'Improperly set': Advocates say Minneapolis trash burner's PFAS limits miss long-term risks

By Ross O'Keefe | Yahoo!News | June 20, 2026

Read the full article by Ross O'Keefe (Yahoo!News)

"Questions about toxic PFAS emissions are once again sharpening a long-running dispute over a Minneapolis incinerator, as environmental advocates say current federal rules may not fully capture the dangers to nearby communities already bearing heavy pollution burdens.

At the center of the fight is the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center, or HERC, a waste-to-energy facility in downtown Minneapolis that processes about 365,000 tons of trash each year, The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder reported.

What happened?

Advocates argue the core issue is whether HERC's permits and the federal oversight behind them are strong enough to protect people living nearby, especially residents of North Minneapolis."