SAUGUS — Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment had its annual dinner and meeting Tuesday night, where the group celebrated 53 years of environmental work.

The gathering included raffle baskets, dinner and dessert, attendance from local officials, and began with opening remarks from Co-President Stephanie Shalkoski.

The first part of SAVE’s annual dinner focuses on business with the election of officers.

For the FY27 election, Shalkoski and Ann Devlin were once again elected co-presidents, Margery Hunter was elected vice president, Mary Kinsell was elected treasurer, and Josie Stoner was elected secretary. 

Outgoing co-secretaries Pam Goodwin and Mary Roblee, both longtime members of the nonprofit organization, were thanked for their years of work.

“We’re so proud to be a part of this organization, like you are too,” Shalkoski said. “So, whether you’re a longtime SAVE member or maybe this is your first time joining us, thank you for being here tonight. It’s great to see so many people in this room who deeply care about the environment.”

Shalkoski spoke about the history of SAVE and how it was founded by a group of concerned citizens to promote a better quality of life through environmental actions.

Devlin then stood to announce the recipient of the nonprofit’s stewardship award, Dick Lynch, “for decades of dedication to protecting and improving the environment of Saugus.”

Devlin went on to say that Lynch was a longtime Saugus resident who became involved SAVE and local watershed efforts in the 1990s.

“He quickly developed a passion for community cleanups. Over the years, he has dropped by several sites throughout town, regularly removing litter and debris, often working quietly and independently behind the scenes,” she said. 

Lynch thanked SAVE for the award, noting that his work began with the Saugus River Watershed Council in 1992.

“That got me interested in cleaning here, cleaning there. … Really, thank you very, very much,” he said. 

The guest speaker for the evening was Kirstie Pecci, the executive director of Just Zero.

Just Zero partners with communities, advocates, and policymakers across the country to implement just and equitable solutions to climate-damaging and toxic production, consumption, and waste disposal practices.

Pecci spoke about WIN Waste Innovation’s history in the town and also about incinerators and plants around the country.

Pecci highlighted the land in which WIN is located, which is an Area of Critical Environmental Concern, a designation meant to protect particularly valuable natural resources and wildlife habitat. 

“It’s a beautiful area where all of this life begins, where so many fish and other aquatic creatures spring to life. And it’s considered so precious that we cannot build anything in it … I think there are three or four in the whole state. That’s how precious this is,” she said.

Pecci spoke about the current state of WIN’s ash landfill and how it is currently shipping ash to other areas, like Shrewsbury, as it nears capacity. She continued that the closing date for the landfill is set for 2027, and that no extension has been given as of right now.

She also mentioned the cost of trash, which has gone up by 40% since 2021.

“We need to tighten up how we do things. (We need to) recycle cleanly, actually compost, and have systems in place,” she said. 

Pecci said that nonprofits like SAVE need to continue speaking with local leaders to push for a cleaner environment.

Also speaking was SAVE member and Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian, who also mentioned the Nov 1, 2027 date set for WIN Waste’s closure and the work that is still left to do to prepare for that day.

He said the Saugus Board of Health currently has a 60-day comment period for residents to ask questions about WIN Waste and the closure. 

As it does every year, SAVE’s dinner highlighted the current impact it is making through multiple initiatives like local cleanups and the future work planned to make Saugus a cleaner place to live.