COURTESY PHOTO
Wheelabrator Vice President of Environmental, Health & Safety Jim Connolly with Wildlife Habitat Council Chairman Kevin Butt, General Manager, Environmental Sustainability Director, Toyota Motor North America.
SAUGUS — Wheelabrator Technologies has received the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Conservation Certification for the Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary at Wheelabrator Saugus, demonstrating the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
Wheelabrator operates energy-from-waste facilities, ash monofills and independent power producing facilities across the U.S. and U.K. including four facilities in Massachusetts located in Saugus, North Andover, Millbury and Shrewsbury.
“Wheelabrator’s Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary in Saugus was recognized for meeting the strict requirements of WHC Conservation Certification,” said Margaret O’Gorman, WHC president. “Companies achieving WHC Conservation Certification, such as Wheelabrator Saugus, are environmental leaders, voluntarily managing their lands to support sustainable ecosystems and the communities that surround them.”
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Bear Creek is a 370-acre wildlife refuge abutting the 2,274-acre Rumney Marsh ecosystem in Saugus and Revere that operates in concert with the adjacent Wheelabrator monofill and energy-from-waste facility. The sanctuary is home to 178 species of migratory birds, as well as other wildlife, such as coyotes, foxes, raccoons and snakes. Wheelabrator has strived to increase diversity on the site, providing quality food sources, cover and space for migratory birds, and controlling targeted invasive plants. Through partnerships with local educational institutes, the sanctuary is actively used as a classroom and field laboratory for a variety of environmental studies.
Bear Creek has become a favored site for birders, who regularly visit the site to check in on the species that have made it their home. Last winter, a Smith’s Longspur and a Swainson’s Hawk were spotted, attracting dozens of birders from near and far.
Geoff Wilson of Northeast Wetlands Restoration, which manages Bear Creek for Wheelabrator, said he has seen the site grow in popularity.
“We are very pleased to see the community benefit from the educational and environmental opportunities available at Bear Creek,” Wilson said. “The sanctuary is thriving in its intended use.”
“We are honored to receive this recertification from the Wildlife Habitat Council,” said Jim Connolly, Wheelabrator’s vice president of environmental health and safety. “We are very proud of the sanctuary, which has blossomed into one of the North Shore’s largest bird migration staging areas and a habitat for nearly 200 bird species as well as other wildlife, and is a unique asset for the residents and communities of Saugus and Revere.”
The Wildlife Habitat Council promotes and certifies habitat conservation and management on corporate lands through partnerships and education. WHC-assisted wildlife habitat and conservation education programs are found in 45 states, the District of Columbia and 13 countries (see www.wildlifehc.org).
Wheelabrator Technologies is the second largest U.S. energy-from-waste business, and is an industry leader in the conversion of everyday residential and business waste into clean energy.
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