Phyllis Grandbois: Vote 'no' on construction of Ashland incinerator

To The Daily Sun,

Welcome to Trashland, the gateway to New Hampshire’s beautiful lakes district. On March 12, in Ashland, there will be a vote on the construction of an incinerator, costing the town $135 million. 

Should it pass, toxic, polluted air, with smells of burning refuse, will spew from a tower next to Route 93, exit 24. Think of swimming among tiny, crystal chemicals that will fall in our lakes. Loons and other wildlife will be struggling to survive. The lake water will surely cover our bodies with green slime, and fish will lie dead, decorating our shorelines.

Garbage trucks, from neighboring towns, will bring their precious waste through the center of Ashland, along Route 3. Not only will we be able to hear the familiar sounds of logging trucks and revving of motorcycles, but the sweet vibrations of 50 to 100 additional trucks per week, tooting their horns, releasing exhaust, back firing, and yes, definitely stifling conversation on the porch of Holderness Free Library.

One cannot imagine the wealth of material traveling our roads. Plastic will be accepted, the most toxin of all pollutants, fire hazard batteries of all shapes and sizes, and numerous other byproducts from burned waste materials.

It’s going to take at least three to five years to build and Ashland won’t see the benefit of it for seven years. By 2031, the cost will be much more than the $135 million currently estimated. By then, roads will need repairs, respiratory diseases will have swelled, tourists will have stopped coming and the snow will be black with chemicals. Think long and hard and when you vote, vote "no" to this insult to our beautiful New Hampshire lakes.

Phyllis Grandbois

Ashland