KCS joins global effort to reduce plastics pollution

Kansas City Southern became the second Class I in recent days to announce it has formally joined the global network of Operation Clean Sweep (OCS), the Plastic Industry Association's and American Chemistry Council's Plastics Division's campaign to eliminate plastics pollution.

The campaign is aimed at reducing pellet, flake and powder loss for greater product stewardship and environmental protection. The pledge reaches all aspects of the plastics industry and is being adopted internationally through the Global Declaration of Solutions to Marine Litter, KCS officials said in a press release.

"As a transportation provider, this is an important initiative and a direct way that KCS can work toward eliminating plastic waste in the environment," said KCS Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Mike Naatz. 

Initiatives underway in the United States and Mexico include development of a transload environmental compliance evaluation program for facilities on KCS property; incorporation of OCS best management practices into the company's stormwater pollution prevention training; and referencing the OCS program manual in future plastics transload agreements, KCS officials said.

Earlier this week, Norfolk Southern Railway announced it had signed the OCS pledge.