In Camden, although the Delaware River is the cleanest it has been in a generation, problems with pollution persist. On Monday, work began on the removal of a three-story, 70,000-ton toxic dirt pile from the Bergen Square neighborhood, containing construction waste and other debris. For years, residents complained of the dust and mud that spilled onto the streets and into their backyards, affecting their health.
The city is now working with a licensed site remediation company to remove the illegally dumped waste and clean up the location. The move comes about a month after the state Department of Environmental Protection ordered the waste removal. The agency began inspecting the site in 2002 and found the presence of known carcinogens that cause cancer, leading to multiple lawsuits and a grassroots push to hold the illegal dumpers accountable.
