Minnesota officials surveilled activists urging closure of waste incinerator, emails show

<p>Local officials tried to grow close to activist groups and collected information that was then shared with industry</p><p>Newly released emails show local government officials in Minneapolis have quietly surveilled environmental justice activists who are working to close a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/30/garbage-incinerators-pfas-forever-chemicals">controversial waste incinerator</a> that is emitting pollution into low-income neighborhoods around it, activist groups allege.</p><p>County officials sent an employee who is also an environmental justice activist to collect intelligence, among other tactics, emails show. The information was then used to help successfully kill state-level environmental legislation opposed by the incinerator’s leadership, and try to stay one step ahead of activist campaigns and protests. In another instance, a county employee presenting himself as an ally allegedly tried to obtain the identity of a whistleblower, a recording shows.

Reporting by The Guardian World. This summary comes from the cited outlet and will be updated as verified details arrive.