{"id":196470,"date":"2025-11-24T15:41:53","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T07:41:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/ashes-to-action-community-organizing-and-resistance-to-the-fenton-waste-incinerator\/"},"modified":"2025-11-24T15:41:53","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T07:41:53","slug":"ashes-to-action-community-organizing-and-resistance-to-the-fenton-waste-incinerator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hiclover.com\/one\/ashes-to-action-community-organizing-and-resistance-to-the-fenton-waste-incinerator\/","title":{"rendered":"Ashes to Action: Community Organizing and Resistance to the Fenton Waste Incinerator"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Fenton waste<\/a> incinerator<\/a>, a notorious polluter in the town of Fenton, Michigan, has been a thorn in the side of local residents for decades. Emitting toxic chemicals and pollutants into the air, the incinerator<\/a> has been linked to a range of health<\/a> problems, including cancer, respiratory disease<\/a>, and neurological damage. Despite the risks, the incinerator<\/a> has continued to operate, thanks in large part to the influence of corporate interests and government agencies that prioritize profits over people.<\/p>\n

A History of Resistance<\/h2>\n

But the people of Fenton have not taken the incinerator<\/a>’s presence lying down. For years, community members have organized and resisted the incinerator<\/a>’s operation, using a range of tactics from protests and petitions to lawsuits and lobbying. The resistance movement has been led by a coalition of local groups, including the Fenton-area Residents for Environmental<\/a> Safety (FRES) and the Michigan Environmental<\/a> Justice Coalition (MEJC).<\/p>\n

One of the key leaders of the resistance movement is Dolores Leonard, a long-time Fenton resident who<\/a> has lost loved ones to the incinerator<\/a>’s pollution<\/a>. “We’ve been fighting this fight for decades,” Leonard says. “We’ve seen friends and family members get sick and die from the pollution<\/a>, and we’re not going to stop until the incinerator<\/a> is shut down for good.”<\/p>\n

Community Organizing Strategies<\/h2>\n

The Fenton resistance movement has used a range of community organizing strategies to build power and push for change. These have included:<\/p>\n