State Approves Controversial New Bedford Waste Facility Plan

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — The waste handling facility proposed for New Bedford’s Far North End – which has been met with resistance by neighbors and officials alike – has received approval to go forward from the state.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air and Waste, Solid Waste Management Section notified South Coast Renewables, LLC (an extension of Parallel Products) and the New Bedford Board of Health that the “proposed 1,500-ton-per-day solid waste site/transfer facility located at 100 Duchaine Boulevard” was determined to meet “all the site suitability criteria.”

The letter was signed by Mark Dakers, Acting Deputy Regional Director of the Bureau of Air and Waste approving the facility that would be built on the site of Parallel Products' current facility in the New Bedford Business Park.

State Approval Sparks Outcry

It was long expected that the state would approve the facility, which would process a combination of municipal solid waste and construction and demolition waste.

Concerns over noise, pollution, and truck traffic drew widespread community opposition – even from those outside the immediate area.

What’s Next for the Proposed Waste Facility?

Although the state has approved the project to go forward, it is ultimately up to the New Bedford Board of Health as to whether or not it can proceed. The board must hold a public hearing within 30 days of having received the report from the DEP, while also giving the public at least 21 days’ advance notice.

The Board of Health would then determine whether to grant approval for the project or refuse it. If it is approved, South Coast Renewables would then need to file permits with the DEP for the construction and operation of the facility.

Community Voices Opposition

“While we had hoped for a different outcome, it is important to emphasize that this was a state-level decision,” said Wendy Morrill, president of South Coast Neighbors United and Citizens Against the Parallel Products Project, noting the organizations were “deeply disappointed” with the decision.

“Local residents and agencies still have the authority to assess the site’s appropriateness and consider how this project could affect our community,” Morrill said. “If the (Board of Health) is presented with credible testimony and good evidence that the project may pose a risk to public health, safety, or the environment, it has a duty to reject the proposal.”

Morrill said the fire at E.L. Harvey’s trash transfer station on Shawmut Avenue back in May – which not only involved the dangerous fire but also a weeks-long rat infestation in the surrounding area as a result – reiterated the risks of such a facility.

“This project stands in direct conflict with the mission of the Board of Health, which is to promote healthy lifestyles and health equity, prevent and respond to disease, and ensure safe, sanitary environments that protect New Bedford’s diverse and multicultural community through outreach, services, and regulation,” she said. “It also clearly undermines the BOH’s vision of a strong New Bedford where all residents can live safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives.”

Read the group's entire statement:

Senator Montigny Speaks Out

Senator Mark Montigny of New Bedford expressed outrage at the state’s decision, which he has long opposed.

“This project flat-out does not belong at this location,” he said. “It is ridiculous that DEP has greenlit the project, despite the overwhelming opposition of the community. Anyone who has spent even a moment in the neighborhood would realize that a waste processing facility in such close proximity is preposterous. Hopefully, when the Board of Health reviews the public health and safety concerns surrounding this project, they will see clearly that the application should be denied.”