The Township Council adopted an ordinance authorizing the township to secure bonds to pay for the cap and closure of the former French’s Landfill on Sally Ike Road.  The closure was mandated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

“This is an historic day for our community and it has been a long-time coming,” said Mayor Stephen Acropolis.  “These bonds will allow us to finally close the biggest open sore in our community.  We made a promise that we would close this landfill and today we are keeping that promise.”

The Township expects the closure of the landfill to cost in the vicinity of $12 million.  The Council authorized up to $15 million in bonds. The closure will include the clearing of vegetation, the installation of membrane over portions of the site and the use of fill materials.  It will be done in accordance with an EPA-approved closure plan.

“We are confident that we will complete the closure well under $15 million, but want to be prepared if there are any unforeseen circumstances,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “Again, the EPA told us that we must close the landfill.  If we don’t, they will close it and will make our taxpayers reimburse them for up to three times the cost.”

The Township is going to apply to the Local Finance Board for a waiver of the 5% down payment that is required when municipalities seek bonds.  That 5% must be raised in the municipality’s operating budget. 

The Township is also going to seek funding from the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust for the project.  NJEIT funding is typically 75% with no interest and the remaining 25% at ¼ of market interest.

“We have been aggressive and very successful in seeking and securing grants to help pay for a number of projects we are working on,” said Council President Anthony Matthews.  “We will continue to do so as it is the right thing for our taxpayers.”

French’s Landfill is a 42-acre site that is situated between the Garden State Parkway and Sally Ike Road.  It was operated for over 30 years.  The Township of Brick bought the site in December 1973.  It last accepted waste in April 1979.  In 1983, the landfill was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List.  For more than 25 years, the site has been the subject of extensive testing and monitoring.

The Township is now working on a plan to construct a solar panel field at the site that would be capable of producing anywhere from $2.5 million to $4.5 million a year in revenue for the taxpayers.

“We are looking at the best use for the site and which use would provide the best return for our taxpayers,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “The solar panel field is an exciting plan and will provide millions of dollars of much needed revenue.  Plus, it would have the benefit of turning a brownfield into a greenfield, which is being encouraged throughout the state and our nation.”