Officials: Don’t lift moratorium on incinerators

SAUGUS – More local officials are coming out against a proposal to modify the state’s 22-year-old moratorium on waste incineration.The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection had sought public comment on a proposal that would encourage development of new technologies for converting solid waste to energy. This includes gasification and pyrolysis, according to the state’s updated solid waste master plan.The processes use extremely high temperatures to break down solid waste without combustion.State Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein, D-Revere, sent a letter to the DEP expressing her “strong opposition” to the proposal.”I see the dangerous environmental impact of the Wheelabrator waste incinerator on its host community in Saugus ?” said Reinstein. “The Wheelabrator facility has contributed to health and environmental issues in the area, and more incineration would exacerbate the situation.”In her letter, Reinstein said she believes pollution from Wheelabrator has led to “increased cancer rates and respiratory diseases” in Saugus and Revere, and noted “important environmental resources” like the Saugus River and Rumney Marsh are “negatively affected.”Since 1990, Massachusetts has had a moratorium to limit certain forms of disposal capacity. This was intended for the technologies in existence at the time, but according to the DEP, several new alternative technologies have appeared since then.DEP spokesman Ed Coletta said the deadline for public comment was Friday at 5 p.m. and comments will be reviewed over the next 60 days to see if any changes should be made to the solid waste master plan.”Then we release thereafter with a response to the comments as well,” he said.Coletta stressed the DEP is not lifting the moratorium, and said no new waste incineration plants will be built and capacity will not be increased.”The proposal really is a modification to that (moratorium) that would allow, on a limited basis, newer and more innovative technologies to have a place at the table,” said Coletta. “They have to come to us and prove that gasification and pyrolisis, which aren’t combustion technologies, could be part of the solution.”Brendan Crighton, chief of staff for State Sen. Thomas McGee, D-Lynn, said McGee opposes lifting the ban, but McGee could not be reached for comment Friday.The Saugus Board of Selectmen and the Saugus River Watershed Council have also sent letters to the state in opposition.State Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) spoke out against the plan Friday and said he wants to see “better ways and cleaner ways of getting rid of our trash.””I’m against it,” he said. “We already agreed on (the moratorium) so why are we lifting it? It could be a health issue and everything else in that area. I’m thinking of the residents right now ? We’re not talking about just RESCO, we’re talking about everywhere.”With Wheelabrator located near the old I-95 roadbed and homes in East Saugus, Wong also said he’s still looking into the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s plan to remove sand from the roadbed to restore Winthrop Beach.”I have looked at it, and I’m trying to talk to them,” said Wong. “I would like Winthrop to look at other options. But we have to see what options they have.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].