Our Mission:
The mission of the Worcester Roots Project is to work with communities facing environmental injustice to build healthy spaces for living, working, and playing.
How do we achieve this?
The Worcester Roots Project uses direct action to remove contamination by lead, other heavy metals, and hydrocarbons from Worcester soils. We are concerned about lead poisoning in children. We use phytoremediation and other low cost methods to remove toxins from soil. Certain plants absorb contaminants as they grow. These plants can then be removed and disposed of safely. Our target sites are low-income neighborhoods throughout the city, which have some of the highest levels of soil pollution, and the largest number of lead-paint contaminated dwellings, in the nation.
Worcester Roots Project also engages in community organizing, education, and outreach. We organize workshops to share skills and knowledge on the problem of soil contamination. Our aim is to empower communities to protect their environmental health.
Toxic Soil Buster's Action Plan
2005 Action Plan (fully accomplished!)
Education:
- Organize and disseminate data on the effectiveness of phytoremediation field tests.
- Host 10 community workshops on environmental health and racism.
- Create internships for 3 college students and work with 40 volunteers.
Direct Action:
- Create and distribute a soil remediation kit including appropriate seeds and safety information to 20+ residences where children have elevated lead levels.
- Remediate three sites with pelargoniums, groundcovers, or organic matter.
Advocacy:
- Strengthen partnership with the City of Worcester lead office and City Council by working jointly on an EPA grant.
- Work for a change in the MA lead law so that soil lead testing and abatement are required in children’s yards.
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