Reduce, Reuse and Recyle
While maximizing fuel efficiency is the most substantial way that KCSR and KCSM can reduce their carbon footprint, the companies are employing a number of strategies to reduce, reuse and recycle renewable resources.
To reduce, reuse and recycle, KCSR and KCSM are:
- Taking used locomotive lubricating oils to a petroleum refiner for reclamation;
- Monitor CO2 emissions from rail operations to track energy efficiency and environmental improvement;
- Conduct audits of facilities to identify opportunities for energy and environmental improvements;
- Removing all free oil from spent locomotive oil filters;
- Recycling cardboard and paper generated at offices, workshops and warehouses;
- Monitoring the fuel oil collected at locomotive fueling stations, preventing fuel spillage;
- Monitoring fuel consumption in company vehicles;
- Monitoring business travel to eliminate or reduce trips;
- Monitoring energy and water usage at operating facilities to identify leaks and excessive energy losses;
- Recycling locomotive and signal batteries;
- Reducing electric energy consumption in rail yards and inside facilities by replacing traditional lighting systems with more environmentally-friendly, cost effective and energy efficient technology;
- Installing solar panels and rechargeable batteries on remote wayside signal systems;
- Extending the life of railroad ties by as much as 10 years (approximately 35%) through a KCS tie treatment facility; and
- Taking used railroad ties to be chipped and used as boiler fuel for a paper manufacturing facility, which reduces the fossil fuel required to operate the facility and reduces the number of ties sent to the landfill.