When transporting large-scale waste, these three equipment features are worth their weight in gold.
By Nick Daddabbo
As is often the case with sizable tasks, having the right tool(s) for the job is essential in many facets of waste management. Especially when transporting waste on a large scale, having the right equipment with the right features can be downright critical. Because let’s face it, when the appropriate equipment and features are not being leveraged for a large waste-transport job, the inadequacies can require employees to work harder and can make the task take longer—in addition to introducing other potential issues.
Is your waste-management operation leveraging all the right tools for your most substantial transport tasks? To ensure you are getting the most out of your time and effort, consider these three common types of equipment built to facilitate large-scale waste transport, along with some of the most crucial efficiency-boosting features to look for in each of them.
Photo courtesy of Wastequip.
#1: Roll-off Containers: Appropriate Sizing
Roll-off containers come in a range of shapes and sizes, and when you are working a large-scale waste-transport job, bigger containers are almost always better. For long-term, multi-faceted jobs involving many aspects of waste removal, such as one requiring a clean out of furniture, a renovation, plus a landscaping makeover, a 30-yard roll-off container may be your best bet. This high-walled container can hold 3.5 to 5 tons of waste, making each waste-removal trip count and helping to reduce their frequency.
To maximize even further each haul-off, a 40-yard roll-off container can hold 5 to 6 tons of waste, and its high walls allow for the stacking of waste material for removal. This size is widely regarded by contractors and property owners as the king of roll-off containers, and it is often the ideal size for building demolition, as well as the biggest jobs in renovation and restoration.
Larger roll-off containers can also be the right equipment to choose in situations such as disaster-recovery operations in the wake of catastrophic events like hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes. Opting for 30- or 40-yard roll-off containers when deploying to regions facing such large-scale cleanup operations can help streamline recovery efforts and cut down on the often-long-distance haul-offs such jobs can necessitate.
A few more efficiency and functionality-adding features to look for in roll-off containers include:
• Smooth sides with no outside rail structure, which can allow containers to be nested for easier transport and storage.
• Inclusion of all the components needed for easy tarping, which is mandated for trucks and containers that haul materials on highways, and widely considered essential for keeping materials contained when roll-off containers are used for construction, agriculture, transportation, and waste applications.
• Appropriate sizing when hauling items such as mattresses and pallets, which are high in surface space but low in density; in these cases, choosing a larger size allows for much easier transport of high volumes of units, while still having ample room for additional materials.
#2: Hoists: Appropriate Type
Once a roll-off container is loaded up and ready for removal from a worksite or other collection location, it is important to choose the right hoist for haul-off. When hauling, especially heavy loads, decision-makers would be well advised to look for the following in their hoists:
• Cable hoists: Traditionally, roll-off cable hoists better service heavier loads. These highly durable haulers are built with high-strength, structural steel tubing, and are equipped with inside and outside controls, offering flexibility and dependability. Further, the cable hoist system pulls the weight up the rails with control over the incline of the rails as the load is being lifted, resulting in reduced tension on the cable. By using a cable to pull containers onto the truck bed, roll-off cable hoists are compatible with roll-on and roll-off containers. A cable hoist is also ideal for use at sites with limited overhead clearance and for placing containers in a building or under overhead obstructions.
• Tandem axle: A tandem-axle cable hoist features two axles on a single travel trailer, one in front of the other providing more control, which is especially helpful when hauling the heaviest of loads.
• Hoist tail: A rear tri-roller tail assembly enables a variety of pickups from industry-standard, narrow-rail, and deadlift-style containers. These hoists are ideal for areas with clearance issues that require low loading heights. Trucks with a long, extendable, overhanging tail help support and haul a broader range of container lengths.
#3: Compactors: High-Level Compaction Capabilities
Commercial waste compactors, which are another asset for large-scale waste-transport operations on the front end of the waste stream, allow for the size and volume of waste material to be greatly reduced through compressing and crushing. This is especially because these units can handle waste-compaction on a large scale, which can drastically reduce the number of waste haul-offs needed, significantly lowering collection costs and efforts. Two of the leading options available in this area include:
• Pre-crushers: This compactor type can significantly cut down on trash volume—and haul-off frequency—by compressing and breaking down large items such as pallets, appliances, and other large, bulky waste. As the refuse is crushed, it is moved to the receiving container. When the receiving container is full, it can be separated from the crusher for transport to the disposal site. Like the stationary compactors in that they work in conjunction with a large container, pre-crushers provide greater force and likewise require containers that are significantly reinforced to handle the tremendous internal pressures. Pre-crushers are ideal for industries such as general manufacturing, auto, appliance, aerospace, construction, boat builders, manufactured housing, and more.
• Stationary compactors: Typically ground-mounted and connected to a removable roll-off receiver container, stationary compactors are often used when a large volume of dry materials (either solid waste or recyclables) is being generated on sites with minimal space-limitation issues. These are regularly seen in locations like offices, department stores, restaurants, hotels/motels, health care/medical facilities, manufacturing facilities, and chain stores. A stationary compactor typically works in conjunction with a large receiver container, usually with a capacity of around 40 yards. After the trash is compacted, it is pushed into the container, and this process is repeated until the container is full. The container is then picked up and hauled away by a roll-off truck.
Operational Efficiency
For most waste management businesses, any opportunity to add operational efficiency is nearly always welcomed by decision-makers. By seeking out these time- and effort-saving features when choosing the roll-off containers, hoists, and compactors for large-scale waste collection and transport, you can do just that — all while making workers’ jobs easier and potentially realizing
significant cost savings. | WA
Nick Daddabbo is the Director of Product Management at Wastequip. He held similar roles for more than 20 years in multiple industries, leading and managing product line development. He can be reached at [email protected].