Guide to The Environment and your Trash Compactor

By utilizing technologies which compact waste directly at the source where it is generated, the environment benefits in the following ways: Fewer trips to the landfills due to waste being compacted, means less fuel consumption and less toxic emissions by the waste hauling trucks. If the majority of businesses, and even individual large businesses, implemented compaction, reductions in toxic emissions and fuel consumption would result in an enormous benefit to the environment. The EPA recently concluded that vehicles such as waste hauling trucks dump 125 lbs. of toxic emissions into the atmosphere for every 1000 gallons of fuel burned (these trucks probably achieve 6 to 8 miles per gallon). In addition, lower waste hauling costs can be realized by the companies utilizing compaction because of lower waste hauling service requirements. Even with the lost revenues, progressive waste haulers can benefit from their customers utilizing compaction through lower operating costs and better resource utilization (i.e. other revenue streams can be developed via emphasis on recycling and alternative waste processing services). Most waste hauling companies capitalize on compaction technologies throughout their business operations by compacting in trucks and at transfer stations in order to reduce their transportation costs. In essence, by not compacting trash, the general public passes the window of opportunity (of savings) to the waste haulers.

Over time, waste becomes compacted in landfills anyway, due to the weight of waste that is piled on top of the other waste. Basically, we are beating nature to the punch by compacting the waste prior to disposal at the landfill. By compacting at the source where waste is generated, we are doing what nature does anyway in the end, but allowing for the many environmental and cost saving benefits in between to be taken advantage of.

Action Steps
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Tips & Tactics
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• The more businesses that implement compaction, The more immense the benefits to the environment.
• The more businesses that implement compaction, The more immense the benefits to the environment.
• Do compactors help or hinder the waste reduction process? I know the (compacted) waste takes less space, but doesn’t compacting also mean that it takes longer to break down? -- Darlene Hughes, Tipton, IA Good question, Darlene. First of all, compacting makes a great deal of difference, since landfill capacity gets stretched a little longer. Keep in mind, though, that when we compact stuff, we’re beating nature to the punch. Once items are buried, the weight of what’s piled on above tends to cause compaction anyway. That brings us to your next point. Does compaction slow the breakdown of materials? Not really, for two very different reasons. The first has to do with the fact that landfills are self-compacting over time, as just mentioned. The second reason is that things break down very slowly in landfills, regardless of compaction. That’s because modern sanitary landfills are designed to minimize light, air and high humidity. All three are necessary if biodegradation is to occur rap
• WasteCare Corporation is a Waste Care Provider specializing in Trash Compactors, Balers, Shredders and other Products, Equipment, Services and Resources related to Recycling, Waste Disposal, Waste Processing, Waste Handling and Waste Management. WasteCare has a large variety of Commercial Compactors, Industrial Balers, Shredders & Recycling Equipment, including Automatic Compacting Receptacles, Indoor Compactors, Outdoor Compactors, Stainless Steel Compactors, Hi-Rise Compactors, Specialty Compactors, Stationary Compactors, Compacting Dumpsters, Vertical Balers, High Volume Balers, Automatic Balers, Bottle Can Balers and more. WasteCare also carries a complete line of Shredders including Mid-Size Shredders, Centralized Shredders, High Capacity Shredders, and High Security Shredders. WasteCare provides solutions for many industries and market segments including, but not limited to, Hospitals & Medical Facilities, Restaurants, Airports, Amusement Parks, Corporate Campuses, Schools & Un