Minneapolis Activists Hunger Strike Over Toxic Trash Incinerator Closure Delays

Activists End 12-Day Hunger Strike Over Minneapolis Trash Incinerator

On Wednesday, Nazir Khan answered his phone in a weakened state. Hours earlier, he had eaten his first meal in 12 days. Khan, alongside two other Minneapolis community organizers, had refused food for nearly two weeks to demand accountability for the Hennepin County Energy Recovery (HERC) incinerator—a toxic facility operating in a predominantly Black neighborhood.

The HERC incinerator is one of just 73 municipal trash incinerators remaining in the U.S., down from nearly 200 in the 1990s. While Hennepin County officials claim they will close the facility between 2028 and 2040, advocates argue this timeline is far too vague and lacks urgency.

Health Risks Linked to the HERC Incinerator

Environmental and public health advocates warn that living near a trash incinerator poses severe health risks, including:

• Increased cancer risk
• Higher rates of birth defects
• Greater incidence of lung disease
• Elevated asthma-related emergency room visits in surrounding communities

In 2022, researchers from the Sierra Club estimated that particulate-matter emissions from the HERC incinerator contribute to 1-2 early deaths per year. Despite these risks, the facility remains operational with no firm closure date in sight.

Why the Hunger Strike? A Decades-Long Fight for Environmental Justice

Khan, who moved to Minneapolis 11 years ago as a labor organizer, became involved in environmental justice after participating in the Standing Rock protests and opposing the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota. He explained that community efforts to shut down the HERC incinerator have spanned decades.

"In the early 2010s, officials proposed increasing the incinerator’s capacity to over 1,200 tons per day—up from 1,000 tons," Khan said. "We successfully blocked that expansion."

While new incinerators are rare in the U.S., they remain prevalent in the Global South. Khan highlighted his personal connection to the issue, noting that his father is from India, where a massive incinerator in Delhi has long plagued nearby communities.

The Role of Labor and Environmental Justice

Khan emphasized the need to merge labor organizing with environmental justice strategies. "We wanted to shift from reactive emergency responses to proactive, long-term planning," he said. The movement gained critical momentum six years ago when a whistleblower provided evidence of severe safety violations at the HERC facility, including:

• Ash violations
• Worker injuries
• Unsafe working conditions

Despite multiple attempts to engage with workers at the facility, Khan said organizers have received no response.

"Coming from a labor background, I know how dangerous these conditions are. That’s why we’re pushing so hard for change." — Nazir Khan

What’s Next for the HERC Incinerator?

Advocates are demanding a concrete, accelerated timeline for the HERC’s closure. With growing public awareness and mounting health evidence, the pressure on Hennepin County officials continues to rise. For communities living in the shadow of the incinerator, the fight for clean air and environmental justice is far from over.