Landfill Closure Clock Now on Monthly Agenda
At Monday night’s Saugus Board of Health meeting, the Ash Landfill Closure Committee asked the Board to take a more active and structured role in planning for closure of the ash monofill located within the Rumney Marshes Area of Critical Environmental Concern.
Committee members reviewed key regulatory documents and timelines governing the site.
Saugus Ash Monofill, 2025
MassDEP’s ash staging and transport approval was issued November 1, 2017 and is valid for 10 years. As Committee Chair Peter Manoogian noted:
“Clearly, the 10 years end on Nov. 1, 2027.”
The landfill’s Revised Final Engineering Plan sets a vertical limit of 50 feet above mean sea level. Any proposal to exceed that height would require a new site assignment from the Board of Health.
The Committee also referenced correspondence from both the Baker and Healey administrations indicating the facility does not meet regulatory site suitability criteria for expansion.
An October 2025 annual report prepared by Brown & Caldwell projected the remaining life of the monofill at approximately 0.4 to 1.5 years based on historic usage, with off-site ash transport affecting that timeline.
The site has been characterized by MassDEP as unlined. Manoogian stated:
“In spite of claims to the contrary, DEP claims this to be an unlined landfill.”
The Committee requested that:
• “Ash Landfill Closure Update” be added as a standing sub-agenda item
• Closure-related discussion and documents be clearly reflected in meeting minutes
• Brown & Caldwell be invited to present their January 30, 2026 report
The Board of Health voted unanimously to incorporate these updates into future monthly agendas.
WIN Waste, through its Senior Director of Communications and Community Mary Urban, stated:
“We have consistently attended the BOH meetings and remain committed to transparency throughout this process.”
The company also noted economic and transportation considerations tied to continued use of the monofill.
For those following marsh health, groundwater protection, and long-term containment planning, the timeline matters. Closure is not theoretical. It is defined by permits, height limits, and regulatory deadlines.
Extending operations is not the same as defining a clear closure path. With November 2027 approaching, continued public oversight and informed discussion will be important.
