ELEPHANTS, rhinos and steam buffs are on track to benefit from the re-use of old railway bits and pieces.

A new partnership between ReMaDe Kent And Medway, an agency that helps business find outlets for their waste to reduce landfill, and Ashford-based Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Services (BBRIS), has found good use for more than 500 tonnes of railway waste.

Scrap from the high-speed railway infrastructure has been collected and sorted. Some, including sleepers, nuts and bolts, have gone to the East Kent Railway and Bluebell Railway.

More than 100 concrete railway sleepers have been donated to Howletts and

Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks for their elephant and rhinoceros pens.

ReMaDe has found individuals and organisations that have a use for the components.

Dave Jowett, environment manager for BBRIS in Kent said: "We are

continually seeking ways to minimise the impact of the railway maintenance

works on the environment, and recycling our waste products has a hugely

beneficial effect. Recycling also supports the local Kent community and we

are very pleased with the results of this initiative."

ReMaDe programme manager Diana Lock said: "The partnership between ReMaDe and Balfour Beatty Rail has proved that commercial waste of many varieties can be successfully diverted away from landfill and into valuable uses elsewhere."

ReMaDe Kent and Medway is funded by Kent County Council, Medway Council, Business Link Kent, the Kent Sustainable Business Partnership and the Brett Environment Trust.