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American citizens have depressingly little influence over their lives because the majority of our so-called leaders serve their donors. In America, the more money you have, the more you can influence American policy. And our politicians aren’t picky. They’ll take money from anyone, including representatives of foreign countries.

If you’re like me, you think bribery and insider trading are wrong. But for the most influential people in this country, that’s layperson speak. We, the rabble, just don’t get it. All that we would call corruption is legal! (Or at least, it’s not “technically” illegal.)

Big donors stifle American progress. American citizens are denied our best options — our best lives — because Democrats and Republicans are more interested in lining their pockets than doing the job they promised to do. There are examples of corruption here too. Fortunately, it’s easier to push against abuses of power at the local and state levels.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) does not live up to its mission “to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s natural resources—air, water, and land—to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of all people…” On the contrary, our state is courting the trash industry, and it wants New Bedford to become a trash hub. New Bedford’s rat problem is a direct consequence of this practice. And have you seen or heard of the dead bunnies yet? It would be hard to legally prove a connection, but where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.

South Coast Neighbors United (SCNU) is the reason that the trash industry has not yet overrun our city. Since 2019, wonderful people like Wendy Morrill, Tracy Wallace, Mike McHugh, Betty Saulnier, and others have been fighting for New Bedford to be treated with respect. New Bedford has suffered corporate exploitation before. Yet, MassDEP decided that our city should be polluted again!

Right now, New Bedford’s best hope for a self-determined future is the Board of Health (BOH). South Coast Renewables (SCR), formerly Parallel Products (PP), has been making its case to the BOH this month. The next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 26, 2025 at Pulaski Elementary. I attended two meetings. And SCR was not shy about communicating their intentions for New Bedford. They mean to exploit New Bedford for maximum profits. SCR sees lengthy deliberation and public engagement as inconvenient obstacles to their money-making goal. One expert confidently and repeatedly mentioned the “status quo” of things.

MassDEP’s decision to approve of another transfer station in New Bedford is disappointing but not surprising. Rubber stamping corporate proposals is routine business. Then, MassDEP passes the responsibility to local boards of health, expecting them to “trust” the process and fall in line. That way, when things go wrong — which they inevitably will — Massachusetts can pretend that it “tried” to protect us. 

The SCR project is not about creating jobs or finding an alternative to Crapo Hill. It’s about the Trash Business. There is money in transferring trash, and corporations want in. More trash means more money for SCR, their affiliations, and corrupt politicians. In pursuit of riches, they devalue and endanger our lives, overburden our infrastructure, and pollute our environment. And our government supports them! 

Massachusetts is not looking out for New Bedford, but we can look after each other. We deserve better than the “status quo.” And just because abuse of power is legal doesn’t make it right. New Bedford should never become anyone’s trash hub! The American government needs to stop dumping on its people!

There is still time to speak up. Come to the public meeting. Spread the word. Write to the BOH. Look up Citizens Against the Parallel Products Project (CAPPP) on Facebook. Read the related articles in the New Bedford Light. Do whatever you can to stand up for yourself, your community, and your rights! Hold your representatives accountable, and tell them to start putting their constituents first!

Christina Lambert-Gorwyn is a resident of New Bedford.

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5 replies on “Opinion: How big trash is threatening your life”

  1. Politicians are elected to serve and protect the citizens of our State, Cities, and Towns. Look at New Bedford’s history Aerovox, Cornell Dubilier, Parker Street Waste Site, Sullivan’s Ledge, and the 18,000 PCB laden acres in New Bedford Harbor. Why would our city and state officials take the chance of creating another future Environmental Disaster and Superfund cleanup site in New Bedford? Enough is enough the health and safety of our city’s residents must be our number one priority and the expansion of South Coast Recyclables should be shut down. We need new Leadership in City Hall.

  2. Thank you, Christina Lambert-Gorwyn, for informing us of the very important meeting next Tuesday, the 26th, at Pulaski School. The powers-that-currently-be need to hear loud and clear that New Bedford residents DO NOT want yet another dumping station to be put in OUR CITY.

  3. Write, email, and call your politicians, the board of health, and attend the meeting on Tuesday Aug 26th (a strong showing by the residents will speak volumes).

    We have a Governor (who does not care), a State Delegation (that maybe signed a petition), a Mayor (who is in favor of this project), and everyone should be upset that our three main political leaders from this state who are no where to be found, Representative Bill Keating, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Senator Senator Edward Markey.

    Imagine the only politicians to physically show up at Pulaski School, support the residents, and also address this issue in the media have been members of the City Council.

    100% this is a complete and total disgrace and our area residents deserves better representation from our politicians. It’s time for change in Massachusetts.

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