NJ Council Gives Thumbs Down to C&D Project

The Deptford, N.J. township council voted unanimously to oppose a proposed concrete and asphalt recycling facility that is looking to be built in the township. The vote, held March 3, was strongly opposed by residents of the city. The company, Second Chance Recycling is under consideration by the Gloucester County Solid Waste Advisory Committee.

According to local press reports opponents of the project claim that the plant’s location, in the middle of the town’s business center, would diminish the “quality of life” in the city.

The resolution will be forwarded to the 10-member county advisory committee.

Several opponents of the project claim that the C&D plant would generate sizable amounts of dust. However, the company claims that equipment the C&D plant will have will curtail any dust particulants.

The committee must recommend the recycling plant be included in the county's solid waste management plan before it can operate. The plant also needs a state Department of Environmental Protection permit. The county had requested feedback from the township before the county meets to decide whether or not to approve the project. That meeting is slated to be held March 11.

The advisory committee deferred a decision until its March 11 meeting, saying it wanted input from the township.

Residents remained skeptical, even after the attorney for the C&D facility said that the recycling plant's capacity would be scaled down 40 percent from when first proposed in 2000. Daily intake would be 600 tons of concrete and 400 tons of asphalt.