Monroe Mayor Urges NJDEP and Landfill Operator to Implement a Dedicated Force Main Pipe for Leachate Removal from BFI/Republic Landfill
MONROE – June 24, 2021 – Monroe Mayor Stephen Dalina, along with Legislators from New Jersey’s 14th District, have agreed that a dedicated force main pipe is the safe long-term solution to remove leachate collected from the BFI/Republic Landfill site. This fully enclosed pipe would be isolated for leachate removal only, and would have no connection or opening to any home or street in Monroe. Mayor Dalina calls on NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette to require BFI/Republic, the Landfill operator, to install the pipe at its cost, and provide a detailed project timeline to the public as soon as possible.
Monroe residents deserve action to protect their health and safety, and the Mayor expects the NJDEP to do the right thing and use its regulatory power to ensure that BFI/Republic swiftly and safely installs this dedicated pipe for leachate removal. “I will pursue every avenue available to require BFI/Republic to construct this pipe, because it is the safest process for our residents,” the Mayor said.
Historically, Landfill operators at BFI/Republic discharged leachate into the sanitary sewer line that runs through the Inwood Estates housing development. That sanitary sewer pipe is not a closed system. As with most other residential neighborhoods, individual homes are connected to the shared sewer pipe through laterals from their homes. As a result of chemical odors emanating into peoples’ home from the sanitary sewer collection system in August and September 2020, the NJDEP ordered BFI/Republic to cease leachate discharge into the sanitary sewer system pending an investigation.
After a detailed review, the Mayor and State Legislators agree that BFI/Republic should construct this dedicated force main pipe to transport leachate safely, without exposure to residents, from the Landfill directly to one of the Township’s pumping stations. This would be a different system than the previously operated process through Inwood Estates. There would be no sewer lateral connections from this new force main pipe to any residence in Monroe. This is the safe and recommended process to transport leachate per the Township’s environmental consultant, and landfill expert, Behram Turan, P.E., LSRP.
NJDEP’s engineering consultants have admitted that BFI/Republic’s plan to reintroduce leachate back into the sanitary sewer through Inwood Estates is an “interim solution.” An interim solution that still potentially exposes homes to leachate is unacceptable to the Township and its residents. There must be a safe, long-term solution to this problem.
“The health and safety of our residents is of utmost importance to me, our state Legislators, and my Council colleagues,” Mayor Dalina said. “I hope that Commissioner LaTourette shares our priorities, and that he will support and advance a new, fully enclosed pipe (force main) to remove leachate daily from the landfill.”
Solving the leachate removal problem will allow the NJDEP and others to focus their attention moving forward on all resident concerns and testing in and around the Landfill.
All media inquiries may be directed to the Monroe Township’s Business Administrator Alan M. Weinberg at 732-521-4400 or
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