(The Associated Press circulated the following article on August 22.)
TRENTON, N.J. — Environmental hazard or benefit?
New Jersey officials are trying to shut down open-air trash transfer depots that have sprung up next to railroads across the state, saying they use a federal loophole to avoid state environmental and health regulations.
But railroad companies defend the sites, saying they are only subject to federal law and that they actually provide an environmental benefit by moving trash by rail instead of the traditional method — trucks.
Nine transfer facilities are in operation or proposed in New Jersey, sites that store garbage until it can be hauled away — mostly to Ohio. Seven of those sites are engaged in court battles with the state.
One of the most testy cases is in Mullica, Atlantic County, where a lawsuit over a proposed trash depot — to be located in the scenic Pinelands region — has its first hearing today in Camden’s federal court.