Waste Management Granted Permit To Use Hillsdale Facility Again

HILLSDALE, NJ — The state has paved the way for Waste Management Inc. to use its transfer station again after granting the company a permit last month.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in late December decided to renew a solid waste facility permit to the company.

The company stopped using the Brookside Place facility in February 2014 after heavy snow caused part of the roof to collapse.

The permit renewal is pending the results of the Bergen County Utilities Authority reviewing the county's Solid Waste Management Plan.

The renewal was granted despite near unanimous opposition from Hillsdale and nearby Washington Township residents, Hillsdale Mayor John J. Ruocco said.

Ruocco said the Borough Council would appeal the state's decision.

Ruocco said he and the council would "work actively in the coming weeks to insure that the BCUA understands your concerns and the reasons why a solid waste transfer station in Hillsdale is unnecessary and, in fact, harmful to the residents of Hillsdale and our neighbor, Washington Township."

Waste Management spokesman John Hambrose said the company is still working on its plan for the site. He said the company has not decided when, or if, operations will resume at the facility.

Residents were allowed to comment to the DEP on the application. The comments were reviewed and considered during the permit review process.

People said that trucks going to and from the facility must go on "heavily traveled" roads through Hillsdale and Washington Township "creating traffic problems."

Other commenters said the facility is close to homes and businesses and generates a lot of noise, odors, dust and "other nuisances." Others said the property should be used to develop affordable housing.

Hambrose said the company has worked with county officials to ensure that truck traffic is "as well controlled as it could be."

The DEP recommended that anyone affected by truck noise contact the department or the county health department. Others said trucks cause nearby buildings to shake and crosswalks are stained with waste from the trucks.

"We try to be as sensitive to the community and its needs as possible and come and go with the least amount of impact possible," Hambrose said.

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Patch file photo of a Waste Management garbage truck