Identifying the Barriers to the Transport of Municipal Waste by Rail

The need for an integrated rail transport policy for waste is growing due to the lack of suitable landfill facilities close to urban populations, the increasing cost of road transport and the improved freight handling capabilities of rail companies. This research will use structured questionnaires to gauge the approach to the use of rail transport by planners in a specific region.

Currently transport of residual waste & recylables by rail is the exception rather than the rule. Over the next few years rail transport is likely to become a more realistic option in many cases. Little is currently known about the capabilities of the rail freight network, the readiness of local authority planners to embrace change and the most suitable non-urban locations for landfill