Dive Brief:

• The town of Kearny, NJ has issued an eviction notice to the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority (NJSEA) to "quit/demand for possession and compliance with lease obligation" at the Keegan Landfill — or, in other words, to leave the property when the lease expires on June 30. 
• The notice comes in response to NJSEA's proposal to extend the lease for a vertical expansion of the landfill by more than 100 feet. Kearny officials opposed this proposal, noting that the expansion "would render the property useless," as reported in NJ.com
• The current lease allows NJSEA to dispose of C&D debris and build a 65-foot cap on the landfill. The landfill is considered a contaminated property, and once it is capped, it will only be suitable for recreational uses, according to environmental experts.

Dive Insight:

There are many reasons why debates heat up over landfill expansions. Some are proponents of expansions in order to add waste disposal capacity or avoid other waste disposal options. Others are opponents of expansions due to traffic complaints, odor complaints, or even civil rights violations. 

However, this case in New Jersey is slightly different; the expansion debate seems to have little to do with the landfill itself, and more with NJSEA's relationships to the landfill. Kearny Mayor Al Santos has charged that the Keegan Landfill is "the primary source of revenue" for the NJSEA, as reported in NJ.com.

"Our concern is that either through a declaration of emergency or eminent domain, they will try to keep the landfill operating," Santos said to NJ.com. "It's clear to us under the lease that we do not need to do anything further to have that property delivered to us on July 1...If this resolution passes, there is no question they weren't sure what the town's intention is."

NJSEA spokesman Brian Aberback declined to comment to NJ.com on the issue.