The East Providence Coalition has been honored for its work to shutter the TLA/Pond View recycling facility in Rumford by the regional environmental organization, Toxics Action Center, based in Massachusetts. 

Ken Schneider, Tim Horton and Corliss Blanchard of the coalition received the award at the Local Environmental Action 2013 event, described as the largest conference on public health and the environment in the region. 

The event brought together hundreds of people described as "ordinary residents doing extraordinary work to protect the health and safety of communities," according to Claire Miller, Massachusetts State Director for the Toxics Action Center. 

The East Providence Coalition received an Outstanding Activist Award.

 “Pond View is now closed but we are awaiting the cleanup of the property,” said Schneider. “As a large group of very concerned citizens, we will not and cannot stop our efforts until there is a successful healthy conclusion for our neighborhood and city.”

The coalition also issued the following statement:

“The East Providence Coalition takes great pride in being honored at the Local Environmental Action 2013 conference. It is a great tribute and affirmation that when a group of citizens sincerely care about the health of themselves and their neighbors, Great things can happen. 

“Since 1998 there was a tremendous noise and air pollution problem emanating from Pond View in Rumford. It was the wrong business in the wrong location. We never gave up on our goal to live in an unpolluted neighborhood. It took thousands of hours of research, going to council meetings, lobbying local, state and federal politicians. 

“Persistence is the key to success whether it is trying to improve your neighborhood or succeed at work. Pond View is now closed and our neighborhood is on its way back to being a great place to live.”