Photo: Getty Images
Atlantic County has approved a $7 million project to cap 16 acres of the Egg Harbor Township landfill. The project, funded by the American Rescue Plan, is set to improve landfill gas collection efficiency, reduce liquid runoff, and minimize offsite odors. The decision comes after years of complaints from residents in Absecon and Pleasantville about the smell from the landfill, which was built over 30 years ago. Some residents have reported health problems they believe are linked to the landfill's odors.
The Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) will be in charge of the project. ACUA president Matthew DeNafo said in a statement that the funding allows the project to be completed five years ahead of schedule. "These investments are more than just figures," DeNafo said to the Daily Voice. "They will significantly increase gas collection capacity today and into the future as more waste is buried."
In addition to the landfill improvements, ACUA is constructing New Jersey’s first renewable natural gas facility in partnership with South Jersey Gas and OPAL Fuels. The facility, set to open in 2025, will transform landfill gas into natural gas to power homes, businesses, and vehicles while reducing emissions by up to 95 percent.