SAUGUS — The Saugus Alliance for Health and Environment hosted a “Valentine Volunteer Information Night” Thursday to show the Saugus Board of Health some “love” while encouraging the committee to take a stand against incinerator plant Wheelabrator.
The event came in the wake of a recent Board of Selectmen vote that reaffirmed an existing policy on air emissions and solid waste.
“We want to show the Saugus Board of Health some ‘love’ — that we support them in doing what’s best for Saugus and surrounding areas when it comes to Wheelabrator,” said alliance member Claire Miller.
About two dozen members and supporters of the group gathered at the Saugus Italian American Club to make videos and write heartfelt letters detailing why they want more regulations for the plant, which is the oldest incinerator in the country.
“The Board of Health has the power to review this facility … and determine new rules about how the facility is operated,” Kirstie Pecci, an Attorney for the Conservation Law Foundation, told the room. “We would like to show our support tonight and let the Board of Health know we’re in their corner.”
The Alliance for Health and Environment, which was formed in 2016, aims to raise awareness of incinerator ash disposal activities in Saugus, reduce pollution associated with waste incineration and ash disposal, and promote environmental justice for communities impacted by waste incineration.
AHE is made up of residents of Saugus and Revere, public officials, and representatives from multiple environmental advocacy groups.
At 14, Revere’s Victoria Baker is one of the alliance’s youngest members. She said her reason for attending the event was to ask the Board of Health to help citizens in their journey to “stop the incinerator from polluting our health.”
“I live within a half mile of Wheelabrator and I’ve grown up learning from my mom and my grandmother about how it impacts our community,” Baker said. “It’s something I just think needs to be stopped.”
