The Waste Management Act
The county has developed plans to manage solid waste in accordance with the Waste Management Act, which aims to protect land, air, water and other natural resources and public health by improving waste management.
Minnesota law establishes a hierarchy for various waste management practices. The waste management practices listed in the statute, in order of preference, are:
- Waste reduction and reuse
- Recycling
- Composting of yard waste and food waste
- Resource recovery, including waste-to-energy and composting
- Landfilling with methane recovery
- Landfilling without methane recovery
Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Master Plan
The 2005 - 2024 Solid Waste Management Master Plan outlines Hennepin County's programs and strategies for managing solid waste. The plan demonstrates the county's commitment to conserving natural resources and protecting the environmental health and safety of current and future residents.
The county is a national leader in environmental management, and the Solid Waste Management Plan was developed with the goal of maintaining and strengthening the county's leadership position.
Future strategies for solid waste management
The county is currently assessing future strategies for increasing recycling and reducing waste. Strategies being considered include increasing capacity for organics recycling, increasing recycling through mandates and incentives, and increasing education about waste management issues.
For more information about this planning process, see the following resources:
