“Try to stress that [the transfer station] is not where it started,” said Monica Huertas from NoLNGinPVD. “It didn’t start with the transfer station and it’s not going to end with the transfer station.”

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Neighborhood folks and allies went door to door in the Washington Park section of Providence on Saturday to raise awareness about a proposed garbage transfer station to be built at the corner of Thurbers and Allens Avenue. The proposed facility would bring 2,500 tons of out of state garbage, on an estimated 188 trucks, every day, contributing even more pollution to a community that already suffers from some of the highest asthma rates in the nation. ecoRI did a terrific write up on the proposal here.

Monica Huertas of NoLNGinPVD organized the door knocking effort. She carefully put together bilingual teams so that the message could be brought to her neighbors in English or Spanish. The teams were to explain the issue with the transfer station, and then ask residents to be at the March 17 City Planning Commission hearing at 444 Westminster Street in Providence. That meeting starts at 4:45.

Huertas told the teams to “try to stress that [the transfer station] is not where it started. It didn’t start with the transfer station and it’s not going to end with the transfer station. It’s not going to end on March 17, and even if the City Council says no, or whatever, this is not where it ends with the Port and all the issues we’re having with the Port.”

Huertas has been a long time activist against projects in the Port of Providence that will contribute to the already terrible environmental condition nearby residents live with. She led the NoLNGinPVD campaign against National Grid’s liquefaction facility, which is being built over the objections of the community, with the full support of the Raimondo Administration.

Asked about the relationship between this work against the transfer station and the work against National Grid’s liquefaction facility, Huertas said, “We’re saying no. No LNG. No transfer station. I think maybe we should change the name of the group to No.

“Obviously, the LNG stuff is still going on. National Grid is asking for permission to build 24/7 now, because they’re so behind schedule, but we’re still going to be fighting against things we don’t want in our community.”

Here’s the English-language version of the flyer the teams distributed:

Previous reporting:

• New Facility Would Increase Allens Avenue Pollution by Tim Faulkner at ecoRI
• The Washington Park community wonders: How can we prevent a new business from further destroying our children’s health?
• Providence City Plan Commission silences the public on Port garbage project
• Proposed Garbage Depot Is a Bad Idea for Providence by Kevin Budris at CLF
• Opposition to the proposed Port garbage transfer station intensifies