The state Senate last week passed a bill addressing New Jersey’s ongoing problems with illegal dumping of contaminated materials. This came right after the latest Special Commission of Investigation “Dirty Dirt” report detailing illegal dumping in Marlboro. SCI reported that DGRT Services contaminated portions of a 17-acre horse farm on Harbor Road with dangerous chemicals, construction site and recycling center debris, and possible carcinogenic toxins. The material was used as fill. More than 1,500 truckloads were delivered in exchange for cash payments.

“The SCI report on illegal dumping of contaminated soil in Marlboro shows us again the serious environmental problems from dumping dirty dirt. That’s why it’s critical the Senate just passed S1683 (Smith) to try to fix this problem. SCI’s first “Dirty Dirt” report in 2016 exposed the rampant problem of soil brokers and dirty dirt. Since that report the illegal dumping is still happening, risking the environment and public health. That’s because there hasn’t been any action by DEP and the Legislature to stop it. The industry has ties to the mob, and there are serious pollution and health impacts. Legislators have finally taken some action and SCI continues to expose more illegal dumping. However, DEP still stands by refusing to do anything to stop this ongoing problem. Their enforcement failures continue to jeopardize public health,” said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “This report from SCI shows why the Assembly needs to act quickly and get this bill to the governor’s desk before summer break.”

In SCI’s new report on the Marlboro dumping, the commission said New Jersey currently “lacks the authority to properly oversee elements of its recycling program.” As a result, “unscrupulous individuals with criminal records and/or ties to organized crime” have profited, at the expense of legitimate recycling businesses.

“The environmental and health impacts of New Jersey’s failure to do anything to curb illegal dumping are significant. For more than a year DEP refused to use its authority to stop illegal dumping in Vernon while a toxic dirt pile continued to grow. A judge has now ordered cleanup of the site, but there are ongoing concerns toxins from the pile have impacted the groundwater. The first SCI report detailed illegal dumping of 400 truckloads of contaminated material in the Cliffwood Beach section of Old Bridge, where pollutants could be washed into the Raritan Bay. In Palmyra, illegal dumping of contaminated materials right along the Delaware River threatened to impact the water supply and fisheries, and could wash into people’s homes,” said Tittel. “DEP just doesn’t want to do its job to stop illegal dumping, and the public is suffering as a result.”

Illegal dumping of contaminated materials damages the environment and public health, and can be very costly to taxpayers. It remains a widespread problem in New Jersey. Bill S1683 (Smith) passed by the Senate this week would help tighten regulations by expanding the requirement for background checks to a broader range of persons involved in the solid waste industry, such as sales persons, consultants, and brokers. But the overriding problem continues to be DEP’s lack of enforcement.

“New Jersey needs tighter regulations and restrictions on how our waste is handled. The illegal dumping in Marlboro, Vernon and other places should be a wakeup call to our legislature and the Murphy administration that we need more enforcement power and inspections. The Senate bill is an important step forward however we need to go further. New Jersey has a long history of contaminated materials coming into our state, in part because DEP chooses not to regulate these chemicals. DEP needs to set and enforce standards for toxic materials to prevent any more possible dumping,” said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.