Council asks staff to draft expansion of dust- and construction-debris rules to cover modern plastics and composites

Tenafly council members asked staff to prepare a red-lined draft amendment to the borough’s dust-control provisions to explicitly include modern decking and composite materials and to clarify enforcement steps for dust and plastic debris from construction activity.

The discussion began as the council reviewed an environmental-commission request and local examples of ordinances recently adopted in neighboring municipalities that prohibit contractors from allowing debris and dust to blow into streets or storm drains. Council member Park said the borough already has enforceable soil- and dust-control language in its land development code but that the draft amendment would add new material categories—examples cited included composite decking products and fiberglass—and practical guidance such as wet-cutting and site containment to reduce airborne debris.

Council members noted the borough has enforced dust-control provisions, usually after neighbor complaints, and that adding explicit references to new materials would close a loophole as construction materials have evolved. The council asked “Wendy” (staff) to prepare a draft ordinance that inserts an additional paragraph enumerating modern materials and best-practice controls, circulate it to the council with track changes, and aim for placement on the next agenda for formal consideration.

Ending: Staff will circulate a red-lined draft amendment for council review; the item will return to a future agenda for potential introduction and formal adoption.