Snohomish County, Washington, addresses waste transfer delays

In recent years, the Snohomish County, Washington, Public Works Department has had to reevaluate the flexibility and efficiency of its current waste transfer system because of a shortage of intermodal containers used for waste-by-rail shipments.

As reported by the Lynwood Times, the county experienced a buildup of refuse in its transfer stations in early 2022 because of a shortage of intermodal containers.

This prompted discussions with Phoenix-based Republic Services and railroad company Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) to understand why this was happening and how they could resolve it. According to BNSF, the company was experiencing staffing shortages at the time and was working to resolve this problem; however, time is needed to train a person in how to operate a train.

A lack of disposal options created a 45-foot-tall refuse pile that sat inside the county’s transfer stations for up to five weeks, which caused increased health, fire, odor and vector risks. The Lynwood Times reports that Snohomish County Council approved a $2 million short-term emergency contract with Waste Management Inc. to aid Snohomish County Solid Waste in the removal of excess refuse at local transfer stations.

The disposal agreement allowed county solid waste workers the ability to transport more garbage out of county facilities through the end of October 2022.

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That same year, the county experienced 30 occasions of either delayed rail service or switches containing less than the preferred 60-container capacity. Freight train network congestion at peak intervals resulted in delays in the movement of solid waste cargo between the county’s intermodal (IM) in Everett, Washington, and its waste disposal location near Roosevelt, Washington.

The county also faced constraints in processing containers through the IM facility because of its limited track length capacity, which required switching service types between passenger and freight more than once.

To solve this, the county’s public works department developed a three-phase project in August 2022 for major capital improvements at the IM facility in northern Everett. Two phases are proposed at the county’s IM property and a third phase at the adjacent BNSF property.

As reported by the Lynwood Times, the combination of Phase I and Phase II will decrease the number of switches required across the BNSF main line by 30 percent, relieving congestion in the Everett area for both passenger and freight priority service.

Phase I will install approximately 1,060 feet of working track and associated impervious surface. Completion is expected by the first quarter of 2024 costing an estimated $3.15 million. Phase II will install impervious surface and stormwater improvements to gain access to an additional 1,270 feet of working surface. Completion for this phase is expected by the fourth quarter of 2024, costing an estimated $7.29 million.

Phase III, costing $15 million, will increase the clear length of storage track available for county use in the Delta Yard without having to switch between passenger and freight services across the main line.

The county has secured funding for Phases I and II and is currently seeking funding for Phase III. The county and BNSF will partner to seek funding such as federal grants made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure law, the Lynwood Times reports.