Petition Launched to Stop Lakewood DPW Solid Waste Transfer Station

Lakewood, NJ Township has proposed to build a Solid Waste Transfer Station with a 300 ton daily capacity. The proposed site is immediately adjacent to the current DPW complex located on America Avenue. The solid waste transfer station is designed to offload waste from the local township garbage haulers. The local haulers unload directly onto the facility floor. Earth movers are then used to move and transfer the waste into semi trailers (18 wheelers) for transport to the Ocean County landfill.

A Change.org petition has been launched to protest the transfer station.

A portion of the petition reads, “The proposed solid waste transfer station will directly impact the quality of life of the residents and business establishments in its immediate vicinity. Proposed hours of operation are 7 days a week from 6AM to 9PM. During the hours of operation, residents will hear loud equipment and see many more waste management vehicles including semi trailers coming and going. These facilities are known to cause tremendously foul smelling odors that will be a constant presence for all of the immediate area surrounding the facility. They also inherently generate large quantities of waste liquid. This is particularly concerning as the proposed site is within a half mile of the Lakewood MUA water tower as well as other fresh water bodies.”

The petition continues: “Located within a half mile of the proposed facility are established residential neighborhoods, eating establishments with indoor and outdoor seating, health facilities, newly built office parks, urgent care facilities and many schools with elementary school age children. These will all be directly negatively affected if this solid waste management facility is built.

“Unfortunately, although this project is already several years in the making, to our knowledge the Lakewood township has not made any of the above listed affected parties aware of their intentions. Possible alternative solutions to the township’s waste management needs may include an alternate site or a privately managed site that is located in an industrial zone. It should be noted that over half of the 51 currently operational waste transfer stations in NJ are privately administrated.

“We are proposing that there be an immediate halt to any further consideration of this project. Regardless of where you may live in Lakewood, any support you could show would be very much appreciated!”

{Matzav.com}