Ridgewood’s $1.7M Contaminated Soil Cleanup Triggers Logistical Marathon: Will It Wrap Before Summer?
file photo
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A massive environmental remediation project is currently underway in Bergen County as the Village of Ridgewood races against the clock to clear thousands of tons of toxic soil from a historic local landmark.
The removal of contaminated earth from the historic Zabriskie-Schedler property on West Saddle River Road is currently proceeding with “zero issues,” according to municipal leadership.
“We expect it to be done before school lets out,” Village Manager Keith Kazmark confirmed. However, finishing before the final school bell is no simple task. To bring the site back to safe residential and recreational standards, the Village has partnered with Matrix New World Engineering to execute a staggering logistical operation.
By The Numbers: The Schedler Property Soil Excavation
This is far from a standard “dirt-moving” job. The sheer scale of the 6-to-8-week excavation project relies on a massive daily convoy to swap out tainted earth for clean, certified fill:
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26,571 Tons: The monumental total weight of contaminated soil and solid waste slated for removal.
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1,100 Feet: The length of the earthen berm running along Route 17 North that must be completely dismantled.
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37 Trucks Per Day: The continuous fleet of Northstar Environmental Services vehicles hauling hazardous materials out and fresh soil in via Route 17.
Unmasking the “Toxic Cocktail” in the Dirt
How did a historic property become an environmental hazard? Between 2018 and 2019, roughly 8,000 cubic yards of fill dirt were brought to the site—sourced primarily from the former Brogan Cadillac site on South Broad Street during an apartment complex development.
While the soil was allegedly tested at the time, those initial evaluations were either incomplete or failed to detect dangerous toxins. Recent, rigorous testing reviewed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) revealed a hazardous chemical cocktail:
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Lead and Mercury: Heavy metals known to cause severe neurological risks, presenting a major safety hazard for children slated to use the future recreational fields.
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Benzo[a]pyrene: A potent carcinogen and combustion byproduct found at levels well over the NJDEP’s strictest soil safety thresholds.
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Heptachlor Epoxide: A toxic breakdown chemical from banned insecticides. According to official village records, the exact original source of this contaminant remains “unknown.”
Current Safety Protocols & Future Plans
To shield the surrounding residential neighborhood from migrating toxins, strict containment barriers are actively enforced. The entire site is securely fenced off, and air contaminant filters have been deployed. If dust levels spike, crews deploy water tanks to instantly suppress airborne particles.
Additionally, crews have carefully cordoned off a small wetlands area west of the historic house, along with designated zones suspected of containing vital local historical artifacts.
What Happens to the Route 17 Noise Barrier?
Because the 1,100-foot earthen berm acted as a crucial noise and security buffer between the busy highway and local homes, residents have expressed concerns over its removal. Village Manager Kazmark noted that determining exactly what will replace the barrier remains a core component of the upcoming post-remediation and neighborhood landscaping phase.
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“Toxic Cocktail” LOL
The real reason is more room for a bigger field.
100%.
Matrix New World and Northstar employees don’t even wear masks on the site. No one does. Not at any point. And they certainly wouldn’t be taking any foolish chances…those are private companies in the real world, not a clown show municipality run by incompetent hacks.
This was always about getting rid of the berm.
What about the former site of Brogan Cadillac? Is that still toxic? What about the people who live there, above it and around it?
The NJ environmental department will declare anything and everything toxic. So if they test it it will have toxicity, anywhere
How is the clean-up of the Town Garage site coming along?
Is the pop-up park we were promised almost ready?
Maybe Ridgewood can host a World Cup viewing party there with big screen TV’s and food trucks.
What about Habernickel and removing an old barn full of toxins, admitted infestation ( per the council), old farm equipment, pesticides etc. Now it is lined with tents, tarps and kids. Was this soil completely tested? Safety first no?
Every few days we need another “Let’s all complain about Schedler” story, even though there is no new news.
i think the $1.7 is the latest cost. they already approved previously $1.000,000…..so the total is somewhere around $2.7 million
OK, let’s not forget about our past and present employees that worked at these locations, they were hauling an operating equipment around this toxic material. Have any notices one out to them regarding sending them to get tested, no one knows if anything penetrate their blood system, or into their lungs. What are we going to wait for until someone gets sick. This could turn out to be just like 911 site in New York City thanks Arthur. This is all documented, and that the village will always be responsible. You would think the insurance company and the health department with the DEP get together and look into this to avoid a situation down the road. Or is our current politicians and top race just waiting for everyone to leave and it won’t be a problem. It’ll be the next new cruise problem. Passed the buck.
Are you an idiot? Everyone should be complaining about this article, this has cost taxpayers millions of dollars , this is a major screwup . This is not going away, trust me.
Blah blah blah.
All in order to get another field for the Ridgewood Baseball Association and their voting block.
Just sell it all and put in a new strip mall
Berm or no berm – as a parent of a young child, simply not worth the risk of having my child play so close to a major highway
That is the #1 issue everyone ignores.
Blah blah blah, you sound like a real idiot. If you have so much to blah blah blah about, let’s meet. Show me how tough your blah blah blah is, I thought so. You’re the blah.
Oh so now you’re gallivanting around town with the blah blah blah? What happened to us? Remember when I was your little thumbs downer and you were going to put my tail between my legs and all those 💋💋💋 were for me? Well, if you wanna leave, take good care and I hope you make a lot of nice friends out there but remember there’s a lot of bad and beware!!!!!
🫵🏼😂 they did put your tail between your legs.
You must’ve not get the memo
😭