Kirstie Pecci is director of the zero waste project with Conservation Law Foundation. She says the MassDEP decision to expand the capacity of the landfill is especially egregious because the landfill doesn’t have a plastic liner.
“Bourne is trading short-term economic gain for long-term pollution,” said Kirstie Pecci, Director of CLF’s Zero Waste Project. “The Bourne Landfill is already leaching toxic garbage juice into groundwater, and this expansion will only make matters worse. It’s time to stop looking for more places to bury waste and get serious about reducing trash before it reaches incinerators and landfills.”
“After a lengthy debate over the future of this project, today’s announcement is a major step in the right direction,” said Staci Rubin, Vice President of Environmental Justice at CLF. “In choosing this design, officials have the potential to unlock commuter rail, bike, and bus access to communities sorely lacking convenient transit options. As this process moves forward, state officials must commit to minimizing environmental impacts, and CLF will be involved to make sure that happens.”
Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts are considering bills to implement the Transportation and Climate Initiative – here’s what we’re working for in each.
You can help reclaim our waterfront public spaces simply by getting out and using them. And what better way to do that than a picnic packed with your favorite pumpkin-spiced treats shared with friends and family?
Leo Wang is the Operations Coordinator of CLF Massachusetts. Leo is responsible for coordination, facility maintenance, budgeting, and other administrative tasks in the Boston office. Prior to joining CLF, Leo was a Contact Tracer, working alongside the rest of NYC Test & Trace Corps to fight the spread of COVID-19. He was also a Disclosure… Continue reading Leo Wang
Ameya Gehi is a Staff Attorney based in the Boston office, where she works in the Clean Air & Water and Strategic Litigation programs. She began at CLF as a Charlotte E. Ray Fellow. Ameya is a Double Wolverine: she received her B.A. and J.D. at the University of Michigan. In law school, she was… Continue reading Ameya Gehi
“The Superior Court made it clear: the Baker Administration’s process for handling municipal harbor plans violates state law,” he went on. “Governor Baker’s decision to ignore Mayor Janey’s request further politicizes what is already a deeply flawed process that puts developer interests ahead of public access rights and the environment.”
“Governor Baker’s comments regarding Boston’s Downtown Municipal Harbor Plan make little sense,” said CLF Senior Counsel Peter Shelley. “It is ironic that the governor won’t accept the City of Boston’s decision, since state officials have always touted the importance of local control in this planning process. The Superior Court made it clear: the Baker Administration’s process for handling municipal harbor plans violates state law. Governor Baker’s decision to ignore Mayor Janey’s request further politicizes what is already a deeply flawed process that puts developer interests ahead of public access rights and the environment.”
While cutting our climate-damaging emissions remains critical to combatting climate change, we must also prepare for the impacts we know are coming. If we don’t, the consequences will become much more dire – and much more expensive – in the future.
