Concord firm wants to trades trucks for trains
Published: April 14, 2008
Source: VaughanToday.com
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The days of long-haul waste-transport trucks are gone.

At least that’s the aim of Concord-based First Waste Transload.

The waste management and transportation company is offering what it claims is a greener solution to emission-spewing vehicles.

Southern Ontario-produced construction, demolition, industrial, commercial and institutional waste is traditionally taken to landfills in American border states via truck. First Waste will instead accept this waste at CN’s MacMillan Rail Yard and transport it to its destination by train.

This removes trucks from congested provincial highways, reducing harmful carbon dioxide emissions and road wear and tear, the company says.

“The future of waste management depends upon our ability to provide effective and economic waste transportation services while servicing the good of the environment,” said chairman Joel Wagman in a statement. “By moving ... waste on trains, (First Waste) is leading the way by helping other industries and businesses to do their part by not only improving Ontario’s air quality, but also doing it in an environmentally meaningful and low-cost manner.”

First Waste estimates it will replace approximately 37,000 truck trips in its first year of operation. That number is expected to rise to over 185,000.

Cathy Ferlisi, president of the Concord West Ratepayers Association, says she has expressed concern about the facility to the city.

Ferlisi says while she accepts that the region, city and provincial Ministry of the Environment will monitor First Waste’s activities, she is unsure about what is meant by the categories of commercial and institutional waste. She says she is perturbed by the possibility of unsuitable products, such as medical waste, making their way to the facility.

“We just hope that they’ll follow all the guidelines and do all the right things that they should be doing,” Ferlisi said.