Monmouth County Has A Plan For The Smelly Tinton Falls Landfill

TINTON FALLS, NJ — This week, Monmouth County Commissioner Tom Arnone updated the public on new plans from the county to address the bad smells coming from the Tinton Falls landfill.

"I want to update everyone on our efforts to eliminate the odors being emitted at the Monmouth County Reclamation Center," said Arnone in his monthly newsletter to County residents. "We continue to work on the remediation of the odors every day."

For years now, people who live near the Monmouth County Reclamation Center (it's at 6000 Asbury Avenue in Tinton Falls) have complained about the horrible smell. There are many theories as to what causes it, including that the landfill does not clear gas correctly, and that lots of rain and damp, humid weather makes it worse.

On windy days, the smell can carry as far as Wall Township.

Here is what Monmouth County has done in the past six months to address the odor:

Installed six additional horizontal surface gas collectors in the past 60 days. This brings the total number of surface gas collectors to 17. These gas collectors have been placed in the most significant areas of odor in the landfill and, "have made a substantial impact on the collection of gas," said Arnone.

Work has also been finalized on the C Flare, which vacuums out gas. The C Flare supplements the D Flare, which has been operating for the past several years.

The addition of the C Flare doubled the vacuum capacity and greatly increased the collection of gas, said Arnone.

"Beginning this week (Feb. 26), I will be sending out a monthly newsletter to provide details on exactly what is being done at the Reclamation Center," promised Arnone. "The first monthly newsletter highlights the 30-, 60- and 90-day plans that the County and Waste Management have developed to improve the situation."

The 30-Day Plan, which is estimated to be completed by March 29, includes the ordering of materials for the temporary cap, vertical wells and flare upgrades. The County will also meet with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to discuss an overall plan.

The newsletter will be emailed to residents who signed up for it. You can sign up by emailing Thomas.Arnone@co.monmouth.nj.us

It will also be posted on the County’s website at www.visitmonmouth.com