DUMP, now a 501c3 non-profit, held its Annual Meeting on October 29, 2025 at the Eastside Restaurant, on the shores of Lake Memphremagog. Here are a few highlights:

Introduction of Annual Meeting committee members, and DUMP’s Board of Directors by Ann Lembo, Secretary.

Summary of DUMP’s recent focus and activities:

• Pursue transparency in the regulatory process by holding state government and NEWSVT (Casella), the owner of the Coventry landfill, accountable for their collaboration in operating an experimental leachate pretreatment system, the Surface Active Foam Fractionation system (SAFF) as a “pilot,” attempting to filter out forever PFAS chemicals that are in landfill leachate.
• Advocate for an updated, comprehensive Solid Waste Policy for Vermont. The current policy is close to 40 years old, having been passed by the legislature in 1987.
• At the invitation of the State of Vermont’s Solid Waste Management and Prevention Division DUMP provided our perspective on the effects of the landfill on the regional environment and the people living near the landfill at the third of a series of meetings on Vermont’s Future Disposal Capacity. 
• In June, 2025, DUMP was honored when MCI presented its Gordon-Kohl Memorial Award to founding member Henry Coe and to DUMP, recognizing their efforts, “which has contributed in an exceptional manner, by their personal commitment and dedication, to the protection of the environment for the benefit of current and future generations.”
• DUMP, through a series of well-attended public education meeting has raised awareness with residents and legislators about the inequities and threats posed by the Landfill. DUMP intends to continue holding these public education meetings. 
  
  

DUMP board member Gillian Staniforth then spoke to the importance of the DUMP membership drive and fundraising efforts, which will expand the influence of DUMP moving forward. DUMP is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with no office, no staff, and only dedicated volunteers, including a working Board of Directors. We are seeking those who may want to become more involved in our work.

Environmental warrior, Jon Swan of Forest Lake in Dalton, New Hampshire, was a featured guest and keynote speaker. Jon founded Save Forest Lake in 2019 to stop the construction of a landfill that would pose a risk to the pristine Forest Lake in his home town.  Jon highlighted his struggle, and detailed his success. Swan ended on an inspiring note, calling on DUMP to focus the State on closing this NEWSVT landfill, finding a better site, and “an operator other than the current corporation to operate a state-owned landfill as a participant in the solid waste industry, so you can say “no” to out-of-state waste just like Maine did.” He urged meeting guests to “Identify the flaws, emphasize what’s wrong, and hammer that home. Keep talking about the water and the Canadians!” You can view a video of Jon’s presentation here.

Following Swan, rousing words of encouragement were offered by Robert Benoit, former President of Quebec’s oldest environmental organization MCI. Benoit reminded the crowd that progress towards environmental goals can take time but, with determination, can be successful. In the words of Winston Churchill, “Never give up. Never, never surrender!”  He recounted that MCI’s fight to retake a national park that was being sold off to private interests began twenty years ago.” At the first meeting there were three of us, then six”, but gradually more and more people joined battle. Eventually, there were 87,000 people on the streets of Montreal, demonstrating in support of their national park. On October 20th of this year, the national park was fully restored by the Quebec government, doubled in size, and funded to upgrade access to the park- walking paths and hiking trails, all to accommodate the many Quebec citizens’ desire to protect and engage with their natural environment. 

Going forward, DUMP will continue to fight for environmental justice in the Northeast Kingdom. The Board and members will continue to monitor and hold the private landfill owner/operator, and state regulators accountable for evidence-based, impartial, and environmentally sound decisions. 

Click here to watch the video of Jon Swan’s talk

Link to Annual Meeting Report