By PETE WALTON
The state Department of Environmental Protection says that no hazardous air pollutants are being emitted from the TFH-Nylabone plant on West Sylvania Avenue in Neptune City.
“The department and the Monmouth County Health Department have conducted numerous odor investigations where citizens have identified the Nylabone facility as a source of odors,” said Richelle Burkeen Wormley, director of the DEP’s Division of Air Enforcement. “As a result of these investigations, enforcement actions were issued when the odors were verified in accordance with the department’s investigative procedures.”
In a letter to Mayor Andrew Wardell, Wormley said she understood his “concern regarding the nature of the emissions emanating from the facility. She provided emissions data which she said indicated that “emissions for particulate and volatile organic compound emissions are at or below the regulatory reporting threshold.”
“The emissions data furthermore indicates that there are no hazardous air pollutants being emitted,” the director wrote.
Wardell had asked the DEP to study the air quality near the Nylabone facility.
“I have had a number of residents, particularly those who live in the same neighborhood, voice their concerns about the potential of harmful pollutants potentially being emitted from [Nylabone’s] production of pet treats,” Wardell said. “In response to my request and to my, and I’m sure to my fellow residents relief, we learned that there are no hazardous pollutants being emitted from the factory.”
The mayor reported on other developments involving the company at a recent Borough Council meeting.
“I have also learned through my regular conversations with Nylabone that they have completed their odor abatement system and have also begun to reduce the amount of cooking production in the Neptune City facility so as to considerably reduce the odor,” Wardell said.
“However, and most importantly, we have received assurance that in no way is anything emitted harmful to our residents. I am happy to be able to put the minds of those concerned at ease,” the mayor said.
At the council meeting held earlier this month, several neighbors confirmed that the odor situation had improved.
Nylabone has moved much of its cooking operation out of Neptune City to another facility in an industrial area. The cooking infuses the company’s pet treats with meat flavoring.
