs across the county.  It is located near Target Field between Downtown and North Minneapolis.

For 230,000 people living in adjacent neighborhoods -- mostly made up of low-income folks and people of color -- dirty air, chemical fumes, and the risk of poor health have become part of daily life.  HERC's pollutants trigger asthma attacks, and contribute to heart attacks, strokes, cancers, birth defects, learning disabilities, and other harmful health outcomes.

 HERC consumes tens of millions of dollars each year that should be spent instead on zero-waste infrastructure, education, and outreach. It is putting the public in debt from government bonds to pay for repairs. Shutting down incinerators is catalyzing the zero waste transition all over the country.