Hamilton Township officials say a long-delayed cleanup of a fire-damaged industrial property on Whitehead Road is expected to begin within weeks, a step that could clear the way for future economic activity at the site while addressing lingering environmental concerns.
The cleanup will take place at 533 Whitehead Road, where a four-alarm fire in May 2023 destroyed a warehouse operated by Hakim International Trading and Marketing. The blaze drew 26 firefighting units from 14 municipalities and left behind hazardous debris that has remained at the property for more than two years.
Township officials said the cleanup is moving forward following coordinated enforcement actions by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, and Hamilton Township. A joint lawsuit was filed after the property owner failed to remediate the site following the fire. Through the litigation, Hamilton is also seeking to recover emergency response costs tied to the large-scale firefighting effort.
Hakim International Trading has already completed the initial phase of environmental remediation, which included the removal of chemical waste stored at the site, including high-concentration ethanol hand sanitizer.
The next phase will involve open-air removal of remaining debris from the fire-damaged structures. Officials said materials will be watered during loading to control dust and reduce environmental impacts, with work proceeding as weather conditions allow.
Mayor Jeff Martin said the cleanup represents a significant step toward restoring the property and improving conditions in the surrounding area.
“After years of legal hurdles and anticipation, I’m incredibly encouraged to see this cleanup finally moving forward,” Martin said. “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.”
Martin added that the work will also create employment opportunities tied to the remediation project.
“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,” he said.
The enforcement action against Hakim International Trading and related parties was originally announced by former New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and former NJDEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette as part of a broader effort to address environmental violations in overburdened communities under New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law.
The state complaint seeks to compel the cleanup of hazardous materials left at the property, including flammable substances and asbestos-containing debris.
Township officials said residents can report environmental concerns related to the site to the NJDEP through the WARN DEP mobile app, by calling 1-800-WARN-DEP, or by emailing environmentaljustice@dep.nj.gov.
