In the fast lane

Interstate Waste Services (IWS) has established itself as a leading transporter of waste by rail, with three rail-served facilities in New Jersey and two gondola operation facilities in Connecticut and New Jersey.

Based in Teaneck, New Jersey, and with operations throughout the Northeast, IWS relies on a strategic network of rail assets to transport nearly 2.5 million tons of waste annually to its Apex Landfill in Amsterdam, Ohio, which the company acquired in 2020. IWS has made several investments to support the landfill’s rail operations, including replacing 5.2 miles of track to support increased rail activity and building a new gondola offloading facility.

Brett Boehm, director of rail operations at IWS, oversees this activity. With 18 years of experience in the waste industry, Boehm previously held roles as a site manager and a general manager for IWS’ short-line railroad. Today, his focus is to ensure the company’s waste-by-rail network remains safe, efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable.

In the following Q&A with Waste Today, Boehm gives a glimpse into IWS’ operations and where he sees the transportation method heading in the future.

Waste Today (WT): What is the scope of IWS’ current rail infrastructure?

Brett Boehm (BB): IWS operates one of the largest waste-by-rail networks in America. It [connects] the Northeast region to our Apex Landfill in [Amsterdam], Ohio. Our strategic network includes three unit train facilities in … Newark, Kearny and Bridgewater, New Jersey, and we have two gondola operation facilities in Danbury, Connecticut, and … New Brunswick, New Jersey.

All our cars go to the final destination of the Apex Landfill.

Our fleet consists of roughly 1,000 railcars and 2,900 containers, [enabling] us to transport nearly 2.5 million tons of material annually, up 47 percent from the 1.7 million tons … railed in 2021. We’re constantly adding rail capacity, and that’s to keep up with our demand.

WT: How has IWS developed its rail network? Has it primarily grown organically or through acquisition?

BB: Our growth story combines strategic investment and operational excellence. We’ve built our network through careful equipment acquisitions, infrastructure upgrades and improving logistics. We’ve readily grown our fleet and infrastructure to increase efficiency and internalize more volume. Since we’re vertically integrated from curbside to landfill, we are internalizing 99 percent of our volume, which reduces reliance on third-party providers and translates to cost savings for our customers, resulting in more predictable pricing and better service control.

Last year was IWS’ 25th anniversary. Over that time, we’ve grown from a small regional hauler to one of the largest waste-by-rail providers in America. We also continue to grow our service areas. Included in that would be our acquisitions … last year in New York and Connecticut. So, expansion of the rail network depends on our demand, but we’re always looking at ways to move more volume faster.

WT: Given capacity constraints, how have waste-by-rail services eased transportation challenges?

BB: IWS’ home state of New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation, and the entire Northeast region faces significant traffic constraints, congestion and landfill capacity constraints. Our waste-by-rail system really helps with these challenges. Each railcar replaces four trucks on the road, cutting down on traffic in the local areas. We also control our capacity as well, moving waste efficiently to Ohio instead of relying on the locally crowded landfills.

Also, unlike competitors, we run unit trains, meaning waste moves much faster and [is] more predictable than mixed freight or merchandise traffic. This usually cuts down on round-trip time from origin to destination.

It originally would take 20 to 30 days for a rail car to make the round trip. Now, it takes just six days for our unit train, something no other competitor is doing. Essentially, you can load a can at our facility in Kearny on a Monday and then load that same can again on Saturday of that same week.

WT: Do you believe waste-by-rail will continue to be an attractive transportation strategy in the coming years?

BB: I think it definitely will. Waste-by-rail is becoming increasingly essential for three reasons. It’s efficient—rail is four times more efficient than trucks, so we can move more with fewer delays.

It’s more cost-effective, so since we’re vertically integrated, we can internalize nearly 100 percent of our volume, keeping costs down for our customers.

And lastly, it’s sustainable ... Fewer trucks [mean] less fuel, [less] emissions and a smaller carbon footprint. With landfill space shrinking and cities pushing for greener solutions, we see waste-by-rail as an important way to grow.

WT: What are the environmental benefits of waste-by-rail? Does IWS have some stats on this?

BB: Waste-by-rail cuts emissions and fuel use and, as you know, rail is four times more efficient than trucks, which means lower costs and a smaller environmental footprint. In 2024, IWS avoided 106,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s equivalent to taking nearly 112,000 trucks off the road.

WT: What are some of the challenges of rail transport?

BB: Rail definitely does have its challenges, but we stay ahead of them. Track maintenance is critical. Old tracks can cause disruptions or delays, so the track needs to be kept in prime condition. We most recently put $5 million into upgrades on a 5-mile stretch of track between the Harrison and Jefferson County line in Ohio, which is our main artery that goes up to our landfill. That line is now equipped with some of the newest, most advanced rail available.

We supplement those infrastructure upgrades with bi-weekly inspections at our sites to catch problems before they emerge, and that’s exceeding the industry safety standards. We also conduct daily calls with all the railroads every morning involved in our traffic to make sure that we communicate any updates or trouble spots for our trains that they might encounter. We know that keeping things running smoothly takes investment and planning, but that pays off in efficiency and reliability.

WT: What do you see in the future for IWS’ rail infrastructure? Any expansion plans or updates?

BB: Rail for IWS is always expanding. We’re looking to put more equipment into the fleet. We’re looking to expand to the north, west and south, as well as to untapped markets, so we’re constantly looking to expand and grow in the rail industry.

Brett Boehm is director of rail operations at Interstate Waste Services, a Teaneck, New Jersey-based waste collection and recycling firm. For more information on IWS’ waste-by-rail services, visit www.interstatewaste.com.