A Greener Approach to Managing Solid Waste
The conventional wisdom is that doing things that are good for the environment and are profitable do not go together. Now, thanks to newest application of technology, that's all changing in the field of solid waste removal.
Through automated dispatching of waste haulers, it is possible to reduce truck operations by an average of 40% or more. Such results are possible by improving the efficiency of waste compactor management so that only full compactor containers are picked up.
This is especially important because:
- Waste removal trucks are among the least efficient vehicles on the road.
- Like other diesel trucks, waste hauler's trucks produce a variety of emissions, including ""fine particles"" of particulate matter. (According to the EPA, these fine particles, which measure 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller, can cause serious health problems, especially for persons with respiratory problems.)
It turns out that the easiest solution to reducing the carbon footprint of local waste management is at the waste compactor, not on the truck, it is compactor management technology. The Compactor Plus System is an automated Monitor that watches how a waste compactor container is filling, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When a full container is sensed, the waste hauler is automatically dispatched by the monitor. In real-world experience, this results in an average of 40% fewer trips by the waste hauler—in effect reducing fuel consumption and air pollution by these trucks by 40%!
Without the sophisticated Compactor Plus Monitor, large retailers, manufacturers and other waste compactor users, often use regularly scheduled waste pickups, or guess when to call for a pickup based on unreliable measures. These practices result in compactor containers being picked up too frequently—often when mostly empty.
And there are other environmental benefits as well:
- Fewer truck pickups equate to fewer miles, which means fewer trucks are needed to service the same number of customers.
- Truck maintenance is reduced proportionately.
- The actual process of pulling one compactor container and replacing it with another also consumes energy and creates a considerable amount of noise.
So, reducing these factors is an added bonus.
The Compactor Plus System's intelligence also permits the operation of the compactor to be remotely monitored. Even more than an out-of-tune car engine, a malfunctioning compactor can be incredibly wasteful. Improper pressure settings or faulty gauges can fool local workers into calling for a pickup when the container is more than 75 % empty. The added pollution that results, as well as the added expense, can be huge.
Software or services available for use with the Compactor Plus System allow detailed reports to graphically show the improvements made and the ongoing savings. The System can be installed on virtually any standard waste compactor. There is no need to change haulers. A similar System is also available for use with Balers.
Perhaps the most attractive aspect of adding a Compactor Plus Monitor System is not only does it help the environment but it also helps the company's bottom line.
Finally, there is a device that saves money and the environment . . . Compactor Plus!
