Dive Brief:

• New York state officials approved the temporary use of trains to remove waste from some eastern Long Island towns.
• The decision comes following a shortage of trucks to remove the trash during the peak season. Transfer stations have been unable to keep up with the amount of trash generated during the summer.
• The measure will be enacted for 30 days and is considered an emergency authorization. The waste will be loaded onto rail cars and transported to disposal facilities.

Dive Insight:

The reduced number of available trucks was caused, in part, by the increased use of rail to haul materials in the area. Rising fuels costs and higher tolls, paired with congestion has also contributed to the smaller number of vehicles used for waste. Summers in Long Island generally see more volumes of trash due to seasonal population growth and increased household waste production during the warmer months. 

Shipping waste via rail may become more prevalent in the future, as rising costs and emissions from fleets give way to train transport. Some cities have embraced the transition, while other areas remain unconvinced that the railway system is the way to go. One community in Seneca Falls, NY cites noise pollution and an anticipated increase in waste being deposited as issues standing in the way of full-on support for a proposed rail system project.