Why The East Brunswick Landfill Smells: Public Meeting Jan. 16

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — In December, we wrote about how the Middlesex County Landfill (Edgeboro Landfill) has been emanating seriously bad smells in East Brunswick, South River, Sayreville and North Brunswick all month long.

Now this week, the Middlesex County Utilities Authority announced they will hold a public meeting Wednesday, Jan. 16 to talk frankly with residents and homeowners about what is causing the problem, and what they are trying to do to fix it. The utilities authority (MCUA) runs the operation of the landfill. It is overseen by state Senator Joe Cryan, who will speak to the public next Wednesday night about the problem.

The presentation will be held January 16, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in the East Brunswick Municipal Courtroom, 1 Jean Walling Civic Center Drive. All are welcome. Questions may be asked at the end of the presentation.

It was East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen who asked Cryan to come speak to residents; East Brunswick Township is the community hardest hit by the smells. The landfill is located on Edgeboro Road in East Brunswick.

The meeting will provide an overview of the work and what is being done to prevent the odors, said Anthony Cicatiello, a spokesman for the MCUA.

To date, the MCUA has received nearly hundreds of complaints from residents (you can read them all here). It smells like "rotten eggs," reported one resident of Pineridge Drive in East Brunswick on Dec. 20. "Strong, intense fecal odors," reported a Devon Drive resident on Dec. 15.

Read: Middlesex County Landfill Causing Seriously Stinky Smells

Just before Christmas, a middle school in North Brunswick was even evacuated due to an extremely bad smell. PSE&G responded, thinking it may have been a gas leak, but it turns out it was just the odor of decaying garbage from the landfill.

The smell hasn't been as bad in January as it was in December, Cicatiello said: The MCUA is currently in the middle of a big capital improvement project at the landfill, which involves adding new collection pipes to collect the gas the landfill gives off, and replacing and upgrading existing pipes.

"These upgrades should reduce the potential for future odors," said Cicatiello.

From East Brunswick:

The Township of East Brunswick will host Joseph Cryan, Executive Director of Middlesex County Utilities Authority, as he discusses Edgeboro Landfill, the ongoing upgrades to the facility, and the impact to residents.

Capital improvements to the gas collection system have resulted in an increase in unpleasant odors for Township residents and will be addressed during the presentation.

Questions may be asked at the end of the presentation.
January 16, 2019 7:00 p.m.
Township of East Brunswick’s Municipal Courtroom
1 Jean Walling Civic Center Drive

For additional information, contact: East Brunswick’s Office of the Mayor & Administrator 732-390-6810

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