Hamilton Township officials announce that the long-awaited cleanup of the fire-damaged site at 533 Whitehead Road will officially begin in the next few weeks. This effort represents a milestone for the community and local environment following the massive four-alarm fire in May 2023.
This cleanup is a result of coordinated enforcement actions taken by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (NJAG), and Hamilton Township. A joint lawsuit was filed after the property owner failed to remediate the site following the 2023 blaze, which required 26 firefighting units from 14 municipalities to extinguish. Through this litigation, the Township is also seeking to recover emergency response costs.
Hakim International Trading has already completed the initial phase of environmental cleanup efforts, which included the removal of chemical waste, such as high-concentration ethanol hand sanitizer. As the next phase of cleanup progresses, the company will conduct an open-air debris removal operation. To mitigate dust and environmental impact, this will involve regularly watering the materials as they are loaded into containers, pending favorable weather conditions.
“After years of legal hurdles and anticipation, I’m incredibly encouraged to see this cleanup finally moving forward. This property has been an eyesore since May 2023 for our community, and cleaning it is a vital step toward restoring the character of this neighborhood,” said Mayor Martin. “Our residents deserve a safe and healthy environment, and I’m especially pleased that this effort to bring this site back to life will provide work for our local workforce.”
Former Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and former NJDEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced this action as part of a widespread initiative to address environmental violations in overburdened communities under New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law. The complaint against Hakim International Trading and Marketing, among others, seeks to compel the cleanup of hazardous materials, including flammable and asbestos-containing waste.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed and report any environmental concerns to the NJDEP either through the WARN DEP mobile app, by calling 1-800-WARN-DEP, or by emailing environmentaljustice@dep.nj.gov. Stay connected and visit our website for updates on this cleanup project at HamiltonNJ.com.