SAUGUS — The Ash Landfill Closure Committee spoke at Monday’s Board of Health meeting to address the landfill’s closure date and ask the Board to discuss the possible closure as part of its agenda in future meetings.
Committee member Debra Panetta, who is also Chair of the Selectmen, was first to speak, explaining that a vote at Town Meeting created the Committee and that the members include her, Selectman Mike Serino, Town Meeting member Jeannie Meredith, Town Meeting member Carla Scuzzarella, and Town Meeting member and Committee Chair Peter Manoogian.
“At that meeting, we made it clear that WIN Waste representatives were invited to every single meeting that we had, in an effort to have an open and transparent discussion about WIN’s closure,” she said.
However, members of WIN did not attend Committee meetings.
In a statement made by WIN’s Sr. Director of Communications and Community, Mary Urban, she said, “We have consistently attended the BOH meetings and remain committed to transparency throughout this process. By continuing to utilize the monofill, we can avoid nearly 9,000 tractor-trailer trips across the state and deliver tens of millions of dollars in economic benefits to the community, alongside significant environmental gains. We remain hopeful that we can find a path forward with the town that recognizes the value of keeping the monofill open, which also supports Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, home to more than 200 migratory bird species and vital salt marsh restoration work.”
Panetta pointed out the environmental concerns posed by the landfill in Rumney Marsh, an Area of Critical Environmental Concern, and noted that the landfill was originally scheduled to close in 1996.
“Closure is not a question of if. It’s a question of when. And when is approaching quickly,” Panetta said.
Manoogian then approached with documents that discussed the closure of the landfill.
“They clearly indicate that the closure must take place prior to (and) no later than Nov. 1, 2027,” Manoogian said. “And that the height cannot go beyond 50 feet.”
The first document was the Ash Staging and Transport – Conditional Approval, showing that WIN had received MassDEP approval to stage ash at the Saugus landfill prior to shipment to off-site ash management facilities.
Manoogian then pointed out that, under conditions, it is stated that this permit is valid for “the time period it takes for the Landfill to reach its approved limits or a fixed term of 10 years from the effective date of this permit, whichever term expires first.” The permit was issued on Nov. 1, 2017, which is where the Nov. 1, 2027 date comes from.
Manoogian then provided an email from Mark Fairbrother of MasDEP’s Solid Waste Management Northeast Regional Office, confirming that the effective date of the ash staging and transfer approval was Nov. 1, 2017.
“Clearly, the 10 years end on Nov. 1, (2027)” Manoogian stated.
In the Revised Final Engineering Plan document from MassDEP, it’s noted that “The vertical limit established by the Consent Order and approved FEP is 50 feet above Mean Sea Level.”
A proposal to change the maximum height would fall under vertical expansion and require a new site assignment from the Board of Health.
An email from the Baker administration, sent by Martin Suuberg in 2021, noted that to be approved for an expansion, including vertical expansion, the landfill would have to meet site suitability criteria in the regulations; however, the email stated that the facility failed to meet that criteria, and a proposal would not be able to advance to the Board of Health. Similarly, in 2023, the Healey administration, in an email from Acting Commissioner of MassDEP Gary Moran, also stated that the facility failed to meet the criteria.
Manoogian then reviewed the Annual Progress Report from WIN Waste by Brown & Caldwell, highlighting the section stating that, as of Oct. 18, 2025, the projected site life of the monofill ranged from 0.42 to 1.5 years, “based on historic usage.” Transportation of ash off-site would impact the remaining site life.
“There are 15 of them (active landfills in Massachusetts)… In spite of claims to the contrary, DEP claims this to be an unlined landfill. The only other unlined landfill in Massachusetts is in Adams, Mass., and it’s for a limestone quarry… All the other landfills are lined… And that’s the language of the DEP,” Manoogian said.
Panetta then presented the Committee’s request of the Board, which included three items.
The first was that the Board’s agenda, under WIN Waste Operational Update, included a sub-agenda entitled “Ash Landfill Closure Update.” The second was that the Board’s meeting minutes include discussion, comments, and any documents related to the closure updates. Lastly, it was asked that Brown and Caldwell be invited to an upcoming meeting to present their Jan. 30, 2026, report.
“We want our Board of Health to be informed. We want to be part of the closure process,” she said. “I personally feel that WIN Waste, the incinerator, as well as the unlined ash landfill, is the biggest environmental concern that we have within our town. And I just think that it’s important that our Board of Health be involved, partner with WIN Waste, not just in the closure, but also in the remediation.”
After discussion by the Board, it was voted unanimously that the suggestions from the Committee be added to the monthly agendas.
