A petition urging the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to deny a permit for a proposed crematorium near Sharon Elementary School had gained more than 1,100 signatures in less than one day.
The crematorium, planned by Princeton Memorial Park, would be located at 403 Gordon Road, close to residential homes, Community Park and the school, raising concerns about potential air quality and health risks.
The petition was posted on Change.org on Oct. 25 and was started by Robbinsville resident Maharishi Bhatia. It calls for the NJDEP to reject the pre-construction permit request and states that the facility would house a human cremation capable of processing up to 175 pounds per hour.
The petition calls for public comments to be submitted to the NJDEP by Nov. 10, ahead of the final permit review on Nov. 22. In the meantime, supporters continue to share the petition in hopes of increasing awareness and preventing the crematorium from being approved.
Residents argue that the location is inappropriate due to the health risks associated with the emissions from cremation.
The petition highlights that the facility could emit several harmful pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, methane, ammonia, lead and other particulate matter, which can harm vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
“Not only do we have young children attending Sharon Elementary, which backs up directly to the cemetery,” states the petition, “but we also have kids playing sports and enjoying other recreational activities at Community Park, directly across the street.”
According to the draft permit, the crematorium would be permitted to operate for up to 3,800 hours annually, releasing pollutants in significant quantities.
Petitioners are also concerned by the absence of monitoring or record-keeping requirements for emissions, particularly mercury, a known pollutant from cremation facilities, which is not included in the draft permit.
The petition points to research indicating that mercury and particulate matter, such as PM2.5, can bioaccumulate and lead to long-term health effects. It cites studies from the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health that link exposure to pollutants from crematoria to serious health issues, including heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory conditions.
“For these critical pollutants, agencies such as the World Health Organization and the United States Environmental Protection Agency advise limiting exposure, particularly for vulnerable populations such as babies, children pregnant women, and the elderly,” states the petition.
Residents are also concerned about the potential impact on air quality for those living near Gordon Road. Local homeowners fear the proposed crematorium could exacerbate existing health conditions such as asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
Princeton Memorial Park has proposed a human remains crematorium near Sharon School on Gordon Road. (Photo from Google Maps.),
