Residents Fought to Close Southbridge for Contaminating Water and Polluting Air
August 3, 2017 (SOUTHBRIDGE, MA) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement today in response to Casella Waste’s announcement that it will shut down Massachusetts’ largest landfill by 2018. The Southbridge landfill has faced fierce opposition from surrounding communities for more than a decade for contaminating resident’s drinking water with life threatening toxins and for polluting the air. In June, residents voted overwhelmingly against plans to expand the landfill.
“After decades of living in the shadow of a landfill that contaminated the water and fouled the air, residents have finally buried this menace to our environment, our health, and our economy,” said Kirstie Pecci, Conservation Law Foundation Senior Fellow and resident of Southbridge. “The closing of Southbridge sends a strong message across Massachusetts that residents will resist and persist until the polluting legacy of all landfills and incinerators come to an end.”
CLF’s Zero Waste Project is a campaign to protect Massachusetts communities from the dangers posed by unsustainable waste management practices. Landfills and waste incinerators pose a threat to public health, communities, and the environment. Safer, healthier alternatives exist and CLF is working with local communities to put these alternatives into practice across the state.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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