The Washington-based National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) has cautioned the New York City Council about the costs of the city's proposal to ship much of its solid waste to landfills via barges and trains rather than trucks. During a March 30 hearing, David Biderman, NSWMA's general counsel, testified that the plan would increase the city's waste management costs by $2 billion during the next 20 years compared with the city's current system. The plan calls for the city to renovate and reopen four city-owned marine transfer stations. For more information, visit www.nswma.org.