It is indeed the lovely garbage train, which is regularly stopped at JSQ, however, the state of Virginia will ultimately be on the receiving end of that train so...upside?

From an article last year on this very topic:
Residents who wish to complain to the Hudson Region Health Commission about odor problems around Journal Square can call Program Coordinator John Demjanick at (201) 223-1133. Hudson County residents can also call the DEP Northern Field Office at (973) 656-4444.

Garbage train is back and as putrid as ever! And now we get to enjoy it in weather that'll cook it up nice, too... Hope everyone is looking forward to their 4th of July BBQs smelling like a rotten diaper.

As to city gov not having authority over the doings of the rail road, yes I agree that is so. However my definition of an elected official would be someone who recognize a problem like this, the horrible smell of rotting garbage emanating from a train, as a high priority quality of life issue that they are tasked with addressing. I expect my city council representative to make it an issue and then I expect the mayors office to get on the railroads back about their obnoxious train stinking up our city.

Sorry, the number is 877-WARNDEP, or 877-927-6337.

It smells like chlorine over here on st. paul's this morning, definitely not the garbage train smell. Please call 877-WARNDEP to report the odor. I'm hoping an air quality team will come out. It's obviously very concerning because of the chlorine facility in South Kearny. So far none of the construction workers out here have keeled over yet though.

Municipal government has no direct authority over interstate rail systems as they fall under federal control.

Yah I think its rail cars full of household recycling. Why they can't park that train farther west, out in the unpopulated wastes of the medowlands is beyond me. You would think a city council person or two would make sure this sort of thing isn't even possible.

Ooof... I did see a bunch parked there when I got out of the train, and wondered if that might be it. Horrible... the smell has carried at least half a mile from where it's parked, if that's it!

Supposedly, garbage-filled rail cars are parked for extended periods in and around Journal Square. At least, that was the story over the summer.

Got off the PATH at Journal Square, and from there until at least my home (which is half a mile away, towards the Heights), the entire outside reeks of some sort of rancid, fishy-smell (like what a fish market smells like at the end of the day, before they spray down the floors).

Aside from all the "isn't that what it smells like every day" jokes, for real, what's up? Anyone know?