The city of Minneapolis has taken one more step toward shutting down the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) trash incinerator.

Mayor Jacob Frey signed a resolution calling for it to be closed by the end of 2027 on Thursday morning at city hall.

The city council approved the plan last week, and officials say the incinerator – located in the North Loop – is one of the biggest sources of air pollution in Minneapolis, adding it burns nearly 365,000 tons of waste each year.

Back in October of 2023, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners directed staff with the HERC to create a plan to close the facility between 2028 and 2040.

At that time, the board said HERC official’s plan must “… comply with state statutes, meet major milestones of the County’s Climate Action Plan and Zero Waste Plan, and ensure continued funding for the County’s waste reduction and natural resources programming.”

That timeline has now moved up under Frey’s resolution. According to city officials, the incinerator’s current operation hurts the effort to move to a zero-waste future, and its closure would allow the city to have “more environmentally responsible waste management practices” that would align with their goals.

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City leaders also argue the pollution disproportionately impacts communities of color.

A spokesperson for Hennepin County says in order to achieve a closure by the end of 2027, city, county and state leaders need to work together. “The county’s solid waste plan includes the actions needed and criteria for responsibly closing HERC between 2028 to 2040. Being able to successfully achieve these actions with an accelerated timeline will depend on bold leadership at the state, county, and city levels and willingness to change from manufacturers, businesses, and residents.”