Choosing the Right Unit for Waste Transportation

Waste transportation is a fundamental part of a successful waste management system. Choosing a master unit for transporting solid wastes, scrap metals, construction and demolition debris, agriculture and recyclables can be a simple task.

Brittany Alexander

The creation and the accumulation of waste is a direct result of human activity. Whether it is routine household activities, commercial operations, renovations, construction and demolition or simply the participation in agriculture through farming and gardening, generating waste is an activity in which North Americans participate on a daily basis. To put into perspective the significance of our waste contribution, the U.S. EPA reports that America’s waste industry manages an incredible 250 million tons of household waste per year, while the average person rejects 4.43 pounds of trash daily.¹ This figure however, does not include construction, demolition debris and other non-hazardous wastes, which brings the amount of annual waste to an astonishing 545 million tons.² Of course, an abundant amount of waste generation calls for an efficient and dependable system for removal. Waste management is crucial toward keeping communities, organizations and homes clean while ultimately keeping the societies healthy. A key aspect of that system is undoubtedly waste transportation.

As an organization operating within the waste management industry, a major decision will involve determining the safest, the most efficient and the most reliable vehicle or unit for transporting different categories of waste. With a variety of trucks, lifts, hoists, and containers available on the market, it can be difficult to determine which unit will really provide the best solution for your waste transportation needs. What should you look for?  Which features on the market are superior? This article will provide an understanding into the best practices for waste transportation and choosing the best unit for transporting waste.

Cable or Roll-Off Hoists

In order to complete the first step to determining the appropriate product, consider the general features, or must haves, regarding units in the waste transportation industry. To a majority of North American transportation operators, the most desirable and important elements include safety, efficiency and minimized downtime. Using a cable or hooklift roll-off hoist may offer the best solution for waste transportation needs across North America since both designs have the capacity to transport a variety of different materials by truck, including solid waste, scrap metal, construction and demolition debris, recyclables and agriculture—one unit generally satisfies all waste transportation needs. The versatility of a cable or hooklift roll-off hoist improves the efficiency because it is not necessary to invest in different units to transport different wastes. Being able to have an empty container placed near a generation point of materials so that it can be filled without having to tie up a truck is a big savings in terms of both equipment and personnel usage.³

Automation

Since the waste industry is one of the most dangerous, the safety attributes are arguably the most important. Among others, typical collection methods incorporate roll-offs, front loads and residential two-and-three man methods, all potentially leading to challenges and accidents.⁴ The dangers presented by trash trucks and collection methods make it important to seek innovative technologies that minimize risk. For example, modern units that hold automatic pick-up technology, like hooklift applications, are desirable because the driver does not have to leave the cab to engage or disengage with the container. Countless benefits derive from automation; the number of workers needed is reduced, exposure to the roadway is lessened, employee fatigue is decreased, while heightened morale and productivity result—all delivering a positive impact to your business.⁵ Hooklifts and new technology cable hoists are also attractive for transporting waste because they are 1,200 lb. to 1,500 lb. lighter than a comparable capacity traditional style cable hoist, allowing the maximum legal payload to rise, while offering improved container maneuverability to increase the operations efficiency.6

Hooklifts

Hooklifts have been gaining more of the market share than they had just 20 years ago.7 They have an advantage in speed, but lack the versatility of length of bodies that can be handled.8 The hook can connect to the container while operated from inside the cab, where the driver is not required to be in the danger zone between the truck and the container. Likewise, safety interlocks prevent accidental disengagement of dump locks while in the dump mode. In addition to its safety features, many of the Hooklift models offer high efficiency through dual points of articulation that allow for a pick-up/set-off mode and a separate dump-mode, plus the efficiency benefits previously mentioned.9  Low maintenance is evident, reducing cost and frequency through product design. Hooklifts also operate in many other industries and applications that may exploit lighter capacity hoists with a capacity range of 10,000 lb. to 30,000 lb. for the lighter GVWR chassis.10 Although other applications utilize both lower and higher capacity hoists, the 50,000 lb. and the 20,000 to 24,000 lb. are the most appropriate and the most popular for reliable waste transportation.11

Safe and Dependable Units

Waste transportation is a fundamental part of a successful waste management system. Included in that, are the best practices for the units and vehicles that make efficient and dependable waste removal possible in North America. Choosing a master unit for transporting solid wastes, scrap metals, construction and demolition debris, agriculture and recyclables can be a simple task. Cable or hooklift roll-off hoists provide the best solution and the most efficient, reliable and safe outcome.

Brittany Alexander is the Marketing Intern for PALFINGER North America Group, including PALFINGER American Roll-Off (Trenton, NJ). She is also a new graduate from Brock University’s Bachelor of Business Administration Program. Brittany can be reached at (905) 374-2975, ext. 279, via e-mail at [email protected].

Notes

1. U.S. EPA, “Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2010”, United States Environmental Protection Agency [web page] (2011) <http://www.epa.gov/wastes/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw_2010_rev_factsheet.pdf> , accessed 22 Jan. 2013.
2. Repa, Edward W., “Size of United States Solid Waste Industry”, (2001), R.W. Beck, Inc.
3. David Klinger, Service Manager for PALFINGER American Roll-Off
4. Waste Advantage Magazine, “2012: Year in Review”, Waste Advantage Magazine [web document] (2012) <http://epaperflip.com/aglaia/viewer.aspx?docid=fb9d9c183d384e1fbcac3b57dfb8480e>, accessed 23 Jan. 2013.
5. Ibid.
6. Klinger, Op. Cit.
7. Klinger, Op. Cit.

1. Warren Kimble, General Manager for PALFINGER American Roll-Off
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.

1. Ibid.