Sep 24, 2025

Environmental Justice Starts with Community Power

In South Providence and across New England, neighbors are proving that environmental justice starts with community power. From blocking polluting projects to shaping new laws, families and advocates are shifting the balance of power – building healthier, fairer futures for everyone.

Aerial view of the Port of Providence in Rhode Island, where industrial facilities sit near neighborhoods and green spaces, highlighting local environmental justice issues.
Sep 23, 2025

New Bedford Residents Win Fight Against Waste Transfer Station

After years of organizing, New Bedford residents won a major victory: the Board of Health rejected a massive waste transfer station that threatened public health and piled pollution onto already overburdened neighborhoods. Their persistence shows the power of community to stop harmful projects — and win environmental justice.

View of New Bedford harbor with a white lighthouse in the foreground, sailboats on the water, and the city skyline with colorful buildings under a partly cloudy sky.
Jul 09, 2025

Two Stories, A Scent of Déjà Vu

Across regions, people are standing up for their health, culture, and environment – pushing back on unjust waste infrastructure and reclaiming power over their communities’ futures. In Old Town, Maine, and New Bedford, Massachusetts, residents are confronting a familiar pattern – and showing what it takes to break the cycle and build lasting change.

Aerial view of Juniper Ridge Landfill in Maine, central to ongoing environmental justice concerns.
Oct 02, 2024

Maine DEP Grants Harmful Landfill Expansion

Maine Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Melanie Loyzim issued a decision claiming the proposed expansion of the Juniper Ridge Landfill would benefit the public. This opens the door for Casella to officially apply for a license to expand.

Landfill construction and demolition debris
Oct 01, 2024

Green Halloween: 5 Tips to Embrace the Zero Waste Spirit

On Halloween, U.S. consumers spend over $10 billion on decorations, plastic-wrapped candy, costumes, and more. Many of these items will eventually find their final resting place in landfills and incinerators. But fear not! Here are 5 tips to celebrate a Green Halloween without sacrificing your fun.

Adilson Gonzalez wearing a green halloween costume. Costume is made from thrifted items to create a wicked inspired outfit. Person wear green makeup, infinity glasses, a cape with a green brooch, and a black pointy hat.
Sep 25, 2024

The Truth About Bottle Bills: Separating Facts From Myths 

Bottle bills place a small deposit on beverage containers. Consumers get that deposit back when they return the empty containers. Bottle bills tackle litter and improve recycling. Despite these benefits, the waste and beverage industries argue these programs are outdated or unnecessary. But here’s the truth: bottle bills work. Let’s dispel some myths.

Alaina Pinto, influencer, at a bottle return program facility. She empties a bag of drink containers – cans and bottles – into a sorting machine. This machine processes and counts the number of containers covered by the bottle bill system. Upon tallying containers, the consumer will get their initial deposit back.