By Sunayana Prabhu
TINTON FALLS – Borough and county officials took steps to mitigate odors emanating from the Monmouth County Reclamation Center landfill that had frustrated residents earlier this year. With the construction of a temporary cap progressing ahead of schedule, the county has reported that much of the problem is now under control.
In a recent update to residents, Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone outlined significant advancements in the ongoing effort to curb odors that had, at times, penetrated people’s homes. The temporary cap, covering approximately 30 acres of the landfill, is on track to be completed by Aug. 15, nearly a month earlier than anticipated.
Photos shared by Arnone depict initial progress on the “top deck” and “north side” areas of the Phase III project, where the temporary cap is being installed. These images offer a glimpse into the proactive steps being taken to address community concerns.
“We are proud of the progress that has been made but rest assured, we are dedicated to resolving this issue in a timely manner,” Arnone told residents in a release.
Tinton Falls Council members Risa Clay and John Manginelli, along with a few residents, have been leading the Tinton Falls Citizens Monitoring Landfill Committee, formed in February when residents complained of strong odors from the landfill located by Asbury Avenue. The committee has been monitoring the reclamation center and periodically reporting its findings and progress to the borough council and the public.
“The number of calls with complaints have gone down dramatically,” said Clay.
Much to the relief of the residents fed up with waiting, the entire reporting system for complaints has been overhauled to provide a much faster response time. “One of the things that was extremely frustrating to residents was that they would call, and the inspector would come, maybe after 24-48 hours, and by then there was no smell,” Clay said. Residents also had to be available when the inspector arrived, often difficult to arrange a day or two later. That wait has “been eliminated,” said Clay. “Now you make a call, the call response time has been under 15 minutes at night and on the weekends, which is like a tremendous improvement.” Residents are also no longer required to be home for an inspection, she added.
While there is still more work to be done to fully complete the mitigation process, Clay is cautiously optimistic about the progress made so far and acknowledged the county’s collaborative efforts in controlling the problem to a large extent.
“As a town, and really as a council, we’ve been putting unending pressure on the county to respond to the residents. And county Commissioner Arnone has really, I have to say, he’s delivered on the things that he’s promised to do,” Clay said.
According to the updates from county officials, plans for a permanent cap project on the slopes are underway, and the county is expected to solicit bids during the fall.
Residents are encouraged to utilize the dedicated hotline, 732-559-ODOR (732-559-6367), to report any odor-related issues directly to Monmouth County Environmental Health inspectors.
In an effort to enhance transparency, the county’s Information Technology Systems department is currently redesigning the reclamation center pages on the county’s website for improved accessibility and ease of use.
Arnone emphasized collaborative efforts with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and highlighted ongoing consultations and approvals integral to the project’s success.
Some of the milestones have already been achieved in the mitigation process, including the grading of the landfill, integration of surface wells into the gas collection system, and upgrades to flare systems aimed at enhancing gas management.
For more information and updates on the project, residents are encouraged to visit the county’s official website or contact the commissioner directly with any questions or concerns.
The article originally appeared in the July 25 – July 31, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
