Greening Mass Transit & Metro Regions: The Final Report - MTA

Waste Management Best Practices at the TTC
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) currently uses
its own compactor trucks and internal services to
collect waste and recyclables from stations, which are
then turned over to a private contractor for sorting,
processing, and sales. The contractor keeps the
proceeds from sales, which offsets the costs of
running a transfer station and disposals. By using internal
collection with offsite private sorting, TTC avoids
the need for permits and other costs of maintaining
waste transfers operations. Waste collections are simplified
by the use of different colored plastic bags.
Recyclable and Reusable MetroCard
In keeping with Recommendation 4, the MTA should
implement a Reuse/Refill Incentive Program by
charging a green fee for each newly purchased
MetroCard. This reusable/recyclable MetroCard could
be created from 100-percent recycled polyester and
constitute a potential revenue source. This program
could encourage commuters to reuse/refill their
MetroCards, eliminate littering of MetroCards on station
platforms, reduce maintenance operating costs,
and drastically cut MetroCard inventory requirements
and costs. In conjunction with a vigorous public
awareness campaign, this program could have a
great impact on commuter behaviors.
Saving Forests One Tie At A Time
The MTA has formed a Sustainable Railroad Tie Task
Force, with both Track and Procurement representatives
from three MTA rail agencies to work toward
increasingly sustainable railroad tie solutions. One of
the types of sustainable railroad ties being introduced
and field tested is made from a composite of recycled
plastic, waste tires, waste fiberglass, and structural
mineral fillers. Innovations in technology and MTA’s
adoption of them will substantially reduce the use of
conventional, non-renewable railroad ties.
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NEAR-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation 1. Adopt Waste Management Targets
The MTA should adopt robust recycling and waste management targets across
agencies for its customer-generated waste, process-generated waste, construction
and demolition debris, and office waste. These metrics can be developed with current
agency standards and with best practices based on the Commission’s survey of
transit systems. Using this baseline information, the MTA can determine realistic
recycling and waste minimization goals for various operations.
Recommendation 2. Introduce Source Separation of Waste in NYCT
Subways
The MTA should introduce the source separation of recyclable materials in NYCT
subway stations. The MTA should seek opportunities to partner with New York City
and others on such programs, possibly through street-level collections by the city.
The MTA should also partner with regional organizations in order to promote consistent
recycling practices and ensure consistency in program design and branding
to achieve greater customer recycling understanding and practices.
Recommendation 3. Reduce Inventory and Warehouse Storage
The MTA should reduce its inventory and warehouse storage needs and costs.
The MTA should explore the potential for adopting an agency-wide inventory
management system to reduce materials flow, costs, and energy consumption
related to material management and warehousing.
Recommendation 4. Promote MTA Rider and Employee Conservation
In addition to existing programs and the recommended “Environmental Champion”
program, the MTA should identify more opportunities for using its visibility and
reach to promote daily conservation of water, materials, paper, fuels, and more
among its millions of riders and more than 70,000 employees.
Recommendation 5. Increase Sustainable Waste Management
The MTA should continue to reduce landfill waste and reduce demand for new
materials by expanding its reuse of MTA building materials and purchasing other
used or recycled materials.
Recommendation 6. Minimize Materials Packaging
The MTA should continue to minimize materials packaging by revisiting procurement
specifications to require alternative or reduced packaging, incentivizing reduced
packaging and shipping weights among MTA vendors and contractors, and specifying
a percentage reduction of packaging as criteria to evaluate procurement bids.
Recommendation 7. Encourage Use of Low-Carbon Local Materials at all
MTA Agencies and by Vendors
The MTA should continue to encourage the use of low-carbon, local materials at all
agencies and by vendors. Current MTA procurement statutes provide for New York
State content to be given priority consideration on procurements for rail cars, buses,
and other materials. Public Authorities Law Section 2879 includes provisions for
tracking in-state and out-of-state vendors. However, the MTA should be more
explicit in encouraging procurements that avoid the carbon and other GHG emissions
associated with long-distance shipping. The same should apply to MTA contractors
and vendors.