September Civic Buzz: The HERC

Many Minneapolis residents are wondering, where will the trash go without the HERC? Can we afford to close it? Can we afford to keep it open? Will zero waste efforts be enough to divert from the HERC? What is the just course of action for our waste in Minneapolis?

This panel discussion will address the history, benefits, risks, science, and the environmental justice perspective behind the HERC.

Panelists: Dave McNary is the Assistant Director of Solid Waste & Energy for Hennepin County. In that role, he oversees solid waste operations, recycling, and district energy facilities. He also leads local policy implementation aimed at zero-waste goals. He holds a Masters in Public Administration from Hamline University.

Leslie Myint is Policy & Research Director for the MN Environmental Justice Table, a nonprofit organization working to transform our waste system away from burning and burying to regeneration and sustainability. Her work is focused on analyzing data regarding different waste management practices. She earned her PhD in Biostatistics from Johns Hopkins University and is a professor of Statistics and Data at Macalester College.

Nick Gerold is Director of Solid Waste & Recycling for the City of Minneapolis. He manages collection services for garbage, recycling, and yard waste throughout Minneapolis and oversees community cleanup programs.