Transfer Stations Case Study
The Benefits of Fabric Structures as Waste Transfer Stations
Jaime Gleba
Waste transfer stations are a prominent part of any community’s waste management system, helping to reduce waste hauling costs and provide convenience to customers. When designing the site for a new waste transfer station at a landfill facility, there are a variety of factors to consider. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authored “Waste Transfer Stations: A Manual for Decision Making”1 to help landfill operators make the best decisions for their facilities.
During the planning stages for a new waste transfer station, it is important to take into account the type of waste to accept, the types of customers to serve (public vs. private), and the site itself. When it comes to planning the structure to house the facility on the site, the following guidelines are recommended by the EPA:
Vertical clearances of at least 25 to 30 feet to allow collection vehicles to unload
No internal columns or posts to interfere with traffic or other activities
Access doors tall enough to accommodate large vehicles
Traditional wood and metal structures can often fall short of meeting these guidelines and their costs can be prohibitive. An economical alternative to these structures is a tension fabric building, or fabric structure. These structures are economical and feature high clearances and a clear-span design that allow for maximum usable space for unloading and processing. Because of these qualities, many solid waste disposal companies are turning to fabric buildings.
Fabric in Action: Iowa Waste Systems
Since 1996, Iowa Waste Systems (IWS) has specialized in providing collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services to customers in Iowa and southeast Nebraska. Their customers come from a wide range of industries, including commercial, governmental and residential. There are only three privately owned sanitary landfills in the state of Iowa, and IWS owns two of them.
The landfill facility located in Red Oak, IA was looking for a new structure to serve as their waste transfer station, but wanted a more cost-effective solution than buildings typically used for this application. Dave Kratz, a major shareholder of the company, is responsible for overseeing operations, personnel, equipment and marketing at IWS. He was chosen as the person in charge of finding the company’s new structure and began to research the alternatives.
Kratz states, “A landfill site takes in about 10,000 tons of waste per year and the cost of building a new landfill cell every three to five years well exceeds over a million dollars. It only made economical sense to choose a fabric building for the facility because it is a long-term solution for a fraction of the typical cost.” He decided that a 65’W by 65’L Hercules Truss Arch Building from ClearSpan Fabric Structures (South Windsor, CT) was the most practical choice for his company’s needs.
Besides being such a cost-effective option, the company enjoys many other advantages over a typical transfer station building. Kratz explains, “The simple design of the building allowed for a more efficient and economical construction than that of other structures, and has made the company much less costly to operate.”
He continues, “Our cost of daily operation has dropped significantly since owning our fabric structure. We no longer have to cover the waste daily with dirt, we use less fuel, and we have been able to do business with two less pieces of equipment and operate with one less employee.”
The fabric building makes their clients happier, too. “Our customers like being on concrete in an enclosed facility instead of being outside and dealing with the elements like mud, snow and wind. This makes the structure excellent for public relations,” says Kratz. He continues, “Even our neighbors have benefitted from the building. We have eliminated windblown litter because the waste is kept covered inside.”
Kratz and IWS are thrilled with their choice of a fabric building. He concludes, “Our fabric structure is working out great and costs half of what a traditional transfer station would. I hope that this opens the door for more waste management facilities who still rely on the typical low-volume, high-cost landfills, to consider switching to fabric buildings.”
Why Fabric Works for IWS
Because IWS needed an economical, long-term solution to use as their waste transfer station, they looked beyond the conventional options and chose a fabric building. Mounted on a concrete wall for added height, the building has two 16’W by 28’H doors and commercial waste vehicles are able to unload with ease. The design of the structure promotes smooth operations with no internal support posts and high clearances.
While construction on a wood or metal building can take months, the construction timeline of a fabric building is as short as a week, saving on construction costs and minimizing interruption of landfill operations.
Not all states have regulations that transfer stations must be covered by a structure, but IWS recognizes that covering theirs with a fabric building was a smart investment for the company. Improved public relations, and lower equipment and operational costs will contribute to their long-term success.
The Future in Fabric
Many segments of the waste management industry are choosing fabric structures over other options. From transfer stations to equipment storage to clarifier covers, these versatile structures are increasing in popularity as their benefits over conventional structures become progressively clearer. The waste management industry continues to evolve and the importance of cost-saving decisions that improve operations has never been greater.
ClearSpan Fabric Structures is a leading manufacturer of tension fabric buildings. The company is headquartered in South Windsor, CT, with manufacturing facilities located in Dyersville, IA. All structures are made in the USA. ClearSpan specialists guide customers through the process and communicate with in-house design, engineering and manufacturing teams. For more information, call (866) 643-1010 or visit www.clearspan.com/ADWA.
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