Equinix data center spills 5,000 gallons of diesel in New Jersey

An estimated 5,000 gallons of No. 2 diesel fuel spilled from a storage tank at an Equinix data center in Secaucus, New Jersey, on Friday, September 11, 2026. The leak flowed into Anderson Creek, a tributary of the Hackensack River located within the New Jersey Meadowlands.

Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli attributed the incident to a “computer glitch.” Equinix reported that operations detected the leak on Friday evening and immediately engaged the remediation firm Clean Harbors to manage the cleanup. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) stated that the spill has been contained and that there are currently no reported impacts on wildlife or drinking water intakes in the area.

While the DEP noted the spill has not reached the Hackensack River, Bill Sheehan, executive director of Hackensack Riverkeeper, expressed concern regarding the ecological impact on the creek system. Remediation crews are expected to remain at the site for several days, and Equinix has committed to a full investigation into the cause of the discharge.