Van Keuren Avenue in Jersey City - proposed site for trash facility

Example of waste facility transport operations

Say NO to the Proposed Van Keuren Trash Facility in Jersey city

A new large-scale solid waste transfer station and material recovery facility is being proposed by Van Keuren LLC by Compliance Plus Services Inc. for construction near St. Paul’s and Tonnelle Avenue in Jersey City. The facility would funnel regional waste to Jersey City, bringing diesel traffic and pollution directly to a community already suffering from environmental burdens. If successful, this will be the third of already two waste facilities in the neighborhood.

highlights the existing solid waste facilities in the neighborhood by the purple dots - within one mile of the proposed facility site are multiple affected neighborhoods such as the heights and journal square.

Transfer stations are facilities that serve as an intermediary point for the collection and processing of municipal solid waste and other waste materials, temporarily holding them until they are consolidated into larger loads for transport to other facilities. If permitted, the Van Keuren Waste Facility would process 750 tons of waste per day and generate over 260 round-trip truck trips per day, adding diel emissions, noise, and traffic to the overburdened community. More than that, the proposed facility would not only serve Jersey City, but the surrounding region and possibly even New York City.

Example of transfer station

This waste facility would not just increase waste and traffic in our city, but harm our environment and public health. Diesel emissions are also associated with numerous negative health impacts, including asthma and cardiovascular risk, worsening existing conditions including heart and lung disease. The U.S. EPA reports that “these conditions can result in increased numbers of emergency room visits, hospital admissions, absences from work and school, and premature death.”

To put into perspective of how this will directly affect our community: Within one mile of the proposed site, there are many areas where vulnerable people like children, the elderly, and the sick are concentrated and may be exposed to this pollution. There are:

  • 14 hospitals, nursing homes, and/or medical centers

  • 19 parks, playgrounds, recreational areas, and/or open spaces

  • 12 schools

  • 9 childcare facilities

Jersey City already has the highest adult asthma rates in Hudson County, with the county receiving a D for air quality from the American Lung Association. Our map of “Asthma Alley” in the context of major transportation corridors through Jersey City reflects on concerns we developed during our communications campaign to inform people about the negative impact of the urban heat island effect (UHI) on air quality (AQ). Now, looking at community stressors like transportation corridors, traffic, and air permit sources, the waste facility would cause additional stress on already vulnerable populations in certain geographies of the City.

How Can you help?

Your voice is the best way you can help SJC and the Jersey City Community. Here are some concrete ways you can help protect our environment and our community:

Inspiration + Sources to cite (THIS BOTTOM HALF WILL NOT BE PART OF THE WEBPAGE)

For example, this map of “Asthma Alley” in the context of major transportation corridors through Jersey City reflects on concerns we developed during our communications campaign to inform people about the negative impact of the urban heat island effect (UHI) on air quality (AQ) and now, looking at public health factors like transportation corridors, which cause additional stress on already vulnerable populations in certain geographies of the City.

SJC Story Maps explaining environmental health issues in Jersey City -

NJ Department of Health & Department of Environmental Protection collaborative project called the Healthy Community Planning (HPC) Initiative

EPA Grant Award - Monitoring AQ In EJ Neighborhoods

SJC, in partnership with JC HHS and JCHA, and in collaboration with institutional partners Rutgers EOHSI and Gensler (, along with community partner GNA, has been awarded an EPA grant to undertake a crucial initiative focused on monitoring air quality conditions (AQ) in Jersey City, with a special emphasis on Environmental Justice (EJ) neighborhoods.  Fostering environmental health across Jersey City is one of the intended outcomes of this funding opportunity, which also has environmental, social and economic equity objectives as part of the project work to be delivered.  Air Quality (AQ) Glossary here.

SJC pledges to deliver on several key aspects outlined in the EPA grant award, as part of our Environmental Health & Justice Stewardship Program. These include the development of a community information and education dashboard, leveraging AQ data to empower the public and foster better health outcomes through informed decision-making and enhanced policy development. Additionally, SJC and our partners will establish an Environmental Health and Justice Leadership Task Force, ensuring the engagement of all stakeholders. More information to follow!

 
 

Download the above Overview and our other Community Outreach Flyers to share with your circles - help us spread the word !