To the editor:
As a resident of Lynn and a frequent visitor to the Rumney Marsh, I am writing to express my deep concern regarding Saugus Town Meeting’s upcoming vote on Article 34. While I am not a Saugus voter, the environmental reality is that the WIN Waste landfill does not respect municipal boundaries. If Saugus votes to signal support for this expansion, the impacts will be felt by all of us in the surrounding area.
The proposal to double the height of the ash landfill from 50 to 100 feet should worry anyone who breathes the air or enjoys our local coastal ecosystems. Ash contains heavy metals like lead and mercury. When you stack that material 100 feet high, you aren’t just increasing volume; you are increasing the risk of windblown dust and runoff into the Saugus River, Rumney Marsh, and neighboring communities.
Proponents call Article 34 a “non-binding insurance policy,” but for neighbors in Lynn, it feels more like a long-term commitment to remaining a regional dumping ground. This expansion would lock our communities into another 20 years of ash dumping and environmental risks. Instead of investing in a “just in case” agreement for a 100-foot wall of ash, we should be working together as a region to transition toward composting, recycling, and waste reduction.
We are at a crossroads. We can either continue to be the destination for the region’s waste, or we can demand better for our environment and our public health. I hope the Saugus Town Meeting members recognize that their vote on Article 34 doesn’t just affect their taxpayers; it also affects the lungs and the ecosystem of their neighbors in Lynn and Revere.
Sincerely,
Carmen Maria Osuna
Lynn
