To the Editor,

The WIN Waste Saugus facility is working hard to polish its public image through community partnerships, photo ops, and questionable “green” initiatives. Residents of surrounding communities should not be misled. These efforts are part of a greenwashing campaign as the company seeks approval to expand its ash landfill for another 20 years, doubling its height to 100 feet and greatly increasing the long-term risk of contamination to our air, soil, and water.

WIN Waste is not protecting the environment; it is actively damaging it. The so-called “birdwatching sanctuary” sits atop an active, unlined ash dump containing toxic substances including cadmium, lead, and dioxins. This landfill is located within a designated Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), recognized by the state for its ecological importance. The state has already identified the site as unsuitable for expansion on multiple occasions, underscoring the risks of this proposal.

To avoid closing the dump, WIN Saugus already hauls a majority of its ash offsite. But this is not a closure plan. It is a delay tactic that allows this dangerous landfill to remain open while lobbying for expansion.

What our communities need is a real closure plan. The taller this landfill grows, the more difficult and hazardous it will be to contain. We owe it to future generations to prevent this dangerous landfill from growing and to ensure proper closure now.

Sincerely,

Eliot Smith
Lynn