The NYS Senate Environmental Conservation Committee approved legislation (S.2490) sponsored by Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. to require hard lids or sturdy tarping on top of “trash trains.”

“Apart from the foul odors and spilled garbage that many of my constituents are burdened with on a regular basis, the trash trains have other negative repercussions on the environment, local property values and the public health,” said Addabbo. “My bill addresses these issues by requiring that garbage being transported by rail be effectively covered and contained.”

Under Addabbo’s bill, trains carrying putrescible waste - or trash which is subject to decay - would be covered with hard, sealing lids before leaving their transfer stations. Non-putrescible waste would be covered with hard tarping.

 “Although transporting trash by rail may be environmentally and economically preferable to trucking, the practice certainly has its drawbacks,” Addabbo said. “However, I believe that putting a sealed lid on the trains would offer an effective, easy resolution to cut down on pollution, reduce the unpleasant odors and the other undesirable side effects.”

The next step for Addabbo’s Senate bill would be a vote before the full Senate. The same bill in the Assembly bill (A.3269), is under review by the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee.