Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the amount of trash that New York City manages and transports each day. Waste Age regrets the error.

A city of 8 million people produces a lot of trash. In New York City, it's not uncommon to see trash bags piled in the streets early in the morning and sanitation trucks adding to the daily traffic congestion. Overall, the city manages and transports more than 12,000 tons of trash per day.

But as part of its landmark Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP), passed in 2006, the city is working to minimize waste-related traffic congestion and truck emissions in the city. One crucial component of the effort: hauling municipal solid waste to disposal sites via railcar.

According to a press release, the SWMP is designed to “fundamentally change the way the city transports waste.” The plan calls for trucks, which were being used to export 84 percent of the city's residential garbage (which totals roughly 12,000 tons each day) for disposal, to eventually transport only 13 percent.

Instead, the city's goal is to export 87 percent of its residential waste by barge or rail. As a result of the plan, sanitation trucks are forecasted to travel about 2.7 million fewer miles per year, and travel by tractor-trailer trucks will be reduced by 3 million miles per year, according to the mayor's office.

It is a lofty goal, but the city is gradually getting there. All New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) collection districts in the Bronx and Staten Island — representing approximately 3,000 tons per day of residential waste — began shipping waste for disposal by train in 2007. Overall, since enacting the SWMP, the department has entered into contracts for the rail export of approximately 4,000 tons of solid waste per day and has completed negotiations for another rail contract that will transport approximately 1,200 tons per day, according to Keith Mellis of the DSNY public information office.

How did the city get to this point? First, officials identified six privately owned rail transfer stations in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx that could be used for waste transfer. Next, officials carefully and methodically procured and awarded long-term rail export contracts, Mellis says. For instance, Phoenix-based Allied Waste signed a long-term contract to move waste by rail out of the recently constructed Staten Island Transfer Station. “As a partner with New York City, Allied provides all the necessary rail equipment, logistical support and operational expertise to ensure the waste is transported safely to its final destination, the Allied Waste Landfill in Bishopville, S.C.,” says Nicholas Fytros, general manger of Allied's New York City Metro Business Unit.

In March 2009, four collection districts in Brooklyn will begin sending trash to distant landfills by train from a private transfer station in the borough. On average, approximately 940 tons per day will be shipped from the station. Six Queens collection districts will begin long-term rail export service by February 2011 and will ship an average of 1,200 tons of waste per day.

To reach its goal of transporting only 13 percent of its residential waste to disposal sites by truck, the city must build four marine transfer stations that will export an average of 5,770 tons of waste per day. The stations have been designed, and two already have the necessary permits. The city expects that the marine portion of the plan will be operational in the next three to four years.

The Rail Movement

New York City isn't alone in its quest to implement rail haul into the transportation of municipal solid waste. “Municipalities are pretty jazzed about movement by rail for a couple of reasons,” says Jane Witheridge, chief operating officer at Transload America, a provider of rail-based transfer, transportation, recycling and disposal of solid waste. “Many [municipalities] have property and infrastructure with rail that is otherwise not being used, and they're looking for opportunities to turn that infrastructure into a positive asset. Also, cities like it because of the cost efficiencies available with rail. Fuel has gone up, so they see rail as a hedge against trucking costs. And it takes trucks off the road so there are fewer emissions.”