Stinky Stockpile Is Cause For Offensive Odor In Chatham

CHATHAM, N.J. – An offensive odor that has caused some smelly nights in Chatham since early December has been identified, officials said.

The stench, which has been prevalent in the southeast section of the borough, has been traced to a stockpile of decaying leaves at a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Permitted Vegetative Waste Transfer Station, the borough announced.

The Transfer Station has been very cooperative with borough officials and will be removing any stockpile of leaves by Tuesday, Jan. 12. The station, which is required to control any odors by the NJDEP, may have used a deodorizer in the past, says the decaying leaves are due to unseasonably warm temperatures during the winter and not from any chemical application applied to the leaves.

Borough officials are asking anyone who still experiences the offensive smell similar to decaying leaves or tobacco to report it to the Office of the Assistant Administrator Stephen Williams at 973-701-6807.