New York City begins new rail haul operation for waste
Thirty five percent of city solid waste is exported by rail

New York City, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, sanitation commissioner John J. Doherty and Waste Management of New York, LLC announced that New York City has taken the next step in implementing its Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) by exporting North Brooklyn’s residential and municipal solid waste by rail instead of truck.

Instead of using long-haul tractor trailers rail cars will export waste using a newly re-designed transfer station.

“By exporting 950 tons of residential and municipal waste per day by rail, we’re eliminating more than 40 long haul tractor trailer trips each day – or about 13,000 trips per year,” said Mayor Bloomberg.

Six days per week, the newly re-designed Varick Avenue I transfer station will receive an average of 950 tons of waste per day from Brooklyn Community Boards 1, 3, 4, and 5. Waste will be loaded into rail containers, each holding approximately 18 tons. Once sealed, the containers will be loaded onto rail cars at the adjoining rail yard, and moved by the New York & Atlantic Railway to the Fresh Pond Yard, where it will be connected to CSX Transportation trains for transport to disposal sites.

The SWMP, which was adopted by the City Council and approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in 2006, changes the way the City transports waste. The SWMP will eliminate nearly six million miles of truck trips per year in New York City and ensure that every borough has the capacity to handle its own waste and recyclables.