Free reservoir topsoil is available to Brick residents

By karl vilacoba
Staff Writer

BRICK — Perhaps topsoil will be a popular stocking stuffer in the township this holiday season.

Residents and contractors are now being invited to take free topsoil off the township’s hands from the ongoing pumped water storage reservoir project.

This fall, the Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority (BTMUA) discussed safe ways to distribute the topsoil to the public. Brick residents can now pick up as much as they want from the public works recycling center on Ridge Road.

The offer also has been extended to local contractors, although the distribution method differs. Interested contractors need to sign a BTMUA release form, provide a certificate of insurance, have their own trucking and loading capabilities, and pick up their supply straight from the project site, Herbertsville and Sally Ike roads.

The soil was initially offered to other municipalities and public entities, and that offer still stands. As an added piece of incentive to Brick residents, any soil they take will wind up saving tax dollars.

In October, the BTMUA accepted a bid by Muccio Inc., of Farmingdale, to remove the soil for $1.62 per cubic yard. Officials are counting on the company removing no more than 100,000 cubic yards of the topsoil.

"Any time we have someone take some of the topsoil off our hands, they are saving the township money," said BTMUA Executive Director Kevin Donald. "When you consider that it’s high-grade topsoil that can be used to resoil gardens, lawn, soccer fields ... it’s a great opportunity."

All of the topsoil being offered is rich, organic soil that was once dredged from the bottom of a lake, officials explained.

The 120-acre reservoir site was formerly a sand quarry, but the area with the topsoil was once filled in by a developer that never went through with construction plans. Although the land is owned by the BTMUA, the area of the topsoil technically lies in Wall Township, as does more than half of the reservoir site’s land.

Donald estimated that 10,000-15,000 cubic yards of the topsoil have been claimed so far.

The recycling center’s operating hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Residents with any questions should call the Brick Public Works Department at (732) 451-4061. Interested contractors should contact BTMUA offices at (732) 458-7000, ext. 247.