ATSDR DCHI Fenimore Landfill Site Team Addresses Health Concerns in New Jersey

Fenimore Landfill in Roxbury Township, New Jersey, is an old solid waste landfill that was reopened in 2011 to accept construction and demolition waste. Nearby residents complained of rotten egg odors caused by releases of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas from the landfill. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) began treating the landfill gas, but people were concerned about possible health effects and asked ATSDR to help.

ATSDR:

• set up a toll-free number for people to share their health concerns and met with selected callers and other stakeholders in person in summer 2014
• evaluated site information and data independently of other agencies involved with the site
• answered residents’ questions about H₂S and other exposures in a September 2015 draft report

ATSDR’s investigation:

• supported local agencies – ATSDR found that the H₂S levels from before any treatment occurred could harm health, so actions to treat the gases were needed
• reassured the public – ATSDR found that health effects from H₂S or other compounds produced by the landfill are unlikely, as long as the gas treatment system keeps running
• prompted timely public health responses – ATSDR shared recommendations with local agencies while the report was being written