A publication of Work On Waste USA, Inc., 82 Judson, Canton, NY 13617 315-379-9200 January 3, 1991
The entire medical staff at the Jersey Shore Medical Center, in Neptune, NJ, a 500-bed hospital, unanimously passed a resolution, opposing the Monmouth County Incinerator.
Shore Environmental Medicine, formed in 1990 to oppose the county incinerator -a group of 298 physicians, nurses and health care workers- wrote to the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders on July 20, 1990: “We members of the medical community and residents of Monmouth county are adamantly opposed to the installation of a large scale municipal waste incinerator because of the devastating toxicological effects this would impose on the residents of this county. We have reviewed your proposed plan, the current state of art of incineration technology, the toxicology of emissions from such plants, and the physiological consequences exposure to such emissions would have on the residents of our county. Through this research we have come to the conclusion that incineration, even with the best current technology, will generate massive quantities of highly toxic pollutants and therefore does not represent a medically acceptable solution for the disposal of municipal waste. As freeholders for the county of Monmouth your responsibility for protecting the health and welfare of your constituency transcends any economic consideration whatsoever. Alternatives exist to incineration which although more costly to the taxpayers of Monmouth, make far greater sense that the intentional conversion of municipal garbage into tens of thousands of tons of toxic gaseous pollutants, airborne particulates, highly toxic ash, leachate, et cetera. ....Have you incorporated into you cost evaluation that the fishing industry, one of New Jersey’s largest industries, might be devastated when the dioxins you produce blow out over the lakes, streams, rivers, and ocean begin to show up at high concentrations in the commercial fish catch?...Another critical industry to New Jersey, the tourist industry along the Jersey shore will also be drastically effected when people learn through the press that the prevailing west to east winds will make Long Branch through South Belmar ground zero where the plume dispersion pattern touches ground dropping dioxin containing air, fly ash and heavy metals over their beaches and homes. During times of air inversions this deadly plume will dissipate radially poisoning the soils, animals and people of Howell, Wall, Colts Neck, Shrewsbury, Eatontown, Ocean, Neptune, as well as the aforementioned coastal communities...We as medical representatives and taxpaying residents of Monmouth county herein advise the board of freeholders of Monmouth that incineration of Monmouth’s solid waste, particularly in such a populated area makes zero sense from a medical standpoint. The highly toxic wastes manufactured at such a facility will cost the health and lives of tens of thousands of Monmouth county residents and countless thousands of others who have the misfortune of consuming the farm products and fish contaminated by the poisons you intend to synthesize...The vast preponderance of the scientific literature on the effects of incineration indicate the garbage does not really go away but rather shows up in the form of dioxin in mother’s breast milk and other forms...”
“...The failure of the previous administration to provide environmentally sound leadership concerning solutions to the municipal solid waste crisis have left County Government in New Jersey at the mercy of incinerator salesmen and others who attempt to turn short-term profit at the expense of the environment and medical well-being of the citizens in those effected areas. It is for these reasons we respectfully request you place a moratorium on incinerator permits for a minimum of at least 3 years or such time as required to determine the efficacy of the 60% recycling goals. We believe after such time, the question of the need for incinerators at all could be more properly assessed. The decision to incinerate represents a compromise at best to our health and environment in the state of New Jersey....” Signed by Dr. Michael Amoroso.
Location of incinerator: at the current county landfill site in Tinton Falls. Surrounded by wetlands and numerous new housing developments. Within approximately 5 miles of two reservoirs: Swimming River Reservoir and the Glendola Reservoir, which provides drinking water. Approx 5 miles from the ocean (Asbury Park, Neptune, Deal, Long Branch). The incinerator ash landfill is proposed to be on the 25-acre site in Tinton Falls and is classified as wetlands. Tinton Falls currently receives $3.50 per ton of waste dumped in the county landfill. This annual benefit amounts to $1,800,000 which goes into their annual budget. Tinton Falls receives $1,400,000 per year in taxes. Approx. 2,000 tons per day are disposed in the county landfill in Tinton Falls. The Mayor and the council of Tinton Falls have come out against the proposed incinerator, even though they stand to earn more money in host benefits from the incinerator. The current tip fee is $68.25 per ton for household waste (in 1988 it was $21 per ton) and $100 per ton for bulky waste.
“Monmouth County site post highest ozone level in 1 test...Air sampling stations at Monmouth College, West Long Branch, and in Madison, Conn., this summer recorded the highest level of ozone air pollution in eight northeast states, according to a coalition of state air quality divisions...Michael J. Bradley, executive director of the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, said the highest ozone levels recorded in the organization’s eight member states [NJ, NY, RI, VT, CT, ME, MA, NH] are generally between New Jersey and southern Connecticut. Emissions of pollutants that lead to ozone tend to be carried by the winds into New Jersey from the Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia regions, he said. New Jersey and the New York region contribute emissions that affect Connecticut...Ozone is New Jersey’s most far-reaching and intractable air pollution problem, officials say. Ozone, the major component of smog, irritates the respiratory system, skin, eyes and mucous membranes and may cause permanent lung damage after long-term exposure, experts say...Bradley said the Monmouth College and Madison, Conn., stations recorded 0.197 parts per million of ozone - the highest level recorded this summer among 45 stations in eight states. Ozone should not exceed 0.12 ppm for more than one hour a year, according to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health standard. [NJ DEP Bureau of Air Monitor section chief] Mikula said the Monmouth College station recorded violations on 10 days last year - more than any other station in the state - and six days so far this year, the second highest total...” Asbury Park Press, 9-29-90, pg. A-4.
For more information contact: Shore Environmental Medicine, P.O. Box 1132, Neptune, NJ 07754.
or Laurie or Mike Cannon, Monmouth County Citizens for Clean Air & Water, PO Box 637, Neptune, NJ 07754. Tel: 201-922-1633.