The Great Schedler Dig: Ridgewood Begins Massive $1.6M Cleanup of Contaminated Soil
file photo
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, History and modern infrastructure collided this week in Ridgewood as heavy machinery finally descended upon the historic Zabriskie-Schedler property. For the next six weeks, a massive remediation project will work to undo years of environmental oversight, clearing the way for the site’s future while protecting one of the last wood-frame Dutch farmhouses in Bergen County.
The $1.6 million project isn’t just a standard construction site—it’s a precision cleanup operation involving thousands of tons of waste, specialized engineering, and a race against the clock.
The Discovery: A Turf War Turned Toxic
The contamination at 460 W. Saddle River Road wasn’t found by accident. In May 2024, as the Village moved forward with plans to build a multi-purpose artificial turf sports field, routine testing uncovered a grim reality: the soil beneath the surface was contaminated.
The source? Between 2018 and 2019, approximately 8,000 cubic yards of fill dirt were brought to the site—much of it from the former Brogan Cadillac site on South Broad Street. While the soil was supposedly tested at the time, those tests were either incomplete or failed to detect the specific toxins that the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has now identified.
The Cleanup by the Numbers
This is no small “dirt-moving” job. To bring the site back to residential and recreational standards, the Village and Matrix New World Engineering have mapped out a logistical marathon:
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26,571 Tons: The total weight of contaminated soil and solid waste to be removed.
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1,100 Feet: The length of the berm along Route 17 North that must be completely dismantled.
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37 Trucks Per Day: The constant convoy required to haul waste out and bring clean fill in.
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6 to 8 Weeks: The estimated timeline to complete the primary excavation.
Minimizing the Neighborhood Impact
Village Manager Keith Kazmark confirmed that “Day One” went smoothly on May 4, thanks to a strict logistics plan designed to keep Route 17 commuters and local residents safe.
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Traffic Control: A Ridgewood police officer is stationed at the West Saddle River Road access point.
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Operating Hours: Work is strictly limited to 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, to avoid evening and weekend disruptions.
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Staging Areas: To prevent “truck idling” on residential streets, all waiting vehicles are staged at a commercial area south of the site.
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Air Quality: Continuous air-monitoring systems are active on-site to ensure that no contaminated dust reaches neighboring homes.
What’s Next for Schedler?
Once the soil is removed and replaced with certified clean fill, the Village can refocus on the property’s dual purpose: preserving the 1825 Zabriskie-Schedler House and developing the long-awaited park facilities.
While the $1.5 million earmark in the 2025 capital budget is a significant investment, officials believe it is a necessary price to pay for the safety of the community and the integrity of Ridgewood’s historic landmarks.
“The roadway is staffed, the vegetative waste is being chipped, and the first loads are out. We are committed to finishing this safely and efficiently.” — Village Manager Keith Kazmark
Remediation Project Fact Sheet
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“The $1.6 million project isn’t just a standard construction site” LOL
“it’s a precision cleanup operation”
Who writes this crap? It’s a propaganda piece, not a news article.
100%
Lets start with those who dumped the toxic dirt…were they held accountable…nope
Village mgr spins everything…zero transparency. $1.6mm will turn into $3m
Any comment from vm on getting smoked on the Valley property tax payment?
The berm is being removed to make way for the larger field.
Did you have the soil in your yard tested?
I didn’t think so. Nobody did.
No kids were ever going to be playing on the berm.
How about testing the soil 100 feet north or south of the berm?
Just scratching the surface:
Toxic highway airborne particles that accumulate in roadside soil (often within 50 meters of the edge) include heavy metals like lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and chromium (Cr), alongside polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from exhaust, and rubber/plastic wear particles. These pollutants, often in the fine particulate matter (PM) range, are deposited via wind, tire wear, and vehicle exhaust, creating significant toxic hotspots.
Key Toxic Contaminants in Roadside Soil:Heavy Metals: Lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), and manganese (Mn) are major contaminants found in high concentrations near highways, originating from tire wear, brake pads, and fuel.Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): These are toxic organic pollutants often associated with oil spills, exhaust emissions, and deteriorating asphalt (especially older tar-based asphalt), accumulating in soil and posing long-term hazards.Tire and Road Wear Particles (TRWP): These materials contain varied chemical compounds, including zinc (used in tire manufacturing), which leach into the soil.Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) are emitted by fuel combustion and can be absorbed into soil, particularly in high-traffic areas.De-icing Salts: Used in winter, salts can change soil salinity and pH, mobilizing other heavy metals in the soil.
The NJDEP is in charge of the oversight. This council saud there wasn’t any toxic chemicals and when tested they found concerning excellence harmful to humans. I think that constitutes more than just removal of dirt. Just remember this council was ok with kids playing there with no soil testing. Voting matters.
Same engineer providing “oversight,” same faulty testing standards, yet Habernickel remains open for business?
Fascinating.
It’s crazy and the kids sit on the area where the barn was that the TOWN itself said was infested and that’s why they took it down and now they allow children to sit there!!! Rat infestation is just as toxic. No accountability.
Open for business is right as the clients of this business sit in the toxins of the old stable.
There’s a lot of plane to go around, we have the ex village engineer/Dpw director. We have mayors, council members, health department, supervisors, all dropped the ball. Because none of them knew exactly what they were doing. They all are to blame. They put employees in harms way. That’s why they’re so quiet. That’s why they’re so stressed out, they’re scared because they could be blamed by the government. Have you seen some of these individuals what they look like today, they are not healthy. They all cost a village a tremendous amount of money, they should all be discharged immediately. That’s OK. The investigator knows exactly who’s involved.
And the village engineer who caused this walks away scott free pension in hand.
Listen, they can say whatever they want. Do whatever they want, the bottom line is they are responsible for anyone that was working at these locations. These toxic locations have all been documented. So if anyone gets sick, they’re responsible they put employees in danger. They are reliable, they should’ve had all the soil tested before it was moved. They couldn’t be that stupid. This was all about the saving money. It’s such an embarrassment to the town. So they’re responsible .
Easy to say but it takes years or decades for such damage to be identified and then no one can prove the source.
Send in the clowns…don’t bother, they’re here…
Where is Mayor PauLIE “PFAS”. Is he having drinks with Pasta Primavera ans then dropping him at the YMCA or is that Winograd’ job? He was her informant, right?
Me thinks this is such a corrupt Mayor and council. Who is getting a kick back on the artificial turf?
The only thing I’m happy about is that the headline correctly uses two words for “under way.”
The Village Of Ridgewood top officials should be ashamed of themselves, they should be taking the proper responsibility for the health and well-being of employees that were put in harms way. They had no idea that there was contaminated soil that they were hauling in trucks with, using equipment to move around, breathing in toxic chemicals. What is the villager Ridgewood going to do about this this matter. Are they going to be proactive. They never reached out to any of the employees and brought them in past them present employees. We must say there’s only a few that was working at these locations. Everyone knows who they are why are they keeping it so quiet. Like it never happened. All the toxic information is being covered through the DEP, what about the employees. Do you want another 911 situation regarding toxic environmental health situation in the village. Because that’s what it’s common you better hold onto your seats, do the damn right thing. And you piece of shit or put thumbs down let’s meet up, because obviously you’re being a misinformed, just let me know the time, the place, will be there.
So very true,👍, and new individuals that are putting your thumbs down. You’re really brainwashed aren’t you. You must be kissing some real fat ass. Why don’t you give me a call? You know who this is. The one with the big set of balls.☠️
The shit that goes on in the village is amazing. It has been so embarrassing in the past six years. You notice since 2020 now nothing but big screw ups, and it start freight from the top going down, embarrassing