Office of Water &
Waste Management
Washington, D.C. 20460
SW-842
1980
Source Separation
Collection and Processing Equipment
V
A User's Guide
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Source Separation
Collection and Processing Equipment
A User's Guide
This report (SW-842) was prepared
under Contract No. WA78-C292
for the Office of Solid Waste.
~ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
L 1980
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This report was prepared by Resource Planning Associates, Inc.,
Washington, D.C., and has been reviewed by the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency and approved for publication. Approval
does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views
and policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nor
does mention of commercial products constitute endorsement or
recommendation for use by the U.S. Government.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We wish to express our appreciation to the many individuals and
groups who provided assistance and information to us in the
preparation of this document. Although it would be extremely
difficult to acknowledge each one individually, we would like to
single out the following people for their contributions: Chaz
Miller and Penelope Hansen, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency; members of the Manual Review Committee; municipal
and company officials whom we interviewed; Jerry Powell of
Resource Conservation Consultants, Portland, Oregon; and David
Cohen, Washington, D.C.
Lawrence M. Oliva, P.E., Project Manager
Janice C. Huffman
Joelle Brown Gunther
Jane Ray, Editor
Ronald Paxton, Graphics Design
Cathy Dodson, Graphics
THE MANUAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
Steve Howard
Cliff Humphrey
Ted Jagelski
Peter Karter
Philip Nowers
Richard Veeck
Glass Packing Institute, Washington, D.C.
Ecology Action Institute, Modesto, California
Dept. of Public Works, Madison, Wisconsin
Resource Recovery Systems, Inc., Branford,
Connecticut
Waste Equipment Manufacturers Institute,
National Solid Wastes Management Associ-
ation, Washington, D.C.
United Farm Tools, Inc., Miller Division,
Turlock, California
MUNICIPAL AND COMPANY OFFICIALS
We wish to thank those community and company officials who
contributed information to this manual.
Communities
Village of Larchmont, NY
Village of Mamaroneck, NY
Carmel.NY
Garden City, NY
West Orange, NJ
Tenafly, NJ
Newton, MA
Lexington, MA
Wellesley, MA
Nottingham, NH
Newington, CT
East Lyme, CT
East Hartford, CT
Enfield.CT
San Francisco, CA
Modesto, CA
(Ecology Action Institute)
Davis, CA
(Davis Waste Removal)
Downey, CA
(CAL-SAN, Inc.)
Seattle.WA
(Seattle Recycling, Inc.)
E] Cerrito, CA
Santa Rosa, CA
(Redwood Empire Disposal)
University City, MO
Madison, WI
Racine, Wl
Officials
Fred Kellogg, Sanitation Superintendent
Armand Gianunzio, Village Manager
Walter Webber, Public Works Director
Muriel Cornish, Recycling Consultant
Edward Purcell, Superintendent of Public
Works
James McCloskey, Waste Management
Officer ~ -
Ted Arzonico, Assistant Public Works
Director
Nunzio Piselli, Administrative Assistant
to Commissioner of Public Works
Departrriehfof Public Works
Charles Kiley, Director
Elizabeth Kotler, Town Selectman
Robert Cosgrove, Health Department
Director
George Seebeck, First Selectman
Harry Congdon, Superintendent of Sani-
tation Division
Joseph Albano, Highway Foreman
Ray Cafferata, Sunset Scavenger, Inc.
Cliff Humphrey, Program Manager
Paul Geisler, Vice President
Morrie Adnoff, General Manager
Jim McMahon, City Project Director
Don Kness, Seattle Recycling, Inc.
Joel Witherell, Director, Public Services
Tom Walters, President
Allan Dieckgraefe, Director of Public
Works
Ted Jagelski, Engineering Technician
Tom White, Assistant Public Works
Director
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Communities
Officials
Grand Rapids, Ml
Boca Raton, FL
Temple Terrace, FL
Deerfield Beach, FL
Boulder, CO
(ECO-Cycle, Inc.)
Equipment Manufacturers/
Suppliers
Northern Truck Equipment Company,
East Hartford, CT
Connecticut Truck and Trailer,
East Hartford, CT
Neilson Iron Works,
Racine, Wl
Miller Manufacturing,
Turlock.CA
Midway Fishing Tool,
Bakersfield.CA
CP Manufacturing Company,
National City, CA
J.A. Freeman and Sons,
Portland, OR
Margi Peet, Staff
Joyce Yelverton, Superintendent
of Sanitation
Isaac Bennett, Director of Public
Works
Steve Maurodis, Superintendent
of Sanitation
Peter Grogan, Director
Officials
Peter Ottone, Vice President
Don Knight, Salesman
Harry Neilson
Richard Veeck, Industrial Sales
Manager
Michael Lucas, Plant Manager
John Inman, General Manager
Kevin Freeman, Owner
Intermediate Processors
Resource Recovery Systems,
Branford.CT
MATCON, Salem, MA
North Shore Recycled Fibers,
Salem, MA
Recycling Enterprises, Oxford, MA
Sessler, Inc., Norwalk.CA
Durbin Paper Company,
Pompano Beach, FL
Officials
Peter Karter, President
John Clement, President
Pat Scanlon
Murray Fox, President
Millard Rosen
Michael Horn, Manager
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CONTENTS
Introduction 1
What is Source Separation? 1
Designing a Source Separation Program 2
Source Separation Collection and
Processing Equipment: A User's Guide 4
Chapter I Collection Systems and Equipment 5
Collection Systems 5
House to House Collection 5
Separate Collection of One Material 5
Collection of Newspaper or Mixed
Wastepaper and Refuse 6
Collection of Two or More Recyclables 7
Recycling Centers 7
Selecting Collection Equipment 8
Collection Equipment Catalogue 13
Household Separation Equipment 14
Collection Equipment 17
Storage Equipment 27
Chapter II Processing Systems and Equipment 31
Processing Systems 32
Paper Process Line 32
Mixed Glass Process Line 32
Mixed Cans Process Line 32
Mixed Glass and Cans Process Line 33
Selecting Processing Equipment 33
Processing Equipment Catalogue 37
Receiving Equipment 38
Conveying Equipment 40
Processing Equipment 42
Appendix A: References 48
Appendix B: Sample Newspaper Supply Agreement 50
Appendix C: Sample Invitation for Bids Form 51
Appendix D: Manufacturers and Suppliers 52
Appendix E: Glossary 57
Figures 1 Recyclable Materials as Percent of
Total Residential Waste 1
2 Densities of Processed Materials 2
3 Recovery of Source-Separated Materials
from Separate Collection 9
4 Collection Systems and Their Characteristics 10
5 Volume and Market Price of Unprocessed
and Processed Recyclables 31
6 Processing Equipment by Process Line 34
7 Processing Systems and Their Characteristics 35
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INTRODUCTION
Solid waste disposal is a growing problem for communities. The
traditional method of disposing of solid waste by landfill
is becoming more expensive and less acceptable politically. The
costs of collecting and dumping solid waste are rising and available
land is becoming scarce and more expensive. Furthermore, many
citizens are beginning to oppose using available land to bury
solid waste.
As their landfills near full capacity, many communities have
begun to look for ways to reduce the amount of solid waste for
disposal. One option that has proven viable is source separation.
By separating paper, glass, and cans from other residential waste,
communities could eliminate as much as 25 percent of their refuse
now being placed in landfills (Figure 1). Furthermore, the waste
that is separated can be reused by manufacturers, thus saving
natural resources and energy. The number of programs in the
United States in which separated materials are collected from
households has increased from 2 in 1970 to 220 in 1978. In
addition, over 2,000 recycling centers are currently in operation.
What is Source Separation?
Source separation is the setting aside of one or more materials
such as paper, glass, and cans from refuse. Source separation
program crews collect recyclable materials in two ways: by pro-
viding centers to which residents can bring materials and by
collecting materials house-to-house. The materials that are col-
lected are transported to a site for processing. Then they are
delivered to a manufacturer, who uses them as raw materials
to manufacture new products.
Many source separation programs began by collecting only one
recyclable material often along with other refuse. To divert
as many materials as possible from disposal, however, source
separation programs are beginning to collect two or more re-
cyclable materials. The number of multimaterial programs has
increased from 2 in 1974 to 40 in 1978.
Figure 1
Recyclable Materials as
Percent of Total Residential Waste
Material
Paper
Newsprint
Magazine
Corrugated
Other
Glass, Beverage
Clear
Green
Brown
Glass, Other
Clear
Green
Brown
Ferrous, Beverage
Ferrous, Other
Aluminum, Beverage
Aluminum, Other
Nonrecyclable Refuse
Percentage of
Total Waste
30-40
9-15
1-3
1-2
19-20
7-16
4-9
2-4
1-3
6.5-10
5-6
1-3
0.5-1
0.5-2
3-5
0.1-1
0.1-1
52.8-25
SOURCE: A detailed waste composition study of an
urban community and a suburban community in
Massachusetts: Source Separation in Marblehead and
Somerville, Massachusetts - Composition of Source
Separated Materials and Refuse. U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. 1980.
Newspaper and mixed wastepaper are the materials collected
most often by source separation programs because they are the
most abundant recyclable materials and are easily separated
from other refuse. Paper makes up approximately 50 percent
of recyclable materials and 30-40 percent of all residential waste.
1
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INTRODUCTION
It is easy to collect and process; it may be collected separately or
along with refuse, and may be baled to increase density and
facilitate handling.
Cans and glass are often collected along with paper, even though
they are collected in smaller volumes, because they bring in
additional revenues and also save landfill space. Ferrous and
aluminum cans must be separated and glass usually separated by
color to give them a market value. Then the volume of the materi-
al must be made denser by flattening or shredding cans and
crushing glass (Figure 2).
Figure 2
Densities of Processed Materials
Material
Density (Ib/y3)
Ferrous cans flattened 800 - 900
Aluminum cans flattened 250
Clear and colored glass, minus 5/8" cullet 2,300
Clear and colored glass, minus 2" cullet 1,000
Baled shredded paper bundles 750
Designing a Source Separation Program
Source separation is a relatively new concept. As a result, many
municipal officials need information about how to plan and
organize a program. How can they be certain that citizens will
participate? How can they predict whether a program will be
economically viable? How do they go about designing a collec-
tion system?
There are several steps that municipal officials can take to initi-
ate a program that is likely to be a success:
(1) Estimate Citizen Support
As a first step, municipal officials need to find out whether
citizens would support a source separation program. To probe
the community's interest, they might:
Survey citizens to determine their attitudes toward solid
waste disposal and the conservation of resources
Ask whether residents have been involved in previous re-
covery projects, such as paper drives
Discuss the program with community leaders who could
predict citizen participation and later help publicize the
program.
(2) Survey Markets
Before deciding which materials to recycle, municipal officials
should identify dealers or manufacturers who purchase recyclable
materials. Then they should determine the ability of their program
to prepare those materials to the degree of purity required by the
markets.
Source separation programs have two kinds of markets for their
materials. They may sell their recyclables to an intermediary who
will process them before selling them to a manufacturer, or they
may sell them directly to the manufacturer. In assessing markets,
officials should weigh the following concerns:
Price: The market that officials choose should pay prices
that are high enough to enable the program to function
economically.
Location: The market should be nearby to minimize storage
and transportation costs. Officials may sell their materials
to a distant market, however, if the prices are high enough
to offset the additional costs.
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INTRODUCTION
Materials: The market should accept materials that citizens
are willing to separate.
Specifications: The market should have specifications (ma-
terial preparation requirements) that the program realistically
can meet. Citizens may have to bundle papers or sort glass
bottles by color. A market with strict specifications must
offer a price that is high enough to offset the additional
cost to the program of upgrading the materials. In calcu-
lating revenues, officials should bear in mind that processed
materials are more economical to transport than other
materials because they can be packed more densely (Fig-
ure 2).
(3) Negotiate with a Market
When ready to negotiate with a market, officials should examine
past and current prices to better understand markets and develop
realistic expectations. Then, they should obtain a "letter of
intent" from the market they have chosen, stating that it will
purchase materials at an agreed price when the program begins
operation. Later, officials will sign a formal contract (see Appen-
dix B) with the market stating that the market will buy the
materials at the agreed price for a specific period of time. Beside
guaranteeing a "floor" or minimum price for the materials, the
contract should grant the program a percentage of the current
price when it is above the floor price for the materials.
(4) Inform the Public
A public relations and education program can inform citizens of
the benefits of recycling, instruct them how to separate materials,
and familiarize them with the collection schedule. Program offici-
als should meet with community leaders to enlist their help in
educating the public.
At least one month before collection begins, television, radio, and
newspaper announcements should be run to spark the interest
of residents. Flyers, posters, and doorhangers are also effective
tools for promoting a program. Efforts to teach the public how to
use the system should begin at least three weeks before collection
begins and should be resumed periodically to maintain citizen
awareness and interest.
(5) Select Equipment
Municipal officials should examine equipment that is available to
their program before they consider new equipment purchases.
Available equipment also can be modified to meet the needs of a
program. For example, a pickup truck can be used to collect
newspaper if its sides are extended upward. A municipality may
modify its own equipment or employ a local ironworks company
to make alterations. This guide gives examples of refuse equip-
ment modified for recyclables collection and of specially-designed
equipment.
New equipment offers the advantage of being uniquely suited
to a recycling program. Before purchasing equipment, however,
officials should consider how many years the equipment will
be in use; the high cost of equipment should be distributed over
many years of program operation.
(6) Assess Labor Needs
To determine the amount of labor a source separation program
will need, officials should consider the kind of equipment they
will need to process the volume of materials they expect. They
also should assess the degree of skill needed to operate each piece
of equipment. Before hiring new employees, officials should look
for existing labor. A collection crew may be available to perform
processing functions for part of the day, or labor may be available
from other municipal departments. Handicapped or CETA (Com-
prehensive Employment and Training Act) workers also might be
employed.
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INTRODUCTION
(7) Procure Equipment
Municipal source separation program officials who decide to
procure their equipment commercially should first survey liter-
ature about the equipment. (Appendix D of this guide lists manu-
facturers and suppliers of various collection and processing equip-
ment.) Then they should develop specifications and issue an
Invitation for Bids (IFB). (Appendix C.)
Specifications set out the essential characteristics of the items
being solicited; they tell bidders exactly what the municipality
wants to buy and enable them to accurately compute their bids.
Design specifications for any features of an item that are essential
to its proper functioning should be carefully written.
An IFB solicits bids from competing manufacturers. The IFB
should contain the terms and conditions the bidder must meet
and the specifications for the design of the equipment. These
elements will also be incorporated into the contract that the
municipality will sign with the most suitable bidder.
(8) Consider Source Separation Ordinances
Municipal officials should consider whether mandatory source
separation ordinances are necessary for their community. These
ordinances require citizens to separate their recyclable materials,
under penalty of a fine. Most communities with mandatory
ordinances experience higher participation.
Communities may find scavenging to be a severe problem, espe-
cially when material prices are high. Municipal officials may wish
to enact antiscavenging ordinances containing penalties, usually
fines, to help control this problem.
Source Separation Collection and
Processing Equipment: A User's Guide
Equipment represents the greatest initial expenditure for most
source separation programs. As a result, municipal officials and
private sanitation company officials need detailed information
to help them select equipment used to collect and process re-
cyclables most suitable to their needs. Since the first program
began over 10 years ago, many types of equipment have been
tested and used. Little information has been published, however,
describing equipment systems and discussing their availability,
performance, and cost.
This guide is intended to help municipal officials and private
collection companies plan to operate source separation programs
by providing them with detailed information on systems and
equipment. The guide covers the most successful systems used to
date and lists the advantages, disadvantages, and general specifi-
cations of each piece of equipment described. Chapter one covers
collection systems and equipment; chapter two covers processing
systems and equipment.
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
A collection system must be selected carefully to meet the unique
needs of the community. Program officials should begin by esti-
mating the kind and volume of materials they will collect
along with any specifications required by their markets then
select the most effective equipment and labor available. Officials
can increase citizen participation by making the equipment
visually attractive, by providing reliable and frequent collections,
and by distributing special containers to make household storage
easier.
Newspapers or mixed wastepaper are the easiest materials for
residents to separate from refuse and for programs to collect.
Paper is easily stacked and stored in the home; on collection day,
residents need only bundle it, tie it with string, or place it in con-
tainers at the curb. Crews can easily load paper either manually
or mechanically onto collection, storage, and transportation
vehicles. Collection systems for newspaper are more common than
for mixed wastepaper because markets usually pay a higher price
for separated grades of paper, such as newspaper.
Glass and cans are slightly more difficult for residents to prepare
and crews to collect than paper because their markets have more
stringent quality requirements. In some programs, residents may
be asked to separate clear, green, and brown glass and to remove
the labels and metal rings from bottles. In other programs, resi-
dents may be asked to separate aluminum from ferrous metal
cans or to flatten cans. Unlike paper, glass and cans usually must
be separated and stored by residents in bags or containers.
Although glass and can collection is generally more complex than
paper collection, some communities have successfully simplified
the process. They have sold to markets which require a minimal
amount of material preparation by residents; provided special
household storage containers; and collected glass and cans fre-
quently to reduce storage requirements in the home. In addition,
some communities are using specially marked containers that aid
the collection crew in identifying glass and cans and special
collection vehicles to keep these materials separate.
COLLECTION SYSTEMS
Recyclable materials may be collected either house-to-house by
refuse trucks that collect materials which residents have placed at
the curb, or from recycling centers, to which residents bring
materials. Although residents are more likely to participate if
recyclab-les are collected from their homes, recycling centers
offer certain advantages. They can be less expensive to operate
than separate-collection systems. Because they can hold many
different kinds of storage containers, recycling centers also can
collect a greater variety of recyclable materials than can separate-
collection systems.
House-To-House Collection
House-to-house collection systems require residents to prepare
materials as the program requests (e.g., bundle and tie newspapers)
and place the materials at the curb. A crew collects the materials
and places them in a vehicle. At the end of the collection day,
the vehicle takes the materials either to a storage site for future
transportation or processing or directly to a market.
There are three common varieties of house-to-house collection
systems: separate collection of one material; collection of news-
paper or mixed wastepaper and refuse; and collection of two or
more recyclables. A community's choice of a system will depend
on the materials it plans to collect and the resources available
to it.
SEPARATE COLLECTION OF ONE MATERIAL
Separate collection of one material is the most common type of
collection system. Residents place a single material at the curb
and a crew and truck collect it separate from refuse. This system
is most often used to collect newspaper or mixed wastepaper.
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Glass has also been collected this way by some programs; however,
the collection vehicle often requires compartments, bins, or drums
to separate glass by color.
Existing refuse collection vehicles, such as compactor trucks,
are often used by this type of system. Most municipalities have
spare trucks which they use when regular refuse collection vehicles
are being serviced or repaired. Many programs use spare compactor
and pickup trucks to collect paper because these vehicles have
adequate collection capacity. Separate collection of one material
requires a separate-collection crew. Most programs have been
able to make use of spare labor, however, by collecting the single
material on a day other than the regular refuse collection days.
Larchmont-Mamaroneck, New York, reduced its number of
refuse collection days per week from six to four and used the fifth
day to collect mixed wastepaper separately. Using compactor
trucks, three-man crews collect paper from a population of 20,000
in the sanitation district. They collect approximately 80 tons of
paper each month. When the truck reaches its capacity, it returns
to the community's former incinerator and dumps the materials
through a hopper into a transfer trailer. The trailer transports
five truckloads of paper to market per month.
COLLECTION OF NEWSPAPER OR MIXED
WASTEPAPER AND REFUSE
A second type of system collects newspaper or mixed wastepaper
at the same time as refuse. Residents place paper next to their
refuse at the curb on regular collection days. A rack (a steel
rectangular container that is attached to the underside or rear
of a refuse collection vehicle) or trailer holds the paper. Racks
can be made inexpensively and easily by a source separation
program staff or by a local ironworks company and require a
minimal amount of maintenance. Trailers, which are attached
to the rear of a collection vehicle, can collect greater quantities
of paper than racks. However, trailers are more expensive to
purchase or modify than racks.
Racks and trailers may have to be unloaded on route because
they may fill up more quickly than refuse collection vehicles. A
rack usually will have to be unloaded at least once into another
vehicle that is centrally parked or that travels to and from the
route to collect the paper. Trailers have larger storage capacities
than racks and are less likely to fill up before the refuse collection
vehicle.
This collection system minimizes labor costs by using the same
crew to collect paper and refuse simultaneously. In addition,
the system does not alter collection frequency and schedules;
thus, it is the easiest system for householders to remember and
to participate in on a regular basis.
Enfield, Connecticut, uses a 6-cubic-yard (1.5-tons capacity)
self-dumping trailer attached to its rear-loading refuse vehicle
to collect newspaper. The trailer usually fills only once a day,
while the refuse vehicle must be unloaded twice a day. About
midway through the route, the crew unhitches the trailer and
leaves it parked on route while the refuse vehicle travels to the
landfill. At the end of the route, the trailer and refuse vehicle
travel to the landfill; there, the trailer is backed onto a ramp
above a 6-ton roll-off container, into which it hydraulically
dumps the materials. The roll-off, which is provided by the market,
is collected every 1.5 days, and taken to market using a roll-off
truck. The town collects 85 tons per month from 40,000 residents.
Madison, Wisconsin, installed 1-cubic-yard side racks on their
rear-loading compacting refuse vehicles. The racks hold approxi-
mately 600 pounds of newspaper and must be unloaded 2 to 3
times a day. A 6-ton dump truck or a flatbed truck with load
lugger boxes that hold 4 tons of paper is parked centrally on
the route; refuse vehicles with full racks travel to these trucks
to unload. At the end of the day, the dump or flatbed truck
unloads into a 75-cubic-yard transfer trailer, which is taken to
market 2 to 3 times each week. The town collects 200 tons of
paper per month from 170,000 residents.
6
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
COLLECTION OF TWO OR MORE RECYCLABLES
The third system collects two or more recyclables. Household-
ers place separated recyclables in containers at the curb. The
separated materials are collected either by a vehicle with com-
partments or bins or by a vehicle that pulls a trailer. Compart-
mentalized collection vehicles unload mechanically, either with
a hydraulic ram or with a body that tips. Vehicles with separate
bins may be self-dumping, or the bins may be lifted off the vehicle
manually or by forklift.
The success of multimaterial separate-collection systems depends
in part on the capacity of individual compartments or bins of
the collection vehicle. If one compartment or bin reaches its
capacity before another compartment or bin, collection efficiency
is reduced; the collection crew has to either unload the full bin
on route or combine two materials in one bin. Therefore, the
capacity of each vehicle compartment or bin should be carefully
tailored to carry the expected volume of recyclables collected.
Vehicle bins and compartments should also be designed to assure
that recyclables remain separate during collection.
Many multimaterial separate-collection programs collect recy-
clables once per week. Less frequent collections tend to discourage
residents from participating because they must store materials
longer. Most multimaterial programs collect all recyclables on the
same day because residents are more likely to remember a single
collection date. Some programs collect materials on a revolving
basis (e.g., glass on the 2nd Monday of the month; paper on the
1st and 3rd Monday of the month) because they lack vehicles,
compartments or bins that are sufficiently large or numerous
to keep several materials separate. These multimaterial systems,
however, reduce resident participation because they increase
storage requirements and increase the number of collection
dates.
Modesto, California, was one of the first multimaterial separate-
collection programs in the country. The program is operated by
a private company that collects newspaper, mixed glass, and mixed
metals weekly using a pickup truck attached to a trailer with bins.
The truck carries drums to contain metals; the trailer holds paper
and glass in separate bins. The total capacity of the truck and
trailer system is 14.6 cubic yards. Metals are unloaded manually
from the truck; paper and glass are unloaded with a forklift.
Metals are separated, flattened, shredded at the progra'm facility,
then stored and transported in 30- and 40-cubic-yard roll-off
containers. Glass is dumped into 20-cubic-yard roll-off containers
at the facility, placed in containers, and transported to market.
The program collects about 65 tons of glass, 100 tons of news-
paper, and 21 tons of metals each month from an area of 80,000
residents.
Recycling Centers
Recycling centers are stationary sites to which residents bring
materials. The volume of materials brought to recycling centers
is generally significantly less than that collected by separate-
collection programs, because the centers require residents not
only to prepare and store recyclables but also to transport them.
Recycling centers, however, are an option for municipalities
that lack the personnel, equipment, or money to begin a separate-
collection program. Recycling centers have also been established
by municipalities that are collecting some recyclables but want
to divert additional recyclables from their waste stream. Other
municipalities, which do not provide refuse collection service and
require residents to bring their refuse to an incinerator or dump,
have set up recycling centers at their refuse disposal sites. These
centers experience high participation levels. The municipalities
require residents merely to keep recyclables separated and to
place them in the appropriate storage containers. Some recycling
centers pay the public for materials to increase the amounts
recycled.
A small recycling center may service several neighborhoods, while
a large center at a municipal public works yard may service an
entire community. Whatever the size of the recycling center, the
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
site should be convenient to a community's most densely popu-
lated areas. The center should be located on a well-traveled road
to reduce vandalism and scavenging and to enable residents to
combine trips to the center with other errands. In addition, the
site should be large enough to allow storage bins to be situated,
filled, and removed safely, and residents to drive their cars close
to the bins when unloading recyclables. Finally, large and attrac-
tive signs should be posted at the entrance of the recycling center.
Signs should also be placed above or near storage containers to
explain sorting requirements for recyclables. Storage containers
at small neighborhood centers should be movable (e.g., 55-gallon
drums for glass) because recyclables will have to be taken to
market at regular intervals. Recyclables can be placed into larger
mobile containers or stationary containers because the increased
volumes justify a second handling of materials for transportation
to the market or processing site.
Recycling centers use less labor and equipment than separate-
collection systems. However, they need staff to monitor the site
and to transport materials to a market or processing site. Since
recycling centers can operate independently of refuse collection
programs, citizen groups often staff the centers voluntarily and
are compensated from profits resulting from selling materials.
The recycling center in Wellesley, Massachusetts, is located at the
disposal site to which all residents bring their refuse. Because it
requires little additional effort, more than 50 percent of the
8,000 households participate in the recycling programs. Citizens
separate glass into clear, brown, and green and cans into aluminum
and ferrous and place them in separate 50-cubic-yard roll-off
containers. Newspapers are placed directly into a baler at the
disposal site. The center received 30 tons of glass, 55 tons of
newspaper, and 25 tons of metals each month. In addition, citi-
zens may bring magazines, books, clothes, large metal items,
tires, motor oil, batteries, and cardboard to the center for recycl-
ing.
SELECTING COLLECTION EQUIPMENT
Officials who are starting a source separation program need to
select equipment to collect and store recyclables. In selecting
equipment, they should consider efficiency, cost, safety, labor
requirements, and the frequency with which materials are collect-
ed.
To operate efficiently, collection equipment (i.e., collection
vehicles, storage containers, and hauling vehicles) should have
a capacity appropriate to the expected volume of materials.
Program officials can estimate the volume of materials to be
collected by estimating the average composition of their waste
stream, then computing the total weight of recyclables being
discarded. Figure 3 shows the average composition of waste
materials in various cities.
Officials should adjust their estimates of the amount of recyclables
that will be collected to reflect the expected rates of participation
in their communities. The EPA has surveyed many communities
that have implemented source separation programs. The most
successful separate-collection programs have recovered about
50 to 65 percent of the communities' newspapers, 35 to 50
percent of their glass and 20 to 30 percent of their cans (Figure 3).
Programs that are well publicized and that have some recycling
experience (e.g., paper drives, recycling centers) can expect
moderate participation. Programs with little publicity and min-
imum citizen interest can expect only minimum participation.
Once estimates of the weight of recyclables that will be collected
have been obtained, volumes can be estimated from the following
densities:
Material
Newspapers
Whole bottles
Whole ferrous cans
Whole aluminum cans
Density
500-600 Ibs/cu yd
600 Ibs/cu yd
150-200 Ibs/cu yd
74 Ibs/cu yd
8
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Figure 3
Recovery of Source-Separated Materials
From Separate Collection
trailers or on vehicles that pull trailers. Incorrect placement of
taillights and unusually high loading heights for the collection
crew are also safety hazards. Therefore, collection equipment
designs, especially those that are modified or purchased by a
program sponsor, should be carefully checked for safety in order
to avoid operational hazards.
Newspapers
Glass
Cans
Maximum Participation
Moderate Participation
Minimum Participation
SOURCE: Resource Planning Associates, Inc.
Officials should consider the cost of the equipment they select.
In assessing equipment costs, they should include the cost of the
labor required to operate the equipment. Figure 4 lists the general
characteristics, including equipment cost, of the collection systems
examined in preparing this guide.
All equipment should be examined and tested by a safety consul-
tant or professional engineer to assure its safety. Safety problems
can occur, for instance from improper specifications for brakes on
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Figure 4
Collection Systems and Their Characteristics
Location/
Operator
El Cerrito,
California/
Municipality
Modesto,
California/
Ecology Action
Institute
Downey,
California/
CAL-SAN, Inc.
Davis,
California/
Davis Waste
Removal
Santa Rosa,
California/
Redwood Empire
Disposal
Wellesley,
Massachusetts/
Municipality
(recycling center)
Lexington,
Massachusetts/
Miller Disposal
Company
Newton,
Massachusetts/
Municipality
Larch mont-
Mamaroneck,
New York/
Municipality
Households
in Collection
Area
9,400
20,000
16,000
8,000
23,000
8,000
9,000
26,000
4,500
Materials
Collected
Newspaper
Magazines
Mixed Glass
Ferrous Metals
Aluminum
Newspaper
Mixed Glass
Ferrous Metals
Aluminum Metals
Mixed Wastepaper
Mixed Glass
Mixed Metals
Newspaper
Mixed Glass
Ferrous Metals
Aluminum Metals
Newspaper
Mixed Glass
Mixed Metals
Newspaper
Colored Glass
Clear Glass
Ferrous Metals
Aluminum Metals
Newspaper
Mixed Glass
Ferrous Metals
Aluminum Metals
Newspaper
Mixed Glass
Mixed Metals
Mixed Wastepaper
Mixed Glass
Aluminum Metals
Tons Per
Month
Collected
68.0
8.0
32.0
7.0
1.0
100.0
65.0
20.0
1.5
88.4
100.0
40.0
5.0
1.0
112.0
68.0
21.0
55.0
13.0
15.0
25.0
.5
81.7
25.0
3.6
36.5
159.0
67.0
80.0
42.0
NA
Collection Frequency
Vehicle of
Crew Size Collection
2 1 /week
1-2 2/month
1 1/week
2 1/week
2 1/week
1 1/week
2 1 /week
4 (recycling 1/week
center)
Equipment
Household separation units
Flat bed truck with bins
Forklift
Flatbed truck (2)
Trailer with bins (2)
Forklift
Metal-sided dumping truck
Side-loading refuse
compactor truck (box only)
Pickup truck
Trailer with bins
Trailer
Scooters
Household separation units (1,600)
Flat bed truck with bins
Forklift
Roll-off boxes
Compartmentalized dump truck
Compartmentalized truck
(body only) (2)
Refuse compactor truck
Refuse compactor truck
Transfer trailer *3
Tractor *3
Transfer station *3
Lugger box (rental fee)
Capital
Cost ($1*1
3.25 (each)
1 ,900.00
8,000.00
5,400.00 (each)
3,100.00 (each)
4,000.00
20,000.00
8,000.00
5,500.00
6,500.00
900.00
3,000.00 (each)
15.00 (each)
5,850.00
9,000.00
3,000.00 (each)
5,000.00 (each)
NA
12,000.00 (each)
NA
NA
30,000.00
45,000.00
60.00 (month)
Modifi-
cation Cost
($)*2
2,100.00
1 ,000.00
95.00
1,500.00
500.00
NA
NA
20,000.00
10
SOURCE: Resource Planning Associates, Inc.
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Figure 4 (continued)
Collection Systems and Their Characteristics
Location/
Operator
Mamaroneck,
New York/
Municipality
Garden City,
New York/
Municipality
Carmel,
New York/
Municipality
West Orange,
New Jersey/
Hackensack
Paper Company
East Hartford,
Connecticut/
Municipality
East Lyme,
Connecticut/
Municipality
Newington,
Connecticut/
Trash-Away
Company
Enfield,
Connecticut/
Municipality
Deerfield Beach,
Florida/
Municipality
Temple Terrace,
Florida/
Municipality
Households
in Collection
Area
3,750
6,000
8,000
1 1 ,000
12,500
5,000
7,500
1 1 ,000
6,700
2,000
Materials
Collected
Mixed Paper
Newspaper
Mixed Wastepaper
Mixed Glass
Ferrous Metals
Aluminum Metals
Newspaper
Mixed Glass
Newspaper
Newspaper
Mixed Glass
and Cans
Newspaper
Mixed Glass
Newspaper
Newspaper
Corrugated Paper
Newspaper
Corrugated Paper
Mixed Glass
Aluminum Cans
Tons Per Collection
Month Vehicle
Collected Crew Size
60.0 3
67.0 1
64.3 3
14.0
9.8
0.2
87.5 2
62.5
37.3 3
32.2 2
45.0
50.0 3
11.0
85.0 3
40.0 3
4.0
22.0 3
18.0
24.0
1.0
Frequency
of
Collection Equipment
I/week Refuse compactor truck
Transfer trailer *3
Tractor *3
1 /week Side-loading refuse compactor
truck
1/week Stake-body truck
Pickup truck
Front-end loader
1/week Box-bed truck (2)
1/week Trailer (7)
Stationary bins
Demolition trailer
1/week Side-loading refuse compactor
truck
Trailer (3) *4
1/week Rack (3)
Box-bed truck
1/week Trailer (6)
1/week Stake-body truck
1/3 weeks Trailer
Pickup truck
Side-loading rack (2)
Rear-loading rack
Capital
Cost ($)
NA
40,000.00
NA
31,000.00
3,500.00 (used)
4,610.00
1 ,500.00
10,000.00 (each)
3,220.00 (each)
10,000.00
5,000.00
22,000.00
233.00 (each)
250.00 (each)
8,000.00
3,000.00 (each)
10,500.00
600.00
NA
175.00 (each)
175.00
Modifi-
cation Cost
($)
NA
100.00
(each)
290.00
450.00
SOURCE: Resource Planning Associates, Inc.
11
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Figure 4 (continued)
Collection Systems and Their Characteristics
Location/
Operator
Boca Raton,
Florida/
Municipality
Grand Rapids,
Michigan/
Recycling Un-
limited, Inc.
(recycling center)
Madison,
Wisconsin/
Municipality
Racine,
Wisconsin/
Municipality
Univeristy City,
Missouri/
Municipality
Seattle,
Washington/
Seattle
Recycling, Inc.
Households
in Collection
Area
12,000
10,000
42,000
32,000
2,000
10,000
Materials
Collected
Newspaper
Corrugated Paper
Mixed Glass
Ferrous Metals
Aluminum Metals
Newspaper
Newspaper
Newspaper
Newspaper
Mixed Glass
Mixed Metals
Tons Per Collection
Month Vehicle
Collected Crew Size
248.0 3
12.5
65.0
7.5
2.0
200.0 2
34.0 2
50.0 3
26.0 2
20.0
5.0
Frequency
of
Collection Equipment
1/week Stake-body trucks (rental fee) (2)
Refuse compactor trucks (2)
Beverage trucks (5)
Gravel dump truck
1/week Rack (44) *4
Dump trucks
1/week Rack(21)*4
Box- bed truck
2/month Household separation units (11,000)
Refuse compactor truck
1 /month Household separation units (13,000)
Flat bed truck
Trailer
Collection bins (21)
Fork lift
Capital
Cost ($)
450.00 (month,
NA
Modifi-
cation Cost
($)
each)
300.00 -
1,200.00 (each, used)
NA
175.00 (each)
NA
170.00 (each)
NA
6.95 (each)
NA
0.30 (each)
10,800.00
2,900.00
240.00 (each)
5,200.00
1 ,200.00
*1 Capital Cost: Initial cost of purchasing or building equipment.
*2 Modification Cost: Cost of modifications to equipment.
*3 Purchased originally for refuse program.
*4 Built by municipality,
SOURCE. Resource Planning Associates, Inc.
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
COLLECTION EQUIPMENT CATALOGUE
The following catalogue is designed to inform officials of munici-
palities and private sanitation companies about a wide range of
equipment currently being used to collect recyclable materials.
It illustrates each piece of equipment and discusses its applica-
tion, design specifications, advantages, and disadvantages. It also
addresses design and selection issues and provides a list of com-
munities using each piece of equipment. A list of manufacturers
of collection equipment may be found in Appendix D. The
catalogue should help officials to decide which pieces of equip-
ment best suit their programs and to design effective collection
systems.
The catalogue is organized by the steps involved in the collection
process: household separation, collection, and storage.
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
HOUSEHOLD SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
Residents of communities that have source separation programs
are responsible for sorting recyclables from other waste at home.
They may use household separation units (specially designed bags,
boxes, or cans) to keep recyclables separate from refuse until
collection day or they may make do with common household
containers.
Several communities have provided residents with special con-
tainers to make household separation and storage easier. On
collection days, these containers may be set out at the curb.
Special containers have the advantages of publicizing the program
and helping collectors identify recyclables at the curb. The cost
to the community of special containers is often offset by increased
participation in the recycling program.
Most communities, however, expect residents to use household
containers to store their recyclables. A few communities have
given residents stickers to mark recyclables placed in garbage
cans at the curb.
Common Household Containers
Use of common household containers, such as grocery bags,
cardboard boxes, or string to tie bundled paper, involves little
or no cost to either the source separation program or the resi-
dent. But household containers have disadvantages. When the
proper items are not available, the householder may be discour-
aged from separating recyclable waste. Furthermore, household
containers, such as paper bags, may get wet and tear or allow
materials to blow away.
Advantage
Involve little or no cost
Disadvantages
Require more effort of residents
Do not publicize program
Do not distinguish recyclables from regular refuse
Special Markers
Some communities distribute markers for residents to place on
garbage cans holding recyclables at the curb. These markers are
often inexpensive decals or tags that display the name and logo
of the recycling program. Markers help collectors to distinguish
recyclables from refuse and remind citizens to recycle.
East Lyme, Connecticut, distributed decals to all its residents for
placement on their recyclables containers. The decals, which were
made by the community's senior citizens, distinguished recyclables
from refuse containers.
Advantages
Low cost
Help publicize the program
Can be sent to residents through the mail (e.g., with utility
bills)
Disadvantage
Not as effective as special containers
Special Marker
14
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Special Containers
Special containers may be used to store one or more materials.
A community can either purchase such containers directly from
a refuse container manufacturer or design and manufacture its
own. The community may sell the containers or distribute them
free of charge to residents.
Special containers encourage participation in source separation
programs. They not only help to publicize a program, but also
demonstrate the commitment of local officials. Special containers
provide a convenient way for residents to separate and store
materials and make it easy for collection crews to distinguish
recyclables from other waste. In addition, they reduce the likeli-
hood of materials blowing away or getting wet.
SINGLE-MATERIAL UNITS
Single-material units are used in homes to separate and store
one recyclable, usually paper. If more than one recyclable is
being collected, a resident may store one material in the unit
and handle or bag the other material(s) separately.
The "TreeSaver" was designed and patented by University City,
Missouri, and manufactured by Rubbermaid and GET Plastics.
The city provides the TreeSaver, which holds 2 weeks' accumula-
tion of newspapers, free of charge to residents. Residents position
the unit at the curb with the longer side on top to protect the
paper from rain and snow. Distribution of the TreeSaver unit in
University City doubled the rate of citizen participation in the
separate-collection program.
In a Seattle, Washington, program, onion sacks and plastic bags
are distributed free of charge to residents. Crews collect one bag
of cans and one bag of glass each collection day. The onion sacks
are 18"x32" and hold 15-20 Ibs of glass or 8-10 Ibs of mixed
metals. The 25"x38" plastic bags contain up to 35 pounds of
newspaper.
Plastic Container Onion Sack
Advantages
Provide convenient storage
Are visible to residents and easily identified by collectors
Are easily unloaded
Provide convenient substitute for handling and tying of
newspaper
Disadvantages
Incur initial and replacement costs
Must be distributed to residents
Design Issues
Strength
Durability
Capacity keyed to collection frequency
Color or special markings
Ease of handling by residents and collectors
Cost
Weather protection
Communities Using the Equipment
University City, Missouri
Seattle, Washington
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
General Specifications for "TreeSaver"
Height: 14"-19"
Length: 18"-20"
Width: 6"
Capacity: 20-lb. newspaper
Weight: 3 Ibs.
Cost: $5.00-$10.00
Material: high-density U.V.
stabilized polyethylene
MULTIMATERIAL UNITS
Multimaterial separation units are used to store more than one
recyclable at a time. These units may take the form of compart-
mentalized waste cans or separate stacking units. The units pic-
tured are not readily available commercially but could be made
by a container manufacturer.
Santa Rosa, California, uses stacking units to store newspaper,
cans, and glass. The householder is given three interlocking units,
each of which may be unloaded separately. The bottom units
have wheels so that they may be rolled out to the curb for collec-
tion.
Advantages
Are visible to residents and easily identified by collectors
Separate and store materials easily
Facilitate collection
Disadvantages
Must be distributed to residents
Must be custom-designed and manufactured
Incur initial and replacement costs
Compartmentalized Unit
Stacking Unit
Design Issues
Logo
Strength
Durability
Ease of handling by residents and collectors
Segregation of materials
Cost
Capacity (should be keyed to collection frequency and volume
of materials)
Communities Using the Equipment
Santa Rosa, California
Nottingham, New Hampshire
General Specifications for Stacking Units
Height: 12"
Width: 12"
Length: 18"
Two wheels on bottom unit
Capacity: 1.5cuft
Materials: wood, polyethylene
Cost: $15
16
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
COLLECTION EQUIPMENT
Most municipalities use compactor vehicles or other public works
department vehicles, such as pickup or stake body trucks, to
collect recyclables. These "adapted" vehicles, which can be used
for a variety of municipal operations, minimize capital costs and
are generally reliable and easily maintained. A growing number
of municipalities, however, are using "special" collection equip-
ment such as racks, trailers, and compartmentalized vehicles.
Many of these municipalities have particular collection needs.
Some must collect two or more recyclables simultaneously;
others need to combine their recycling and refuse collection
programs.
The following sections describe a variety of "adapted" and "spe-
cial" types of collection equipment, explain how the equipment
is being used, and outline the advantages and disadvantages of each
type.
Adapted Equipment
Some side-loading vehicles, however, are significantly less fuel-
efficient than rear-loading compactors. They require an additional
engine to operate a compacting blade that pushes the materials
out of the vehicle when dumping. Most rear-loading compactors
require only one engine to operate the truck and the compacting
blade. Both refuse compactors must be cleaned before recyclables
are loaded to prevent contamination from refuse.
The town of Mamaroneck, New York, currently collects news-
papers from single-family residences on a weekly basis. It uses
three 20-cubic-yard rear-loading compactor trucks manned by
three-member crews. Each truck collects 6 tons of newspaper per
collection day and dumps paper through a hopper into a storage
and transport trailer.
Garden City, New York, uses a 29-cubic-yard Shupack side-
loading compactor truck to collect newspaper on a weekly basis.
The single crew member collects approximately 4 tons of news-
paper from 1,200 homes each day, five days a week. East Lyme,
Connecticut, uses an 18-cubic-yard Truxmore side-loading com-
pactor truck to collect a mixture of cans and glass. A two-man
crew loads the mixture into the loading hopper from either side
of the truck.
COMPACTOR TRUCKS
Many communities use compactor trucks to collect recyclables,
most commonly newspaper, because they are available as spare
refuse collection equipment.
Compactor trucks have larger capacities than special collection
equipment such as racks and trailers. When racks or trailers are
attached, they can be used to collect both refuse and recyclables.
A community may find that it collects enough recyclables with
a compactor truck to modify the regular refuse collection schedule
and reduce the number of routes.
Most municipalities use rear-loading compactor vehicles manned
by two- or three-member crews to collect refuse and recyclables.
Several municipaliteis, however, are using side-loading vehicles.
Although commercially available side- and rear-loading compactor
trucks have similar capacities, the side-loading vehicle may be
more efficient. One crew member can collect and load recyclables
into the side-loading vehicle's hopper. The loading hopper is
close to the cab and may be accessible from both sides of the
street.
Advantages
Use existing equipment and labor
Usually have capacity of at least 16 cubic yards
Load and unload easily
May be used in other municipal operations
Are commercially available
Are easily maintained
Can attach trailers or rack vehicles to collect another recyclable
17
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Disadvantages
Some side-loading compactor trucks have high loading height
Contamination may occur if refuse compactor is not cleaned
before storingrecyclables in body
Separate truck requires extra maintenance
Communities Using the Equipment
Mamaroneck, New York
Larchmont-Mamaroneck, New York
Boca Raton, Florida
Lexington, Massachusetts
Newton, Massachusetts
East Lyme, Connecticut
Garden City, New York
OTHER VEHICLES
Recyclables can be collected without being compacted, by other
spare equipment, such as refuse scooters, or box-bed, pickup,
dump-body, and stake-body trucks. These smaller vehicles may
be operated and maintained at lower costs than compacting
vehicles and can be tailored to meet the needs of a program. In
particular, they may be equipped with bins or drums to collect
and store more than one material. Racks and trailers may also
be attached to noncompacting vehicles, many of which can be
designed to handle heavy materials.
The major disadvantage of using noncompacting vehicles is that
many do not have dumping mechanisms; materials must be un-
loaded manually. Furthermore, although the capacity of dump
trucks, pickup trucks, and refuse scooters is greater than that of
racks or trailers, these vehicles have less capacity than compactor
vehicles.
Temple Terrace, Florida, uses pickup trucks to store newspaper
and cardboard while hauling a trailer with bins to collect glass
and cans. Boca Raton, Florida, collects approximately 60 tons of
Refuse Scooter
Box-Bed Truck
Stake Body Truck
18
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
newspaper each week with two self-dumping stake body trucks.
The city rented the 15-cubic-yard vehicles from a local firm and
modified the side walls and back openings of the vehicles to in-
crease their capacity.
A private hauling company in West Orange, New Jersey, uses
two box-bed trucks to collect newspaper and glass. The glass
collection truck houses thirty 55-gallon drums that hold color-
sorted glass. The one-man crew of the newspaper collection truck
loads newspaper through a rear or side opening on the passenger
side.
Davis, California, contracts with a private hauler who uses a refuse
scooter with 2.5-cubic-yard self-dumping bins to collect news-
paper. Because of the small capacity of the bins, the vehicles must
be unloaded on-route into a larger vehicle, either a stationary
"mother" vehicle or a mobile "satellite" vehicle. In Montclair,
New Jersey, a 12-foot step van collects 3-4 tons of newspaper
at a time.
Advantages
Are available commercially
Offer variety of sizes
Are available for rental
Have lower purchase and operating costs than compacting
trucks
Are generally available to municipalities as spare multipurpose
vehicles
May be easily modified
Are readily serviced
Have good maneuverability
Disadvantages
Most vehicles require manual unloading
Some vehicles have small storage capacities
Some vehicles have high loading height
Design Issues
Capacity
Availability of vehicles and replacement parts
Durability
Communities Using the Equipment
Deerfield Beach, Florida (stake-body truck)
Temple Terrace, Florida (pickup truck with trailer)
Boca Raton, Florida (self-dumping stake-body truck)
Carmel, New York (stake-body truck with bins and pickup truck)
West Orange, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
Davis, California
Special Equipment
RACKS
Racks may be mounted into the side or rear of refuse collection
vehicles to store newspaper or mixed wastepaper. Mounted racks
enable a crew to collect refuse and separated paper simultaneously.
When collection of the two materials is combined, routes need
not be altered and residents need not learn a new schedule.
The most common type of rack is the side-loading rack; it is the
easiest to fabricate, install, and load. Some municipalities, however,
install overhead racks above the rear-loading hoppers of refuse
compactors because these racks generally have larger storage
capacities and are easier to unload.
When the amount of newspaper collected exceeds the storage
capacity of a rack, a mother or satellite vehicle may receive the
additional paper. Mother vehicles are trucks or mobile containers
stationed at prearranged points on collection routes; satellite
trucks travel around collection routes to collect paper that has
been dropped at pre-designated points. The latter generally are the
more convenient. Unloading racks into a passing truck takes only
19
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
a few minutes; traveling to a stationary truck or container can add
up to 20 minutes to a collection trip.
Side-Loading Racks
Side-loading racks are rectangular containers usually welded onto
the bottom right side of compacting trucks. They are used to
receive and hold paper loaded from the curb. Racks placed on
both sides of a truck are used to collect paper simultaneously
from both sides of the street.
Side-loading racks are usually made of steel. They may have doors
to help contain blowing paper. Madison, Wisconsin, uses a side
door made of wire mesh hinged to the bottom of the rack frame.
This door hooks onto the top of the rack with an elastic rope that
allows the rack to fill to capacity without losing paper.
All side racks are loaded and unloaded manually. Temple Terrace,
Florida, uses a side rack designed to "tilt dump"; the rack sits on
metal runners so that it can be pulled out from underneath the
truck. The rack is tilted manually until the paper is dumped, then
brought back to its original horizontal position and pushed back
underneath the truck.
Side-Loading Rack
Most side racks are designed, built, and installed by a public works
department or by a local ironworks company. Although no com-
pactor manufacturers advertise racks, several large manufacturers
will construct them if requested by a municipality. If a rack is to
be added to a truck, the chassis manufacturer should be informed
so he can make sure that the fuel tanks and other hydraulic
lines do not interfere with the rack placement. He may not be
albe to accommodate racks on both sides of the truck.
Advantages
Combined refuse and recyclables collection
Have low loading height
Are manufactured easily
Are installed and maintained at low cost
Disadvantages
Have limited capacity; may require other collection vehicles
to handle full load
Must be manually unloaded
Some trucks cannot be fitted with racks
Design Issues
Capacity
Durability
Door to contain paper
Communities Using the Equipment
Madison, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin
San Francisco, California
Temple Terrace, Flordia
Newington, Connecticut
20
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
General Specifications
Height: 2' - 2'6"
Width: 2'4" 2'6"
Length: 5'- 6'6"
Capacity: 1 cu yd to 1-1/2 cu yds - 500-900 Ibs of paper
Distance from rack to cab: 1'
Distance from rack to rear-loading hopper: 8'
Height from street to rack bottom: 1-1/2' minimum
Construction materials: frame of 1/8"x2'x2'; angle iron: 1/8";
flat stock side and bottom: 3/4"; flat wire mesh welded to
1'x5' door frame and hinged to rack frame with piano hinge;
3/8" rod to hold rope
Rear-Loading Racks
Rear-loading or overhead racks are built onto the back of refuse
vehicles above the rear-loading hopper. These racks are generally
larger than side-loading racks; the rear of a compactor vehicle
has fewer space restraints than the sides. Newspaper is tossed into
the racks from the side.
Collectors often develop shoulder and neck problems loading
rear-loading racks, especially when they are loading heavy bundles,
because the racks are high. As a result, several communities,
including Temple Terrace, Florida, have attempted to design
overhead racks with front panels or doors that can be lowered.
These rear-loading racks are unloaded by unhitching the front
door or the bottom panel of the rack and allowing the paper
to fall.
Rear-loading racks are more difficult to design, build, and install
than side racks and are usually more costly. Because newspaper
bundles are tossed into the racks, the racks must be made from
construction materials that can continually withstand the weight
of falling newspaper. Doors or panels in front must be designed
so that paper will not fall out while the rack is being loaded or
while the vehicle is moving.
Advantage
Have greater capacity than side racks
Disadvantages
Have high loading height
Unloading poses safety problems
Design Issues
Safety for collectors
Capacity
Durability
Loading and unloading procedures
Communities Using the Equipment
Temple Terrace, Florida
General Specifications
Height: 3'9"
Width: 7"
Capacity: 2 cu yds
Construction materials: angle iron frame, expanded metal
TRAILERS
A variety of trailers can be used for collecting recyclables: stan-
dard trailers, self-dumping trailers, and trailers with bins. Trailers
are being used by an increasing number of municipalities to collect
one or more recyclables simultaneously or to collect one or more
recyclables and refuse at the same time. Trailers attached to collec-
tion vehicles gather recyclables more efficiently than separate
trucks and crews. Collection time is increased only minimally
when newspapers or other recyclables are loaded into a trailer.
While some municipalities have modified standard trailers for
recyclables collection, others have provided local equipment
21
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
manufacturers and ironworks companies with design specifi-
cations and asked them to construct the trailers.
Trailers cannot be used in municipalities that have steep hills,
numerous alleys, or cul-de-sacs because of maneuvering problems.
In addition, state laws may prohibit hauling a trailer or more than
one trailer behind a refuse vehicle. Trailers that force collectors
to step over a tow bar can be dangerous. Taillights should be
installed on all trailers.
Single-Material Trailers
Single-material trailers usually collect newspaper and are attached
to a refuse truck. Because trailers have larger storage capacities
than racks, they usually do not need to unload on route.
Single-material trailers are available commercially in a variety
of sizes and designs. The storage capacities of single-axle trailers
generally range from 4-6 cubic yards, while tandem-axle trailers
average 10 cubic yards. Many single-material trailers are also able
to dump. Trailers should be able to dump to reduce unloading
time and to minimize potential safety problems.
Because many single-material trailers haul 1-2 ton loads of news-
paper, a strong towbar and trailer brakes are needed as well as a
vehicle that is heavy enough to pull the weight of the trailer and
materials. Low towbars and gooseneck towbars are safer than
ones placed directly above the compactor bumper.
Advantages
Have greater storage capacity than racks
Require minimal time for loading
Are commercially available
Require little maintenance
Cost less than separate collection
Disadvantages
Are difficult to maneuver
Incur higher capital costs than racks
Have potential safety hazards
Design Issues
Sufficient braking
Low or gooseneck towbar
Suitable capacity
Durability
Dumping mechanism
Single or tandem axle
Strong pulling vehicle
Communities Using the Equipment
East Hartford, Connecticut
Enfield, Connecticut
East Lyme, Connecticut
General Specifications for Dumping Trailer
Side height: 3'
Construction
Single-Material Trailer
Bed length:
Width:
Height of bed
from street:
Cost:
Capacity:
8' 10'
4' -6'
2' -3'
$3,000 -$6,000
4 -6 cu yds
materials:
Dumping
mechanism:
10- 12ga. steel
hydraulic pump
22
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Multimaterial Trailers
Multimaterial trailers are often attached to pulling vehicles and
used to collect two or more recyclables simultaneously. A trailer
can collect multiple materials more economically than can a
special vehicle or separate truck and crew.
Most multimaterial trailers carry separate bins for each material.
A forklift can lift the bins off the trailer bed or they can dump
hydraulically to the side. Partitions may be fitted into single-
material trailers to form separate material compartments. These
compartments can dump if doors are placed between them. The
doors should be locked during collection and unlocked to dump
one material at a time.
Midway Fishing Tool Company of California manufacture's
gooseneck trailers that can carry any model of standard waste
collection bin. Each trailer carries three separate containers which
are loaded and unloaded with a hydraulic fork-lift system. Two
trailers may be joined and pulled by a single vehicle.
Advantages
May collect and segregate more than one recyclable
Require minimal time for loading
Cost less than specialized vehicle or separate collections
Disadvantages
Have lower capacity for any one material than single-material
trailers
Are difficult to maneuver
Require strong pulling vehicle
Design Issues
Sufficient braking
Strong towbar
Low towbar
Suitable capacity of bins or compartments
Swamper steps on trailer to facilitate loading of bins
Durability
Unloading procedure
Single or tandem axle
Communities Using the Equipment
Modesto, California
Davis, California
San Luis Obispo, California
Fresno, California
Bakersfield, California
Temple Terrace, Florida
General Specifications for Midway Fishing Tool Trailer
Loading height: 5.5' (low pull towbar)
6.5' (5th wheel towbar)
Length of
vehicle: 16' - 19' (including towbar)
Width of
vehicle: 8'
Bin capacity: up to 1,000 IDS
23
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
COMPARTMENTALIZED VEHICLES
Several municipalities are using a truck which has distinct loading
and storage compartments to collect two or more recyclables
at once. Compartmentalized vehicles are designed to collect two or
more recyclables efficiently; have a greater capacity than multi-
material trailers or adapted trucks with bins. In addition, compart-
mentalized vehicles encourage participation because they collect
all recyclables on the same day and are most visible to residents.
Although most compartmentalized vehicles are more costly than.
other types of equipment, they collect larger volumes of recy-
clables. Revenues from selling the recyclables, as well as savings
to refuse collectors, may offset the higher costs of purchasing
compartmentalized vehicles.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided funds
and technical assistance to Marblehead and Somerville, Massa-
chusetts, to operate a compartmentalized vehicle with rear-loading
buckets.* Another vehicle, which collects three recyclables along
with refuse, is presently being tested by a private firm. A private
hauling company in Lexington, Massachusetts, has used a compart-
mentalized dump truck to collect three colors of glass and cans.
A private hauling company in Santa Rosa, California, which has
been using modified trucks with storage bins, has plans to pur-
chase a vehicle with bins designed specifically for multimaterial
collection.
Compartmentalized Dump Trucks
A standard dump truck modified to include compartments was
used by one-man crews of a private hauling company in Lexington,
Massachusetts, to collect color-sorted glass and cans. Of the truck's
* For further information on the Marblehead compartmentalized vehicle,
see Multimaterial Source Separation in Marblehead and Somerville, Massa-
chusetts: Collection and Marketing (SW-822), which evaluated the vehicle
performance for EPA.
four compartments with a total storage capacity of 12-15 cubic
yards, the clear glass compartment was the largest and the can
compartment next in size. Swing doors that could be opened for
unloading divided the compartments. The truck also provided
a space for paper bags.
Compartmentalized Dump Truck
Advantages
Collect two materials simultaneously
Need one-man crews
Unload easily
Do not mix materials
Capital cost is low compared to that of other compartment-
alized vehicles
Disadvantages
Loading height is high
One compartment could fill up faster than other compart-
ments
Design Issues
Capacity of compartments
Loading height
Unloading procedure
Community Using the Equipment
Lexington, Massachusetts
24
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Rear Loading Vehicles
Rear-loading compartmentalized vehicles have capacites of 16-20
cubic yards, significantly greater than those of multimaterial
trailers. The vehicles were demonstrated in Marblehead and
Somerville, Massachusetts; the design was further refined for
multimaterial collection in Newton, Massachusetts.
The Rendispos Company designed the Newton vehicle with a
compartmentalized hydraulically operated bucket into which
one or two collectors can place recyclables. The bucket is tipped
to unload materials into the compartmentalized truck body.
The Marblehead vehicle's bucket can collect newspaper, a mixture
of clear glass and cans, and a mixture of colored glass and cans
simultaneously.
Rear-Loading Compartmentalized Vehicle
Rear-loading compartmentalized vehicles have standard chassis
and cabs but specially fabricated bodies. The bodies of non-
packing vehicles are approximately rectangular. The material
compartments in the truck body and loading bucket of rear-
loading vehicles are adjustable. These adjustable compartments
compensate for wide weekly fluctuations in the composition of
the load of recyclables. The Marblehead vehicle minimizes bucket-
cycle time, i.e., the amount of time required for the bucket to
dump into the truck body. This feature is particularly important
because collection times and efficiency depend heavily on low
bucket-cycle times.
Advantages
Are commercially available
Collect two or more recyclables simultaneously
Load and unload easily
Have greater capacity than trailers
Can use two-man crews
Disadvantages
May mix materials or litter while dumping
Have high capital costs
Have higher maintenance
costs than multimaterial trailers
Design Issues
Capacity of compartments
Flexibility of compartments
Clearance and time required for loading buckets
Loading and unloading procedures
Communities Using the Equipment
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Newton, Massachusetts
General Specifications for Rendispos Vehicle
Total capacity: 16-20 cu yds
Body height: 6'2"
Width: 8'
Body and
chassis length: 21'4"
Total length: 26'8" (with buckets)
25
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Special Trucks With Bins
Several communities are using trucks that contain separate bins to
collect two or more recyclables simultaneously.
A private hauling company in Santa Rosa, California, collects
paper, glass, and cans in a modified flat-bed truck with six metal
bins, two bins for each material. The newspaper bins have ca-
pacities of 2 cubic yards, while the glass and metal ones hold
1.5 cubic yards of materials. The bins slide onto three cross frames
and are secured with pins to prevent them from sliding off the
truck. The major advantage of this collection method is that the
bins can be unloaded easily and quickly with a forklift.
The capital cost of a truck with bins is less than that of most
compartmentalized vehicles. However, the bins can only collect
800 pounds of glass, 500 pounds of metals, and 1,200 pounds of
paper at a time, and one storage bin often fills up faster than the
others.
Flat-Bed Truck With Bins
LoDal, Inc., has designed a front-loading vehicle with three self-
dumping bins, two with 4-cubic-yard capacity, and one with
an 8-cubic-yard capacity. One-man crews employed by the Santa
Rosa company will use these vehicles to collect three materials
simultaneously. The two 4-cubic-yard bins dump hydraulically
to the sides of the truck, while the 8-cubic-yard bin dumps to the
rear. LoDal also offers other combinations of bin sizes for the
collection of two or three recyclables.
Advantages
Have large capacity
May be operated by one-man crew
Have dual-drive cab
Bins are apportioned to volume
Can collect several materials simultaneously
Segregate materials
Are self-dumping
Have low loading height
Communities Using the Equipment
Santa Rosa, California
General Specifications (LoDal Vehicle)
Overall length: 33'
Width:
Loading
height:
Dumping
height:
95-3/4"
5'
LoDal Vehicle
Combined Refuse And Recyclables Carriers
A vehicle has been designed and developed by Recycling and
Conservation, Inc. and Drew-It Corporation to combine the
collection of three recyclables and refuse. This vehicle, called
26
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Separated Discards Carrier
the Separated Discards Carrier, is still being tested and is not yet
commercially available.
The Separated Discards Carrier stores recyclable materials in its
center section in compartmentalized containers. Glass and cans
are placed into side-loading buckets which, when full, are mechan-
ically lifted and dumped into 4-cubic-yard bins. Newspapers
are loaded into enclosed shelves on the side of the truck. The
shelves have a combined capacity of 42 cubic feet; they lift off
to unload. Regular refuse is placed into a rear-loading hopper
and fed with an auger into a 15-cubic-yard compactor body.
Advantage
Collect 3 recyclable materials and refuse simultaneously
Disadvantages
Large number of mechanisms increases maintenance
One bin may fill up faster than another
General Specifications
Glass bin
capacity: 5 cu yds
Can bin
capacity: 5 cu yds
Paper rack
capacity: 2 cu yds
Compactor
capacity: 15 cu yds of refuse
Truck: International Harvester Cargostar Model CO-1950 diesel
engine, V-6, automatic drive, power take-off for auxiliary
functions, continuous operating while idling or driving, two
axles, GVW minimum 32,000 Ibs
Wheelbase: 202"
Overall length: 29'
STORAGE EQUIPMENT
Most communities must store recyclable materials until they
collect a sufficient quantity to transport to market.
There are two basic types of storage containers: mobile and
stationary. Mobile containers can haul materials directly to mar-
ket; they are either pulled by or placed on a vehicle. Stationary
containers cannot be moved; materials must be loaded from them
and placed in another container or vehicle for transportation to
market. Both containers may be used at community recycling
centers; citizens may bring their materials and place them directly
in the containers.
Mobile Containers
Mobile containers include roll-off containers, refuse transfer trail-
ers, lugger boxes, 55-gallon drums, and other open-top containers.
Of these, the most efficient are roll-off containers and transfer
trailers, which have greater capacity than a single-collection
vehicle. Mobile containers may be loaded manually or with a
front-end loader.
They are commercially available; commonly used for refuse
operations, they may often be acquired from municipalities and
private sanitation companies as spare containers.
27
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
ROLL-OFF CONTAINERS
Roll-off containers are available in a variety of sizes and may be
used to store any material. Compartmentalized roll-off containers
may be loaded manually or mechanically. Some communities have
built a ramp above the roll-off box from which collection vehicles
may dump materials. Once full, the containers are pulled onto the
roll-off truck by a winch or hydraulic cylinder and transported to
the market.
Communities Using the Equipment
Modesto, California
Newton, Massachusetts
Lexington, Massachusetts
Wellesley, Massachusetts
East Hartford, Connecticut
Newington, Connecticut
Enfield, Connecticut
East Lyme, Connecticut
Davis, California
Temple Terrace, Florida
General Specifications
Roll-Off Container
Capacity:
Height:
Width:
Length:
Cost:
Materials:
10-50cu yds
3'-8'
5'-8'
5' - 22'
$3,000 - 6,000
welded steel
Advantages
Come in a variety of sizes
Require little maintenance
Eliminate second handling
Are available commercially
Can be leased
Disadvantage
Don't protect materials from weather
Design Issues
Capacity
Loading procedure
Watertightness
REFUSE TRANSFER TRAILERS
Transfer trailers are used to store and haul a single material, most
commonly newspaper or mixed wastepaper, to market. The
material may be loaded into the vehicle either manually or by a
hopper positioned above the transfer trailer. Either the hopper or
the trailer contains a hydraulic ram that compacts the materials.
When the trailer is full, any trailer tractor can take it to market.
There the compactor ram unloads the trailer by pushing materials
out of the body.
Source-separation programs can make efficient use of trailers.
Trailers serve as both containers and vehicles; they store and haul
materials. Trailers may be used to transport refuse at times when
they are not used for recyclables.
28
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Transfer Station
Advantages
Have high capacity
Load and unload easily
Are available commercially
Are easily maintained
Are durable
Are hauled easily
May be used for several purposes
Disadvantage
Cost is higher than that of roll-off containers
Communities Using the Equipment
Mamaroneck, New York
Larchmont-Mamaroneck, New York
General Specifications
Capacity: 50 - 80 cu yds
OTHER MOBILE CONTAINERS
Containers such as lugger boxes, 55-gallon drums, and other open-
top containers may be used to store materials temporarily. These
units may be filled either manually or mechanically.
Containers should be selected on the basis of their availability,
capacity, and cost. The availability of machinery to unload the
containers should also be considered. Although units are avail-
able commercially, a source separation program can make its own
with existing labor and materials. Reinforced steel containers are
more durable than wooden ones.
Open-Top Container
Advantages
Have adequate capacity
Load and unload easily
Are available commercially
Are durable
Cost is low
Require little maintenance
Can be used for refuse
Disadvantage
Hold only one material
Lugger Box
29
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CHAPTER ONE: COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Design Issues
Loading and unloading procedures
Weather protection
Communities Using the Equipment
Larchmont-Mamaroneck, New York
Mamaroneck, New York
Carmel, New York
Newington, Connecticut
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Madison, Wisconsin
Stationary Bins
Stationary Bins
Containers such as wooden or steel boxes or cement bins may
store one or more materials at a central facility. The containers
may be filled either manually or mechanically and are emptied
by a front-end loader that transfers the materials to a hauling
vehicle.
Although manufactured containers may be u-sed, most programs
build their own stationary containers with existing labor and
materials. Programs that build their own containers must be aware
of existing laws that specify safety requirements for refuse con-
tainers. Stationary containers used at recycling centers may serve
the dual purpose of receiving and storing materials.
Stationary Bins
30
Advantages
Serve several purposes
Have large capacity
Have low cost
Require little maintenance
Disadvantages
Hauling requires additional handling of materials
Are not watertight
Design Issues
Capacity
Strength
Durability
Loading and unloading procedures
Construction materials
Communities Using the Equipment
East Hartford, Connecticut
West Orange, New Jersey
Wellesley, Massachusetts
-------
CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Many programs increase the market value of their source-separated
materials by processing them to upgrade their purity and size.
But by processing materials, these programs incur additional
labor and equipment costs. Before deciding to process, program
officials should be certain that the increase in revenues they will
gain will offset the additional costs.
Paper can be upgraded at a lower cost than glass or metals because
markets do not require that it be as pure as other materials and
because it is shredded and baled easily. It also can be recovered
in higher volumes. The market price of paper varies, but baled
paper is usually worth much more than unbaled paper. Baled
paper can easily be stored for long periods or shipped to distant
markets to take advantage of higher prices. Newspaper markets
have varying standards for quality of separated paper. Many have
very high standards, requiring that newspaper be free of magazines
and corrugated paper. Newspaper which is free of other materials
generally receives a higher price.
Systems to separate ferrous from nonferrous cans are slightly
more complex than systems to process paper. These systems
separate cans magnetically and then flatten or shred them for
shipment. Steel cans make up a smaller portion of the total
recyclables in the waste stream than paper or glass, and their
market price is lower than that of glass (see Figure 5). Even so,
processing significantly improves the value of metal cans. Mixed
cans have no industrial market; magnetically separated cans are
worth $20 to $40 a ton. Aluminum cans bring the highest market
price of any recyclable at $460 a ton, and are lower in quantity
than other recyclables, but provide the highest profit margin per
ton after shredding.
Glass systems are considerably more complex than paper and can
systems. They separate glass by color and free it of ceramic con-
taminants. Residents separate colored glass at the curb or recycling
center. At the processing facility, glass is further separated by
color and contaminants are removed by hand. (No mechanical
systems to remove ceramics or to separate glass by color are
available commercially. Although mechanical optical sorting
systems are being tested, they are extremely expensive.) After
glass has been cleaned, it is crushed and screened to remove
metal caps and rings and labels. Although the labor and equip-
ment needed to process glass are more costly than those needed
for paper or cans, they often generate greater revenues. Glass
can be recovered in large quantities and brings a market price of
$10 to $30 a ton.
Figure 5
Volume and Market Price of
Unprocessed and Processed Recyclables'
Product
Baled Newspaper
Glass Gullet
Ferrous Metal
Aluminum Metal
Industrial
Market Price
(FOB) of
Unprocessed
Recyclables
($ per ton)
0-25
0- 15
0- 10
400
Industrial
Market Price
(FOB) of
Processed
Recyclables
($ per ton)
20-60
fluctuates
35-60
steady
10-50
fluctuates
500 - 700
* Marblehead, Massachusetts multjmaterial source separation program, 1978.
SOURCE: Resource Planning Associates, Inc.
31
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
PROCESSING SYSTEMS
A processing facility can have several systems, or lines, including
ones to process:
Paper
Mixed glass
Mixed cans
Mixed glass and cans.
Paper Process Line
Newspapers are separated by hand from lower-grade materials
such as magazines and nonpaper products and conveyed by belt
or pneumatic tube to a shredder. Next the paper is baled and
moved by a hand truck or forklift to storage. Alternatively,
paper can be baled without shredding. Corrugated cardboard
can be processed in the same manner as newspaper; however,
it usually is not necessary to shred corrugated paper.
Clear glass
Hand-sort
glass
Brown glass
Crush glass
Screen out
metals and labels
Hand sort
paper
Shred Bale Store for
paper paper shipment
Mixed Glass Process Line
Glass is sorted by hand on a table or conveyor belt to separate
colors and to remove contaminants. Each color is run through
a crushing device that breaks the glass bottles into small pieces
(cullet). The crushed glass is then put through a screen to remove
metaTcaps, rings, and labels. The finished cullet is loaded directly
into a hauling container or stored for later shipment.
Store for
shipment
Mixed Cans Process Line
Ferrous cans are separated magnetically from aluminum cans
and other objects (foil, pie tins, etc.). Both the ferrous cans and
aluminum materials are shredded or flattened to increase their
density for shipment. Industrial markets generally require alu-
minum to be shredded and ferrous cans to be flattened. Aluminum
cans must also be shredded to release trapped moisture prior to
resmelting.
Bimetal cans, ferrous cans with aluminum tops, flow through the
ferrous can line. In most areas of the country, the concentration
of these cans in the waste stream is low. As the amounts of these
cans increase, however, the contamination of the ferrous product
32
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
by bimetal cans may become a problem. Presently equipment
to cut aluminum tops off ferrous cans is being tested; bimetal
cans are not marketable as a separate product.
Ferrous
cans v.
Magnetically
separate
ferrous cans
Shred or
"> flatten -
' metals
Store for
shipment
Aluminum
cans
Mixed Glass and Cans Process Line
This line essentially combines the two previous process lines and
requires no special equipment. As it separates cans from glass,
this line makes it easier for residents to participate in a recycling
program.
Clear
glass
- Store for
shipment
lagnetically
sparate ^
?rrous cans
ferrous
Hand-sort
-aluminum
and glass
^N
aluminum
1
Shred or
flatten
metals ^*"
*
Green
glass
'Brown''
glass
Store for
shipment
^Crush
- screen
__glass
Ferrous cans are separated magnetically from a mixture of glass
and cans and then shredded or flattened and stored for shipment.
The mixture of glass and nonferrous cans is then sorted manually
from a conveyor into streams of aluminum and clear, green,
and brown glass. Aluminum is processed in the same manner as
ferrous cans. Glass, sorted by color, is crushed, then screened
and stored for shipment.
SELECTING PROCESSING EQUIPMENT
In designing a processing system, a community should consider
the volume of materials it will process and the quality of materials
its markets require. The stricter the market requirements, the
more complex the equipment the processing center will need;
the larger its volume of materials, the more advanced the equip-
ment the center can afford. Figure 6 shows processing equipment
typically used in various process lines.
The largest processing systems in the country (Figure 7) use
equipment such as pit bales for paper, large crushers for glass,
and expensive conveyance systems to purify source-separated
materials. Their capital costs range from $50,000 to $100,000.
Smaller processing systems, however, have made or adapted
equipment. Several community processing programs have used
buildings, trucks, and other equipment donated by their munici-
palities or by community service organizations.
Processing systems are new; even specially designed equipment
needs to be refined to increase output and to improve working
conditions and safety. In planning and designing a processing
facility, officials should follow occupational health and safety
standards and should consult a registered professional engineer
or safety consultant. Common flaws with present systems are
insufficient lighting, high noise levels, dust, and unsafe control
mechanisms. All of these can be easily corrected.
33
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Figure 6
Processing Equipment by Process Line
Equipment
Front-end loader
Forklift
Hand truck
Conveyor
Pneumatic systems
Baler
Shredder
Glass crusher
Can f lattener
Vibrating screen
Trommelscreen
Storage bins
Scale
0)
c
II
o
o
o
O
o
o
o
o
9 Commonly used O Sometimes used
SOURCE: Resource Planning Associates, Inc.
O
o
a
c
CD tn
1 3
jo a>
OS
O
o
o
34
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Figure 7
Processing Systems and Their Characteristics
Location/
Operator
El Cerrito, California/
Municipality
Modesto, California/
Ecology Action Institute
Santa Rosa, California/
Redwood Empire Disposal
Boulder, Colorado/
Eco-Cycle, Inc.
Wellesley, Massachusetts/
Municipality
Number of
Employees Products
7 Shredded aluminum
5 Baled newspaper
Shredded aluminum
2 Baled newspaper
Baled corrugated
3 Baled newspaper
Baled corrugated
1 Baled newspaper
Baled corrugated
Baled magazines
Throughput
(tons/month)
49.0
140.0
25.0
115.0
600.0
125.0
35.0
50.0
10.0
17.0
Equipment
Can shredder
Magnetic separator
Conveyor
Forklift
Scale
Building
Baler
Can shredder
Magnetic separator
Forklift
Scale
3- Large storage containers
20-Rotatable yard bins
Pit baler
Forklift
Loading ramp
20 cu yd storage
30 cu yd storage
Pit baler
Forklift
Trailer
Ramp
Loading dock
Baler
Scale
Loading areas
Roll-off truck
30 cu yd roll-off box
40 cu yd roll-off box
50 cu yd roll-off box
Capacity/
Hour Capital Cost ($)
1,000 13,000
2,500
2,500
8,000
2,000
4,500
4,000 6,000
700 2,300
3,000 1 ,800 (plus $85 wiring)
14,000 (used)
4,000
2,000 (each)
170 (each)
40,000
9,000
5,000
2,000
3,000
600 3,500 (plus $2,000 installation)
4,000 1 ,300
5,000 (plus $2,000 installation)
5,000
56,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
35
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Figure 7 (continued)
Processing Systems and Their Characteristics
Location/
Operator
Grand Rapids, Michigan/
Recycling Unlimited, Inc.
Carmel, New York/
Municipality
Seattle, Washington/
Seattle Recycling, Inc.
Number of
Employees Products
12 Flattened ferrous metals
Flattened aluminum
metals
Crushed glass
5 Baled newspaper
Baled corrugated
Baled specialty paper
2 Crushed glass cullet
Flattened ferrous cans
Flattened aluminum cans
Throughput
(tons/month)
7.5
2.0
65.0
64.0
20.0
4.0
1.0
Equipment
Can flattener
Can conveyor
Glass crusher
Glass conveyor
Facility
Gravel truck
Baler (used)
Front-end loader
Demolition trailer
Glass crusher
Can flattener
Magnetic separator
Can conveyor
Glass conveyor
Forklift
Pallet jack
Site development
Scale
5-Storage bins
Storage cart
Capacity/
Hour Capital Cost ($)
NA
NA
NA
5,000
NA
NA
1,200
1,500
4,000
4,000 1 ,040 (plus $500 installation)
4,000 4,500 (plus $240 delivery,
$320 installation)
500 1,775 (plus $120 delivery, $200
wiring, $120 modification)
200 (plus $60 modification)
250 (plus $500 installation,
$250 modification)
5,200
300
4,200
1,650 (plus $40 installation)
450 (each)
40
SOURCE: Resource Planning Associates, Inc.
36
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
PROCESSING EQUIPMENT CATALOGUE
The following catalogue is designed to help officials select pro-
cessing equipment and design effective processing systems.
It illustrates pieces of equipment currently being used and de-
scribes their application, design specifications, advantages, and
disadvantages. It also discusses design and selection issues and
lists communities using the equipment. A list of manufacturers
of processing equipment is contained in Appendix C.
The catalogue is organized in order of the major steps in all
process lines: receiving, conveying, and processing. Equipment
to store processed materials is included in Chapter 1.
37
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
RECEIVING EQUIPMENT
Front-End Loader
A front-end loader is a small powered vehicle with a bucket on the
front end which is used to scoop up materials. Front-end loaders
and forklifts are used to move materials in bulk within a process-
ing facility. Front-end loaders are better suited than forklifts to
lifting loose materials off the ground. However, concrete or
blacktop pavement or flooring is needed to keep materials lifted
by front-end loaders free from dust.
Small front-end loaders are the most useful for processing oper-
ations because they are easily maneuvered. Smaller models can be,
powered by propane. This minimizes exhaust fumes, which can
be a problem indoors.
Several programs have shared the use of municipally owned
front-end loaders with the other municipal departments.
Advantages
A variety of models is commercially available
Are suitable for use with any recyclable material
Can be shared with other organizations for other uses
Disadvantages
Initial cost is high - $15,000 to $25,000
Are not designed specifically for recycling programs
Design Issues
Appropriate size
Driver visibility
Ease of operation and maintenance
Communities Using the Equipment
East Hartford, Connecticut
Newton, Massachusetts
Temple Terrace, Florida
Santa Rosa, California
General Specifications
Capacity of
bucket:
Engine:
1 /4 to 3/4 cu yd
diesel, gasoline, propane
Forklift Truck
Many processing facilities use standard forklift trucks to move
containers onto and off of vehicles and around the facility. There
are many varieties of forklift trucks. Some have forks that fit
under newspaper bales or pallets or into containers. Others have
grippers that fit around barrels or drums, rotating forks that turn
containers over from dumping, or side-shifting heads that move
containers sideways.
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Forklifts are most valuable to processing facilities that spend much
of each day moving containers. Because the cost of a forklift
can be high (up to $15,000), a program should determine the
amount of use the equipment will have and the weight of the
materials and containers to be moved prior to buying the equip-
ment. A municipal processing program should consider sharing
the forklift with other community programs.
The Modesto, California, recycling program uses a two-ton capac-
ity forklift with a rotating head fork. The forklift removes bins
from collection trucks and dumps materials directly into the
processing equipment (e.g., cans into the can shredder).
There are many forklift models available, new and used. Propane-
powered models create fewer exhaust fumes and may be more
suitable for indoor use than gasoline-powered models. A forklift
with a lifting capacity of one ton should be sufficient for most
processing facilities.
Front-end loaders cannot transport containers; they transport
materials that have been dumped out of containers. If a front-end
loader is available to a processing program, however, officials
should consider using it to save the cost of purchasing a forklift.
If the full containers are not larger than a cubic yard in volume
and do not weigh more than three tons, a program might use
pallet trucks for moving containers around the facility.
Advantages
Are available commercially
Are able to lift considerable weight
Have many uses
Can raise and lower containers
With rotating head forks can dump materials
Disadvantage
Are more expensive than pallet trucks
Communities Using the Equipment
Santa Rosa, California
Modesto, California
Seattle, Washington
El Cerrito, California
Grand Rapids, Michigan
General Specifications
up to 5 tons or higher with extended forks
Capacity:
Height with
extended forks:
Width:
Length:
Cost:
10' 12'
3'-4'
7'-9'
$3,000-$15,000
Forklift
Pallet Trucks
Standard warehouse pallet trucks can move recyclables on pallets
(e.g., baled newspaper) or in bins with lift pockets. The trucks
also can load pallets or bins into vehicles from loading docks.
Pallet trucks can maneuver heavy quantities of recyclables safely
39
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
and efficiently. But they cannot dump materials from bins because
they are unable to lift bins to the necessary height.
Most pallet trucks use a manual hydraulic system to lift bins or
pallets off the floor. To aid the trucks, the processing facility
should have a level and smooth floor. The length of each fork
should be at least equal to that of the bins. Otherwise, bins might
tilt or roll off the pallet truck. The Seattle, Washington, multi-
material program currently uses a pallet truck to unload collection
bins and to move them into the processing facility.
Advantages
Are readily available
Are safe to use
Can be maneuvered in tight spaces
Are easy to operate
Are durable
Cost is low
Disadvantages
Require smooth flooring
Are compatible only with bins or pallets
Are unable to lift bins to dumping height
Community Using the Equipment
Seattle, Washington
General Specifications
Capacity:
Height:
Width:
Length:
Cost:
Construction
materials:
up to 3 tons
2'-3'
20" - 34"
30" - 70"
$425 to $750
welded steel with metal or polyurethane wheels
CONVEYING EQUIPMENT
Conveyor Belts
Conveyor belts serve a variety of purposes in processing facilities.
Grand Rapids, Michigan, uses conveyor belts to sort recyclables
manually before they are further 'processed. Many facilities use
conveyor belts to move recyclables from in-feed hoppers to
processing equipment such as magnetic separators, can flatteners,
and glass crushers.
Conveyor belts may also move processed recyclables to storage
bins and hauling vehicles. After bottles are crushed at the pro-
cessing facility in Seattle, Washington, a short conveyor belt
passes the cullet through the facility wall to a roll-off container
located in the truck yard.
New and used conveyor belts are available commercially at low
costs. They also may be manufactured for specific uses or adapted
to meet particular needs.
An agricultural grain conveyor, for example, could be adapted to
move bottles to crushing and screening equipment. In selecting
conveyor systems, special attention should be given to the belt
material and to the motor size. Conveyance of metals often
requires a PVC belt and a motor with 0.5 horsepower.
Conveyor Belt
40
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Advantages
Cost is low
Are available used
Provide mobility
Easy to operate
Are flexible
Disadvantages
Require repair and maintenance
Cannot move considerable weight at one time
Design Issues
Belt material
Motor size
Belt width and length
Communities Using the Equipment
Seattle, Washington
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Sessler, Inc., Norwalk, California
Recycling Enterprises, Oxford, Massachusetts
General Specifications
Capacity: variable
Height: 3'- 5'
Width: 1'-5'
Length:
Cost:
Power
requirements:
variable
$100 - $2,000 (Price varies according to material,
length, and width.)
110-220 volts
of cullet are to be handled, a belt that can withstand the abrasive
and chemical actions of glass should be selected. The length and
width of the belt should be selected to maximize system capacity
and throughput. Extra belting and fasteners are a useful purchase;
belts often tear or break and require on-site repair.
Pneumatic Tubes
Pneumatic tubes are used to convey flattened or shredded cans
and shredded paper to storage and transport containers. The
major advantage of using pneumatic tubes is that they eliminate
manual handling of the processed materials.
Recycling programs have experienced some problems with using
pneumatic tubes to transport cans. Because most tubes are con-
structed of steel, metal cans create a severe noise problem when
blown through them. Sound retardation components are being
developed to lessen this problem. Another problem is clogging;
depending on the size of the pieces and the rate at which they
are fed into the tube, cans may get stuck.
In Seattle, Washington, mixed cans are separated magnetically and
steel cans are conveyed by belt to a can flattener. The flattened
cans drop into a receiving pit of a pneumatic tube; the processed
cans are blown into a self-dumping hopper. The tube is adjustable
in length and height.
Advantages
Are durable
Conveyance of glass requires a heavier belt made from steel or
rubber and a motor with 0.5 1.0 horsepower. If large volumes
Are auraoie
Are available commercially
Are easy to operate and maintain
Disadvantages
May jam flattened cans
Metal cans cause noise
41
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Pneumatic Tube
Communities Using the Equipment
Seattle, Washington
El Cerrito, California
Modesto, California
General Specifications
Height: 3' 7'
Length: 7'- 20'
Width: 2'-3'
Weight: 1,200 - 1,800 Ibs
Power
requirements:
Cost:
PROCESSING EQUIPMENT
Balers
There are two basic systems that bale paper and aluminum:
Downstroke balers. Magazines and corrugated cartons col-
lected by the recycling effort in El Cerrito, California, are
baled in a vertical downstroke chain-drive baler. Newspapers
can also be baled with this equipment.
Upstroke (pit) balers. Newsprint collected in Santa Rosa,
California, is unloaded from collection bins and scooped into
the pit of an upstroke hydraulic baler. The half-ton bales are
loaded into transport trailers for shipment to a mill.
Paper balers are manufactured with many options. Balers are
either hydraulically driven or electrically powered. Some models
eject bales while others require manual bale removal.
Some balers have pressure systems that can adjust to varying bale
densities to accommodate the grade of paper being processed.
4 6 h.p. motor, 220 or 240 volts, 3 phase
$500 - $2,000
Baler
42
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Advantages
Many types are available new or used
Require little maintenance
Have high resale value
Reduce volume 3:1 for whole paper and 10-15:1 for shredded
paper when blown into baler
Disadvantage
Have high initial cost
Communities Using the Equipment
Santa Rosa, California
Modesto, California
El Cerrito, California
Boulder, Colorado
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Carmel, New York
General Specifications
Height:
Length:
Width:
Weight:
'Power
requirements:
4' 10'
4' - 20'
2V2' - 4'
1 ton - 15 tons
220 - 440
Capacity of downstroke baler: 500-650 pound bales
Cost of downstroke baler: $3,000 (used) - $6,000 (new)
Capacity of upstroke (pit) baler: 600 - 1,000 pound bales
Capacity of horizontal baler: 600 - 1,500 pound bales
Cost of horizontal baler: $20,000 - $60,000
In many cases, the paper buyer will determine the size of baler
used. For instance, paper to be shipped long distances or to be
exported may need to be baled at a greater density than paper
to be sold to a local user.
Magnetic Separators
Commercially available magnetic separators can separate ferrous
and bimetal cans from aluminum cans and glass easily. Two
generic types of magnetic separators are available:
The magnetic head pulley can separate ferrous metals from
whole, flattened or shredded cans. When mixed materials are
conveyed over a rotating magnetic pulley, nonferrous materials
fall forward and ferrous materials fall below the pulley into
a bin or another conveyor. The width of the head pulley and
the width and incline of the conveyor belt determine the
system's capacity.
The magnetic belt system is used for shredded metals. A
magnetic conveyor lifts ferrous metals off a conveyor belt.
Of the two kinds of separators, the magnetic head pulley is the
the simplest and most versatile. It can be adjusted to work
effectively at many capacities and is easily operated and
maintained. Most magnetic head pulleys are mounted on a
frame with wheels and can be moved easily.
Magnetic Separator
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Advantages
Are operated and maintained easily
Are faster and more reliable than hand separation
Disadvantages
Have high initial cost
Are unable to distinguish bimetal cans from ferrous cans
Design Issues
Width of pulley head
Durable belt material
Take-up bearings to adjust belt tension
Adjustable conveyor incline
Communities Using Magnetic Head Pulley Type
Modesto, California
Seattle, Washington
El Cerrito, California
Davis, California
General Specifications for Magnetic Head Pulley
Motor: electric, 1/2 hp, 220 volts
Width of
head pulley: 12"-36"
Cost: $2,000 - $3,000
Can Flatteners
Can flatteners are used to reduce the volume of cans as required
by market, storage, or transportation conditions. Aluminum and
ferrous cans should be separated before flattening.
A can flattener presses cans between a drum and a wheel and
pushes them into storage or transport containers or into a pneu-
matic tube that conveys them to containers. Flatteners reduce
the volume of cans by 400 percent and can handle between
2,000 - 3,000 Ibs of material per hour.
Cans should be checked inside for materials such as nuts and
bolts, which could harm the flattener or shredder. Large metal
items can jam the flattening mechanism; a spring flattening wheel
may be needed to process containers larger than a %-gallon can.
Miller Manufacturing has developed a special flattener which
can process one-gallon cans.
Seattle, Washington uses a can flattener to decrease the cost of
hauling cans to market to meet purchase specifications. Ferrous
cans enter the feed hopper of the flattener and fall between a
powered rubber wheel and a free spinning steel wheel. The flat-
tened metals are conveyed pneumatically into self-dumping
hoppers to be shipped to market.
Can Flattener
Advantages
Have capacity of 2,000 and 3,000 Ibs per hour
Reduce volume by 400 percent
Are available commercially
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Disadvantages
May be jammed
Initial cost is high
Design Issues
Request weathertight electrical panels
Purchase additional belting
Include a volume reduction specification
Communities Using the Equipment
Seattle, Washington
Modesto, California
Fresno, California
General Specifications
Height:
Length:
Width:
Weight:
Power
requirements:
Cost:
6'-7'
6' - 15'
4'-5'
1,000-2,200 Ibs
220 - 440 3-phase
$3,000 - $5,000
Can Shredders
Aluminum and ferrous cans may be shredded mechanically to re-
duce their volume and to increase their marketability. Aluminum
cans should be shredded to release trapped moisture before
resmelting. Shredded materials are easier to handle, require less
storage space, and can be transported in greater volumes to market.
Aluminum is the more common metal to be shredded. Ferrous
cans generally have to be flattened before shredding, whereas
aluminum cans do not. The same can shredder can be used for
both ferrous and aluminum cans; however, the equipment must
be opened and the grinding screens changed each time the material
is switched, as different shred sizes are required for each material.
Cans are fed into the shredder's hopper; from there they fall
between a rotating shredder plate and a firm exterior plate.
The kind of shredder plate varies with the kind of metal being
processed. After the metal has been shredded, it is blown or
dropped into a storage or transport container.
Advantages
Reduce volume of recyclables
Are commercially available
Can shred high volumes of cans
Increase value of cans
Disadvantages
Create noise and dust problems
Have high initial cost
Communities Using the Equipment
El Cerrito, California
Modesto, California
General Specifications
Height:
Width:'
Length:
Weight:
Power
requirements:
Cost:
Throughput
per hour:
5' 7'
4' -6'
8'- 15'
one-two tons
220 - 440 3-phase
$8,000 - $20,000
500, 1 ,000, 2,000, 3,000, <
4,000 Ibs
45
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Although can shredders are generally manufactured for use by
high-volume commercial recyclers, smaller units are beginning to
be developed to meet the needs of community programs. Modesto,
California, uses a can shredder that processes 700 Ibs of aluminum
cans per hour. The shredder reduces the volume of the cans by
a ratio of eight to one.
Glass Crushers
Crushing increases the density of glass. Crushed glass has a volume
six times less than that of uncrushed glass, and is more easily
shipped. The most common glass crusher system is the hammer-
mill. Its rotating steel arms smash glass bottles at a high speed
into crushed glass particles, called cullet. Vibrating or trommel
screens made of wire mesh then separate labels and metal caps
from the glass.
Glass is highly abrasive and tends to wear metal components
quickly. Glass dust can be a problem unless strictly controlled;
it wears down bearings and may be a hazard to personnel.
A wide variety of crushers is available. A small portable crusher
can be mounted on top of a 55-gallon steel drum. The crusher
motor is about 1/2 horsepower and can crush 400 Ibs of glass per
hour. The portable crusher works well on most glass bottles
except champagne bottles.
Large hammermill systems can crush over 8 tons per hour. These
machines have powerful 10-15 horsepower electric motors and
breaker arms made of high-quality hard-faced steel. Although
these systems are more durable than portable systems, they are
expensive and are economical only if they process high volumes
of glass. Hammermill crushers operate at high speeds and present
potential safety hazards.
Market requirements for cullet particle size vary from 2" pieces
to sand-like particles. Some crushers can be adjusted to produce
a range of particle sizes; others produce only one size.
Glass Crushers
Advantages
Reduce volume of glass 6 to 1
Remove labels, caps, and rings mechanically
Increase market value of glass
Are available commercially
Disadvantages
Cause noise and dust problems
Require much maintenance
Have high initial cost
Communities Using the Equipment
Seattle, Washington
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Norwalk, California (Sessler, Inc.)
Oxford, Massachusetts (Recycling Enterprises, Inc.
Montclair, New Jersey
General Specifications
Power requirements:
Cost of portable crusher:
Cost of hammermill crusher:
Scales
110, 220, or 400 volts
$300 - $600
$1,000-$21,000
A recycling program or recycling center can determine its effec-
tiveness and efficiency by weighing the materials it collects or
processes. Many programs also use scales to verify the weights
of recyclables that are reported by haulers and markets.
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CHAPTER TWO: PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
New and used scales are available commercially in a wide variety
of sizes. A basic portable scale is often used to weigh individual
containers of recyclables averaging 1,000 pounds. This scale is
particularly useful to weigh recyclables being purchased from
the public; recyclables can easily be lifted onto the scale by hand
or with a forklift.
Truck or "platform" scales have larger capacities than portable
scales and are used to weigh refuse in collection vehicles at munici-
pal transfer stations or landfHIs. These scales can also be used to
weigh recyclables delivered by citizens.
Staff of the El Cerrito, California, program unload collection
bins at their processing facility and weigh the bins on a platform
scale.
The calibration equipment and the springs under scale platforms
can be easily damaged, especially if a forklift hits the scale or
drops heavy bins onto the platform. The cost of scale maintenance
and repair may be very high. In selecting scales, officials can
minimize equipment repair costs by paying special attention to
capacity limitations, construction materials, and platform size.
Advantages
Provide exact measure of program impact and efficiency
Are available commercially
Have high resale value
Are flexible
Disadvantages
Are easily damaged
Have high maintenance and repair costs
Capacity
Design Issues
Capacity
Construction materials
Platform size
Calibration gradients
Maintenance and repair
Communities Using the Equipment
Modesto, California
Seattle, Washington
El Cerrito, California
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Larchmont-Mamaroneck, New York
Recycling Enterprises, Oxford, Massachusetts
Sessler, Inc., Norwalk, California
General Specifications for Truck Scale
Length:
Width:
Capacity:
Construction
materials:
20'-60'
10'- 14'
1 150 tons
steel or wood
Scale
Cost of small platform scales:
Cost of large platform scales:
$500
up to $10,000
47
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APPENDIX A: REFERENCES
Aluminum Association. Aluminum Recycling Casebook. Washing-
ton, D.C. 1979.
Civic Action Institute. Community-Based Waste Recycling and
Neighborhood Action Guide. Washington, D.C. 1979.
Citizens Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality. "Re-
source Recovery, Recycling and Reuse." In Annual Report 1972.
Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1972.
Community Services Administration. Recycling in Your Com-
munity: A Guide to Make It Happen. Prepared by Fresno County
Economic Opportunities Commission. March 1979.
Glass Containers Manufacturers Institute. The Handling of Glass
Containers to be Recycled. 1975.
Hansen, P "Recovery Technology Update from the U.S. EPA:
Resource Recovery Through Multi-Material Source Separation."
Waste Age (7(10)), October 1976, p. 30.
Herbert, W. and W.A. Flower. "Glass and Aluminum Recovery
in Recycling Operations." Public Works (102 (8)), August 1971,
p. 70.
Indiana State Board of Health. A Guide To Recycling: The Source
Separation Way. 1979.
League of Women Voters. Recycle: In Search of New Policies for
Resource Recovery (132). 1972.
. Curbing Trash (147). 1977.
-. Picking Up on Garbage: A Citizen Action Guide (Waste
Alert 1). 1979.
National Science Foundation. User's Manual for Development of
Performance Specifications for Refuse Collection Vehicles. 1979.
48
Public Works Historical Society. Recovering the Past: A Handbook
of Community Recycling Programs, 1890-1945. Chicago, Illinois.
1979.
Resources for the Future, Inc. Recycling: The Alternative to
Disposal. Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1975.
Smith, F.L.L., Jr. "Wastepaper Recycling: Review of Recent
Market Demand and Supply." Pulp and Paper (49 (10)), Septem-
ber 1975, pp. 148-151.
U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration. Waste
Flow Characteristics and Resource Recovery. 1976.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Analysis of Source Sepa-
rate Collection of Recyclable Solid Waste Collection Center
Studies (SW-95 c.2). Prepared by SCS Engineers, Inc. 1974.
Analysis of Source Separate Collection of Recyclable Solid
Waste - Separate Collection Studies (SW-95 c.2). Prepared by SCS
Engineers, Inc. 1974.
A National Survey of Separate Collection Programs (SW-
778). Prepared by D. Cohen. 1979.
Evaluation of a Compartmentalized Refuse Collection
Vehicle for Separate Newspaper Collection (PB-257 969). Pre-
pared by SCS Engineers, Inc. 1979.
. Let's Recycle! A Teacher's Guide for Grades K-6 and 7-12
(SW-8011. 1980.
. Market Locations for Recovered Materials (SW-518).
Prepared by S.E. Howard. 1976.
. Operating a Recycling Center: A Citizen's Guide (SW-770).
Prepared by the Portland Recycling Team. 1980.
-------
. Recycling: Assessment and Prospects of Success (SW-81).
Prepared by A. Darnay. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing
Office. 1972.
. Residential Paper Recovery: A Community Action Program.
Prepared by the National Center for Resource Recovery. 1976.
. Residential Paper Recovery: A Municipal Implementation
Guide (SW-155). Prepared by P. Hansen. 1974.
. Resource Recovery and Waste Reduction Activities: A
Nationwide Survey (SW-432). Prepared by Brad Max. 1979.
. Salvage Markets for Materials in Solid Wastes (SW-29c).
Prepared by A. Darnay and W.E. Franklin. Washington, D.C.:
Government Printing Office. 1972.
. Solid Waste Recycling Projects; A National Directory
(SW-45). Prepared by P. Hansen. Washington, D.C.: Govern-
ment Printing Office. 1973.
. "Source Separation for Materials Recovery; Guidelines."
Federal Register, (41 (80)), April 23, 1976, pp. 16950-16956.
. Source Separation in Marblehead and Somerville, Massa-
chusetts: Citizen Attitudes Toward Source Separation (SW 825).
Prepared by Resource Planning Associates, Inc. 1979.
. Source Separation in Marblehead and Somerville, Massa-
chusetts: Collection and Marketing (SW-822). Prepared by Re-
source Planning Associates, Inc. 1979.
. Source Separation in Marblehead and Somerville, Massa-
chusetts: Composition of Source Separated Materials and Refuse
(SW-823). Prepared by Resource Planning Associates, Inc. 1978.
Source Separation in Marblehead and Somerville Massa-
chusetts: Energy Use and Savings from Source-Separated Materials.
(SW-824). Prepared by Resource Planning Associates, Inc. 1979.
Source Separation: The Community Awareness Program in
Somerville and Marblehead, Massachusetts (SW-551). Prepared by
Resource Planning Associates, Inc. 1976.
. Use It Again Sam: A Guide for Federal Office-Paper
Recycling (SW-571). 1978.
. What You Can Do to Recycle More Paper (SW-143). 1975.
Operating A Recycling Program: A Citizen's Guide (SW-
770). Prepared by Portland Recycling Team, 1979.
49
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APPENDIX B: SAMPLE NEWSPAPER SUPPLY AGREEMENT
This agreement, made this
day of January, 1980,
between the City of Anywhere, U.S.A. (seller), and Paper Com-
pany (buyer).
The Parties Mutually Agree As Follows:
Section 1:
Purchase and Sale.
Buyer shall purchase from Seller and Seller shall sell exclusively
to Buyer all salvageable newspaper meeting the specifications
set forth in Section 3 hereof that Seller or any other entity acting
on the behalf of Seller collects in the City.
Section 5:
Purchase Price.
Buyer shall pay Seller, F.O.B., a net price of ten ($10) dollars
below the Chicago Number 1 News market price for newspaper
as indicated in the second monthly issue of the "Official Board
Markets." In no event shall the net price to the Seller be less
than twenty ($20) dollars per ton.
Section 6:
Terms of Payment.
Buyer shall make settlements with and payments to Seller on a
monthly basis.
Section 2:
Term.
This Agreement shall extend from the first dav of the month
following the date of this Agreement until
Section 3:
Specifications.
All salvageable newspaper delivered by Seller to Buyer's plant
shall be collected and handled separately from regularly collected
City solid waste, and shall be packed loose as received. No other
papers shall be included and moisture content shall not be more
than eight (8%) percent. Buyer shall have no obligations to pay for
any newspaper delivered to Buyer's plant which does not meet
these specifications.
Section 4:
Shipments.
All shipments shall be made by Seller Free on Board (F.O.B.) at
the location(s) designated by the Seller on truck-trailers provided
by the Buyer. The Buyer agrees to provide empty containers or
truck-trailers at the Seller's designated location(s) within forty-
eight (48) hours, upon notification of the City.
50
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APPENDIX C: SAMPLE INVITATION FOR BIDS FORM FOR SELFDUMPING TRAILERS
Section 1:
Proposals
Proposals must be enclosed in a sealed envelope addressed to
the Director of Finance, City Hall, Anywhere, U.S.A. Brochures
indicating equipment proposed to be furnished shall be supplied
by all bidders.
Section 2:
Occupational Safety and Health Act Requirements
All equipment to be supplied and installed must comply with
the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Section 3:
Certified Check or Bond Bid to Accompany Proposal
Bidders are required to furnish with their proposal a bid, in the
form of a certified check or legal tender, for five (5%) percent
of the amount of the bid.
Section 4:
Delivery
Delivery shall be made Free on Board (F.O.B.) to the Town of
Anywhere, U.S.A., complete and ready for use. Proposals must
provide a guaranteed delivery date.
Section 5:
Guarantee
The Manufacturer warrants his products for one (1) year after
the date of delivery.
Section 6:
Demonstration
Bidders may be asked to demonstrate their equipment as part
of the bid evaluation.
Overall width
Inside box
length
Inside box
width
Inside box
height
Total trailer
height
Axles
Fenders
Tires
Hitch
Brakes
ICC equipment
Spare tires
and rims
12-volt battery
Trailer tailgate
Hoist
Dumping
operation
Trailer subframe
Section 7:
Specifications
Trailer type
Overall length
6'
114"
69"
36"
59"
Single, 2-3 tons
2-piece, welded type
8- 14.5 heavy duty
Dico Surgomatic with towing eye
Hydraulically operated by hitch
All ICC lights, reflectors, stop, tail, license
With each trailer, heavy-duty type
Adjustable wheel type with crank
Removable double-acting tailgate of 10-gauge
steel, reinforced, with top hinges and bottom
locking hooks, tailgate trip handle designed
for loading equipment as well as dumping
load
Hydraulic cylinder with 2.5" bore, 30"
stroke, that raises bed 60" and has a rod
diameter of 1-3/8"; lifting capacity of 5,000
Ibs, with a 45° dump angle and 13° loading
angle
12-volt electric hydraulic pump tank combina-
tion, push-button-operated, with disconnects
5" structural channel ties, with 3" formed
channel cross members
Self-dumping
17'
51
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APPENDIX D: MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS
Refuse Containers
Accurate Industries, Inc.
Williamstown, New Jersey
American Environment Products
Sewell, New Jersey
Capital Industries, Inc.
Seattle, Washington
Cobey Waste Control
Gallion, Ohio
County Plastics Corp.
North Babylon, New York
Crown Rotational Molded Products, Inc.
Marked Tree, Arkansas
Dempster Dumpster Systems
Knoxville, Tennessee
DeWald, Northwest
Albany, Oregon
Duncan Equipment, Inc.
South Arlington, Texas
Galbreath, Inc.
Winamac, Indiana
Marathon Equipment Company
Vernon, Alabama
Paker Industries, Inc.
Silver Lake, Indiana
Peabody Solid Waste Management
Gallion, Ohio
P.P.I. Industries-
Goddard, Kansas
Quality Steel Fabricators, Inc.
Hopkins, Michigan
Rayfo, Inc.
Rosemount, Minnesota
52
Rubbermaid Applied Products, Inc.
Statesville, North Carolina
SCI Equipment Corp.
Commack, New York
Scott and Hill Steel Corp.
Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Teem Enterprises, Inc.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
The Heil Company
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Tri-Pak Systems Company
Louisville, Kentucky
Universal Handling Equipment Company Limited
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Zarn, Inc.
Reidsville, North Carolina
Trucks
Broyhill Manufacturing Company
Dakota City, Nebraska
Cobey Waste Control
Gallion, Ohio
Crane Carrier Company
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Drew-It Corporation
Hampton, New Hampshire
Duncan Equipment, Inc.
South Arlington, Texas
Ebeling Manufacturing Corporation
Plainview, Texas
Elgin-Leach Corporation
Chicago, Illinois
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Ford Division - Ford Motor Company
Detroit, Michigan
CMC Truck
Pontiac, Michigan
Mercedes-Benz of North America
Montvale, New Jersey
International Harvester Truck Group
Chicago, Illinois
Iveco Trucks of North America, Inc.
Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
LoDal, Inc.
Kingsford, Michigan
Mack Trucks, Inc.
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Maxon Industries, Inc.
Commerce, California
Pak-Mor Manufacturing Company
San Antonio, Texas
Peabody Solid Wastes Management
Gallion, Ohio
Recycling and Conservation, Inc.
Kittery, Maine
Shu Pak
City of Commerce, California
The Heil Company
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Truxmore Industries, Inc.
Richmond, Virginia
Wayne Engineering Corporation
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Balers
Accurate Industries
Williamstown, New Jersey
American Baler
Bellevue, Ohio
American Designed Products
Wayne, Pennsylvania
American Environmental Products Company
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
American Hoist & Derrick
St. Paul, Minnesota
Balemaster
East Chicago, Indiana
Consolidated Baling Machine
Brooklyn, New York
Economy-Lake Baler Division; Enterprise Company
Santa Ana, California
Hesston Corp.
Jacksonville, Florida
International Baler Corporation
Jacksonville, Florida
Logemann Brother Company
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Marathon Equipment Company
Vernon, Alabama
McClain Industries
Utica, Michigan
National Baling Press Company, Inc.
Brooklyn, New York
National Compactor & Technology Systems, Inc.
Jacksonville, Florida
53
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Newell Manufacturing Company
San Antonio, Texas
Peabody Solid Waste Management
Gallion, Ohio
Philadelphia Tramrail Company
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Union Environment Corp.
Old Forge, Pennsylvania
Collection Trailers
Gladco Compactors, Inc.
Taylor, Michigan
Midway Fishing Tool Company
Bakersville, California
Northern Truck Equipment Company
East Hartford, Connecticut
Swacars
Valdosta, Georgia
Other Collection Vehicles
Cushman/OMC-Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
Transfer Trailers
American Carrier Equipment Company
Fresno, California
Anchorpac
Jackson, Michigan
Dempster Dumpster Systems
Knoxville, Tennessee
LoDal, Inc.
Kingsford, Michigan
54
McClain Industries
Sterling Heights, Michigan
Pak-Mor Manufacturing
San Antonio, Texas
Peabody
Gallion, Ohio
Steco Sales, Inc.
Pottsville, Pennsylvania
The Heil Company
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Tri-Pak Systems Company
Louisville, Kentudky
Universal Handling Equipment Company
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Processing Equipment (General)
CP Manufacturing Inc.
National City, California
Drew-It Corporation
Hampton, New Hampshire
J.A. Freeman and Sons
Portland, Oregon
Miller Manufacturing - United Farm Tools, Inc.
Turlock, California
Newell Manufacturing
San Antonio, Texas
Resource Recovery Systems, Inc.
Branford, Connecticut
Triple/S Dynamics, Inc.
Dallas, Texas
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Conveyors
Allis Chalmers
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Barber-Green
Aurora, Illinois
Beaumont Birch Company
Pennsauken, New Jersey
Better Machines, Inc.
Fantaintown, Indiana
Bonded Scale Machine Company
Columbus, Ohio
Fairfield Engineering Company
Marion, Ohio
FEECO International Corp.
Green Bay, Wisconsin
FMC Corporation
Colman, Pennsylvania
General Conveyor Company, Inc.
Long Island City, New York
General Kinematics Corporation
Berrington, Illinois
Gruendler Crusher & Pulverizer Company
St. Louis, Missouri
Hammermills
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Heil Company
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Jeffrey Manufacturing Division, Dresser Industries
Columbus, Ohio
Link Belt Company
Honer City, Pennsylvania
Mayfran, Inc.
Cleveland, Ohio
Montgomery Industries, Inc.
Jacksonville, Florida
Rexnord, Inc.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Rust Engineering, Inc.
Birmingham, Alabama
Stephens-Adamson
Aurora, Illinois
Triple/S Dynamics Systems, Inc.
Dallas, Texas
Williams Patent Crusher & Pulverizer Company
St. Louis, Missouri
Shredders
American Pulverizer
St. Louis, Missouri
Iowa Manufacturing Company
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Miller Manufacturing
Turlock, California
Newell Manufacturing Company
San Antonio, Texas
Pennsylvania Crusher
Broomall, Pennsylvania
Saturn Shredders
Wilsonville, Oregon
Shred-Tech, Inc.
Cocoa, Florida
Williams Crusher and Pulverizer
St. Louis, Missouri
55
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Scales
Cardinal Scale Manufacturing Company
Webb City, Missouri
Eldec Corporation
Lynwood, Washington
Fairbanks Weighing Division - Colt Industries
St. Johnsburg, Vermont
Howe Richardson Scale
Clifton, New Jersey
Streeter-Amet
Grayslake, Illinois
Toledo Scale
Worthington, Ohio
Magnetic Separators
American Pulverizer
St. Louis, Missouri
Dings Company
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Eriez Magnetics
Erie, Pennsylvania
Martin Podren, Inc.
Lynn, Massachusetts
McNally PittsbUrg Corporation
Pittsburg, Kansas
Roberts & Schaefer, Inc.
Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Shred-Tech, Inc.
Cocoa, Florida
Stearns Magnetics
Cudahy, Wisconsin
Wemco Division, Envirotech Corporation
Sacramento, California
Glass Crushers
American Pulverizer
St. Louis, Missouri
Central Steel Contractors
Kaukauna, Wisconsin
Cleveland Range Company
Cleveland, Ohio
Columbia Machine
Vancouver, Washington
Franklin Miller, Inc.
East Orange, New Jersey
Greundler Crusher
St. Louis, Missouri
Heil Company
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Jacobsen Machine Works
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jeffrey Manufacturing
Columbus, Ohio
Pennsylvania Crusher
Broomall, Pennsylvania
Qualheim, Inc.
Racine, Wisconsin
Rescor Industries
Mt. Vernon, New York
Snyder Machine
Saugas, Massachusetts
Syrall Manufacturing
Syracuse, New York
Williams Patent Crusher
St. Louis, Missouri
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APPENDIX E: GLOSSARY
Baling:
Compressing materials, most commonly newspaper, into bales.
Buy-Back Programs:
Programs to purchase recyclable materials from the public.
Color Sorting of Glass:
Techniques for sorting recovered glass by color. Although glass
is commonly sorted by hand, several other techniques are being
tested. An optical sorting device compares light reflected from
each piece of glass with light 'reflected from a standard back-
ground. High-intensity magnetic forces also can separate small
pieces of glass.
Corrugated Paper:
Heavy paperboard, molded
into parallel ridges and grooves.
Contaminant:
Foreign material that makes a primary material impure.
Gullet:
Small, uniform pieces of scrap glass.
Ferrous:
Containing iron.
Intermediate Processor:
A company that purchases source-separated materials from munic-
ipalities and private sanitation companies, processes the materials,
and sells them to an industrial market, where the materials are
used as a feedstock in manufacturing.
Materials Recovery:
Extracting recyclable materials from waste for sale.
Mixed Paper:
Waste paper of mixed type and quality.
Nonferrous:
Containing no iron. Aluminum, copper, and zinc are nonferrous
metals.
Recycling:
Extracting product from the waste stream and reusing it to manu-
facture the same or a similar product.
Resource Conservation:
The conservation of raw materials. Materials are conserved by
consuming less of them and by recovering them from waste to
be reused.
Resource Recovery:
Extraction and use of materials from the waste stream. Uses
include recycling, fuel for energy production, and feedstock in
chemical processes.
Source Separation:
The setting aside of recyclable materials at their point of gener-
ation (home, place of business, etc.) by the generator.
Transfer Station:
A facility where waste materials are transferred from collection
vehicles to larger transportation units. The larger units move
the materials to disposal areas or, in the case of recyclable mate-
rials, to processing facilities.
Volume Reduction:
The reduction of partial size to decrease the amount of space a
material occupies.
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