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NEW BEDFORD – More than 50 people gathered at the city’s Board of Health hearing on a proposed waste transfer station in the North End Thursday evening – with about half of those taking to the microphone to speak out against the project.
In the third of four public hearings on the proposal, members of the public shared their concerns around odor, noise pollution, increased traffic, air pollution, and vermin, as well as New Bedford’s history of widespread environmental contamination.
The Board of Health must decide by Sept. 19 whether to approve the project or deny it based on its potential impacts to public health, safety and the environment. The final Board of Health hearing to discuss a traffic study and mitigation for the waste transfer project is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 6:30 p.m. at Casimir Pulaski Elementary School, 1097 Braley Road.
Brought forth by Parallel Products doing business as South Coast Renewables, LLC, the potential waste transfer station would handle 1,500 tons of solid waste per day, sourcing garbage from across the state and transferring it to rail cars to either be recycled or incinerated elsewhere. On a given day, about 200 trucks would move through the site, which abuts both a residential neighborhood and state-protected swampland.
The project has been in the pipeline for nearly three years. Last month, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection approved the project after an extended public comment period, sending the proposal to the Board of Health for review. If approved, the project would move onto the Planning Board and Conservation Commission.
Earlier this week, South Coast Renewables, LLC, invited witnesses in the environmental and safety sphere to share the company’s plans to mitigate health threats and nuisance. Those mitigation efforts included but were not limited to odor-masking agents, water misters to capture dust and particles, rat traps and a semi-automated fire suppression system.
Residents pushed back against these plans Thursday night, arguing that the city did not have adequate means to ensure they would get implemented correctly — and taxpayers would end up footing the bill if something went wrong. In May, an existing waste transfer station on Shawmut Avenue caught fire, causing a rat infestation in the surrounding neighborhoods.
“It’s not a matter of will it catch fire, it’s when,” City Council candidate Jennifer Arruda said.
City Councilor Linda Morad called the proposal “obnoxious,” pointing out the density of residential homes located within one mile of the proposed station.
“Do you honestly believe that there will be no effect to the quality of life of these residents?” Morad asked the board.
Morad later told Tim Cusson, vice president of Parallel Products, to “take that smirk off your face.”
Several residents complained that they felt shut out of the hearing process, only learning of this week’s meetings by chance. The 50 people who attended Thursday’s hearing represented a significant jump from the turnout at the past two meetings. No one at any of the three meetings this week used any of the available live translators.
“We were not properly notified,” resident Jim Burnett said. “Everyone I talked to, no one knew this was happening.”
Many speakers pointed to New Bedford’s status as an environmental justice community with a long history of contamination and health hazards. Sullivan’s Ledge and the New Bedford Harbor are both active superfund sites in the area.
Under Massachusetts state policy, developers must take additional steps to reach out to and engage with members of the public in environmental justice communities, including hosting accessible meetings and offering comprehensive translation services.
Michael McHugh lives down the street from the proposed waste transfer station and remembers when the site once hosted a Polaroid processing plant. Speaking as a witness, McHugh described the sheets of dust that would collect on his father’s car from the factory and the fumes that would waft through their open windows at night.
“We need to stop using New Bedford as a dumping ground,” McHugh said.
Email Brooke Kushwaha at bkushwaha@newbedfordlight.org.
Money talks and New Bedford’s citizens walk! Get ready for the Vineyard and Nantucket’s trash!
Where should New Bedford’s trash go?
The public has the ability to comment on this project before 8/26/25 which is the date of the next and last public hearing with the Board of Health. Last night was the opportunity to speak in person and that has passed. I have copied the information from the City’s website on how to submit those comments for those who might want to do so.
“Comments may be submitted in person during the public hearing, or in writing to the New Bedford Board of Health, 1213 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 or by filling out a Microsoft Form at https://forms.office.com/g/R8KiF6kzSG?origin=lpr any time prior to the close of the public hearing.”
My heart goes out to all city residents and especially the residents that live by the proposed plant. The presentation provided by South Coast Renewables was nothing more than standard boiler plate information that any company looking for approval would give. If you notice not one of their representatives who spoke were from New Bedford and will never have to deal with future problems.
Talk to Ward Six Residents, we learned the hard way, we heard the same promises with the new Sewerage Treatment Plant (John Bullard and his soldiers promised a Cadillac and we received a Hyundai, less than 20 years later the plant is falling apart, emissions are disgusting, air quality is horrible, on many days the beaches are empty, residents have to keep their windows shut, and are dealing with health issues.
To the Board of Health do not take the chance of contaminating and destroying another New Bedford Neighborhood, stand up for our city, and Vote No on allowing South Coast Renewables to move forward.
Once we contaminate that area, there’s no going back. The swamp is protected with good reason. It’s part of the watershed. We can’t risk contaminating it.
As for the rats, noise, pollution, noise pollution, and unkept promises…We already have enough of that with the train. Spraying chemicals to reduce the smell doesn’t solve the problem, it just adds another chemical. There’s no way to prevent a disaster with this.
Once again, residents have not been properly notified. Do the surrounding areas know? It’s going to affect them too.
IM not one to get up and speak but I attended 2 of 3 meetings. And it saddens me to think they would even consider putting that here so close to residential area.Ive lived here for 63 yrs raised 5 children here and they always speak about how great it was growing up here.Please do not do this to us .God Bless
There has to be a better site, with respect to the proximity to residences, somewhere in the general region. Obviously rail access is important but, again, I can’t believe that there isn’t anywhere that can be better from a community impact perspective.
Where should New Bedford’s trash go?
From your story “Everyone I talked to, no one knew this was happening.”
There were several residents who made the same comment.
If this happened to you, you still can comment to the Board of Health by writing to them at the Board of Health, 1213 Purchase St, New Bedford, MA or or by filling out a Microsoft Form at https://forms.office.com/g/R8KiF6kzSG?origin=lpr any time prior to the close of the public hearing. 8/26
The hearings have interpreters available in Portuguese, Spanish and Creole Cape Verdean. I don’t think there were sign language interpreters.
When trucks with bio waste come off the highway and there is even a small spill and the waste will dry up turn to dust particulates, and get blown into Residencial neighborhood and Pulaski school. SHAMEFUL.
I have been following this proposal for two years. The proposed 1500 tons a DAY, equals, 3,000,000 (three million) pounds a day; 21,000,000 pounds a week; over 930,000,000 pounds a week. Put that into perspective!!!!
The stress on the traffic and waste water to the Ft. Taber waste water plant would be enormous. At the presentation on June 13, 2023 at Normandin School, the presenters from the than Parallel Products estimated 113,000 gallons of waste water a day. Our already stressed water treatment cannot handle this.
Where should New Bedford’s trash go?
It appears that the owners of this transfer station view New Bedford as having depressed economy and assume that placing a job producing tax paying industry would be enough to win approval. Without stong citizen protests, they’ll get their way.
New Bedford has a depressed economy.
Look a the housing stock.
It seems like nothing good comes to New Bedford. Sure the wind energy companies with their high paying jobs are opening up shop here in New Bedford; however, they are few in number. Since COVID, there has been a plethora of Dollar Tree/Family Dollar stores and storage companies opening up shop in this city. They barely pay above minimum wage as well as hire very few people. Let’s not forget the brownfields that already plague New Bedford. Now the city wants to add a recycling plant with a daily influx of 200 trucks and 1,500 tons of trash to the North End. Why can’t the recycling plant go to Dartmouth?…. Fairhaven?….. Mattapoisett?…. or Acushnet?? Why do state and local decision makers insist on treating New Bedford like an unwanted stepchild? I tell you, this plan saddens me deeply.
Vineyard Wind has a monthly SoCo payroll of over $1.2 million a month.
The jobs require a GED and to show up on time.
And pass a 6 month physicals and drug screens.
That precludes so many New Bedford residents.
How many tons a day of solid waste does New Bedford generate?
Should Acushnet be happy to take it, they are a poor town.
Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett and Acushnet produce, in total, less than 25% of the solid waste of New Bedford (they have little to no industry).
Where should the SoCo regional solid waste transfer facility be?
NIMBY?
Should each town have it’s on solid waste transfer station?
DOGE…
Something just stinks, Southcoast Recyclables aka Parallel Products should have been vetted and reviewed by all city and neighboring town politicians, the health board, and all residents of this city and neighboring towns before ever being able to go to the state for any approvals.
Has anyone done a thorough background check on this organization and the people associated with this. There are connections to businesses people in Texas and Kentucky. I was on next door neighbor asking about this because I couldn’t attend any meetings and the last one wasn’t properly advertised. I am offering to meet and discuss this with a group and offer my professional services regarding all those involved with this business including, from what I read above, smurky face Mr. Cusson. I can be reached on next door neighbor, send a message through chat. If I don’t hear anything I’ll go it alone and see what I an find.
Waste stream is an international effort.
This project should have been left to the people in the voting booth. Vote NO.
Makes me wonder South Coast Renewables Formerly Parallel Products are they building on their property if so makes me think they know something is the mayor helping us to prevent a Trash Transfer Station at the South Coast Renewables.
Not really the mayor is not helping so sad.
The Board of Health is an independent authority but are they not nominated by the Mayor.
So, I wonder will the Board of Health go along with what the PEOPLE are asking for and fighting for or what the mayor wants.
NOTE:
From the outset, Mayor Mitchell has made it clear that adding another municipal waste facility in the business park is not in the city’s best interest,” Mitchell’s spokesperson, Jonathan Darling, said in a statement.
Darling said that since the facility has already been approved at the state level, the city has no choice but to allow it to move forward.
The city made the best of this difficult situation by agreeing not to oppose the project in exchange for the company removing a biosolids facility from its proposal, paying significant tipping fees to the that would support infrastructure projects in Ward 1, and a guarantee that the city would receive the lowest available price for disposing its trash at the facility, “Darling explained
The following is just my thoughts of an incident that could happen concerning two trailer trucks headed to the South Coast Renewables and two School Buses with children on board going to their separate destinations to off load their occupants the children.
Two 18-Wheeler Trailer Trucks going to the South Coast Renewables in January God Forbid the First 18-wheeler is coming down exit 7-N ramp for Braley Road ice on the ramp behind him is the Second 18-wheeler the First one starts sliding the Second one behind him also starts to slide.
Two school buses going East on Braley Road First one going to its destination the Second School Bus headed to its final destination as well.
The First 18-Wheeler trailer truck is struck in the rear by the Second 18-Wheeler trailer truck the First 18-Wheeler trailer truck is pushed right into the First School Bus flipping it over the Second School Bus can’t stop in time smacks into the First School Bus the Second 18-Wheeler trailer truck unable to stop smacks into the Second School Bus flipping it over as well.
There could be serious injuries to the children possibly numerous deaths think it can’t happen it can happen there would be blood on the hands of certain folks that voted in favor of South Coast Renewables, formerly Parallel Products as well as those of South Coast Renewables, Mass DEP, Tim Cusson, and others from the City and State.
Let South Coast Renewables go to the New Bedford Golf Course or elsewhere like Out of New Bedford.
Come on Health Board Members, Dr. Elizabeth Blanchard, Alex J. Weiner, and Michele S. Tsaliagds hear what the Public especially the Homeowners, Residents, Folks in the North End and parts of Freetown had to say they don’t want South Coast Renewables here in the Far North End or in the city.
Parents who have children on the School Buses headed East on Braley Road they don’t want an accident to happen because of an 18-Wheeler Trailer Truck headed to South Coast Renewables colliding with a School Bus.
If the members of the Health Board have Children, Grandchildren or a Family Member on these School Buses I am sure they would not want an accident happening because of an 18-Wheeler Trailer Truck headed to South Coast Renewables colliding with a School Bus.
Hopefully Politics will not be in play, “BUT” People, Voters are not dumb.
I suspect it will be passed that South Coast Renewables Formerly Parallel Products will be given the green light let them build a road going to their plant from Dartmouth I would say Faunce Corner Road for all the trucks to go to their plant avoiding Route 140 Exit 7 onto Braley Road thus staying off of Braley Road or Phillips Road.
Also let’s keep the Rodents out of our streets, our yards, our homes, keep out the smell, fires, truck traffic, noise, air quality, water, environment, wildlife, property values, health, safety, quality of life, livelihood.
Again keep South Coast Renewables Formerly Parallel Products out of the Industrial Park out of New Bedford many years ago New Bedford was known as the Drug Capitol let’s not have it now be known as the Garbage Capitol.
Should there be an accident with an 18-Wheeler Trailer Truck headed to South Coast Renewables Formerly Parallel Products involving a private vehicle or a School Bus serious injuries death(s) resulting folks think of Morgan & Morgan they will be on your side.
Morgan & Morgan
FORTHEPEOPLE.COM
800.602.8300
Traffic will be bad from Exit 7 North and South onto Braley Road accidents to happen no question about it.
Note:
This is my opinion only.
I am not a spokesperson for Morgan & Morgan.
And yes, I live in Briarwood have so for 50 years and I don’t want South Coast Renewables Formerly Parallel Products in my area I pay high Taxes as do others in Briarwood, Pine Hill Acres, the entire far North End as well.
Respectfully,
Ron R. Cabral
Retired Sergeant NBPD
Our last chance to speak out on this will be at the Pulaski School, directly downwind from the proposed trash facility at 6:00 pm on August 26. We need a much larger show of force at this next meeting.
My name is Christine and I live in the far north end of New Bedford and have been here for almost 52 years! I love my area! I’m very concerned about the proposed Waste Transfer Station getting approved. It will Destroy our far north end. People moved here to get away from the busy city life and we will have to deal with pollution, rats, seagulls, traffic and more! I decided that I would conduct my own Traffic Study. I went out on Monday 8/18 to at the Intersection of Braley Rd. and Phillips Rd. at the main entrance of the Business Park. This is what I witnessed: 3 Eastern Fisheries 18 wheelers, 2 extremely long enclosed car carriers, 16 Eversource trucks, 4 tow trucks, 2 FedEx, 1 Staples, 1 UPS, 9 Garbage trucks, 4 landscaping trucks, 2 Canteen trucks, 2 mattress hauling trucks, 3 Lottery vehicles, Masonry trucks, 5 City trucks (one with wood chips) 1 bulldozer, and many of the regular vehicles containing employees racing out of the Business Park from 2:30-5:00 to get home. This day-to-day traffic doesn’t include the 200+ Parallel Products 18 wheelers going into the Business Park, then after dumping their trash, leaving… This is without Pulaski School bus traffic and parents’ cars picking up their children. Oh yes, 2 Ambulances racing down Braley Rd to get onto 140 South. I could not believe what I was seeing. I went back on Tuesday 8/19 and witnessed the same, back again on Wednesday 8/20 in the rain and saw the same amount of traffic.
What will it be like when Pulaski School is back in session and what if there were to be a fire? Also, our properties will be worthless!
Thank you for reading this! I’m just one of many home owners in the far north end also worried about the same!
Sincerely, Christine
A Tax Paying Property Owner of New Bedford!
If you want to comment to the Board of Health on this project by writing to them at the Board of Health, 1213 Purchase St, New Bedford, MA or or by filling out a Microsoft Form at https://forms.office.com/g/R8KiF6kzSG?origin=lpr
The public was given a limited opportunity to comment in person on Thurs 8/7/25 and that time has passed.
The Board of Health closes at 4:00 if you want to hand carry your comments to their office to make sure they arrive on time. Three copies of your comments would be helpful addressed to each Board member: Dr Blanchard, Mr Weiner, Ms Tsaliagos.
The last Board of Health hearing will be in 5 days on Tues 8/26 at Pulaski at 6:30. Your attendance is important to let the Board of Health know you’re interested in the impact of this facility on your health, safety and the environment.
I found a dead bunny on my property on Sat in the far north end. My young bunny had no visible signs of trauma, it looked as if it were asleep but with its eyes open. A young child could easily mistake it for a stuffed animal and try to touch it or pick it up. I later learned that there are now 9 dead bunnies in the far north end that I know of. When I reported the bunnies to Ms Sloan at Board of Health yesterday I knew of only 6 bunnies. That number increased to 9 bunnies shortly after my email to her. Ms Sloan referred the matter to animal control. The cause is still a mystery.