Residents in Kearny protested Thursday over concerns about the stench coming from the Keegan Landfill.

Lyla DeCastro, a mother and Kearny resident, was cheered on by her fellow neighbors as they demanded commissioners of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority take action.

The Keegan Landfill is owned by the NJSEA and neighbors say they want it closed because of the sickening odor.

MORE: State mandates Keegan Landfill to install air-quality monitors amid bad smells

The engineer for the NJSEA blames rotting drywall and heavy rainfall last year for the smell, but residents are skeptical. They say they are concerned because the dump is next to an athletic field used by kids and near many homes.

State officials have ordered the installation of air quality monitors at the landfill, but Kearny leaders want to conduct their own testing.