Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen on Tuesday said the last stage of cleanup has started of the infamous dirt pile in the city’s Bergen Square neighborhood, the byproduct of decades of illegal dumping.
“I asked myself how a property owner like Weyhill Realty Holdings, let me say that again, Weyhill Realty Holdings, the former property owner and responsible party, could do this to our community and our city,” Carstarphen said.
Other local and state officials were also on hand to announce the final stage in the dirt removal process. Shawn LaTourette, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection, said, “What are we saying when we tolerate illegal dumping of materials in in our communities, upon our neighbors? What are we saying? That somehow there are communities less deserving of natural beauty and environmental protection?”
The City of Camden seized control of the property in September 2022 after residents had complained for years about dirt and garbage spilling onto their property and noxious smells. Removal of the debris began in March. Removal of the final pile will involve 50 trucks per day, a designated truck traffic route, tire washes, daily street cleaning and monitoring.
Carstarphen said he expects the dirt pile to be eliminated by the end of February, but a lot of work may still be required as dangerous chemicals may have leached into the ground.
