HERC status update

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency sent this bulletin at 02/03/2014 02:23 PM CST

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You are receiving this bulletin because you previously requested to be kept informed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency about the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in Minneapolis.

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners will consider a resolution to withdraw the expansion request to modify the HERC permit to allow increased throughput. This proposal has been made in conjunction with a resolution calling for changes to the county’s Municipal Recycling Refund Policy to target the collection of residential organics for recycling. The resolution has been referred to the board’s Public Works, Energy and Environment Committee for discussion on February 4, 2014.

If the county does decide to withdraw the expansion request, the MPCA would cease all further work on the environmental review and permit application for the proposed expansion.

The HERC incinerator will remain an important component of how the metro area manages garbage disposal. Not all items in the waste stream can be recycled and HERC provides an opportunity for energy recovery and additional metals recycling, which is preferable to landfilling.

For more information contact ralph.pribble@state.mn.us or 651-757-2657.