Innovating Waste Management Technology
Americans generate roughly 250 million tons of trash every single year and only 34% of it is being recycled. There are several other stats that reveal shocking trash tendencies despite the environmental awareness. The complexity of waste management has never been so extreme before, which is why today this industry employs nearly half a million people who undertake the gigantic task of disposing of at least 4.4 pounds of waste for every single American day in and day out. To overcome these challenges and to counteract the negative impacts of landfill waste on the environment, the waste management industry is rethinking strategies and revamping waste handling and disposal systems for superior efficiency and enhanced environmental protection.
Below are 6 key areas that are undergoing a massive transformation in the waste management industry:
1.Improved Recycling Rates
Recycling and waste management companies are investing in improving their tools and techniques. The recent development in single-stream recycling where people can dump all the trash in one bin has reduced the sorting burden on people and drastically improved the rate of recycling. This has also reduced the truck count and ultimately the emissions as well.
2.Automated Waste Collection
Technology has transformed the way waste management works with automated sensors that trigger instant alerts every time a container is full and needs service. Other innovative tools that are making the sorting process fast and easy include optical sorters, magnets and advanced disk screens. The trucks have also switched from diesel to natural gas for quieter and cost-effective operations. The use of logistics software, in-vehicle monitors, and mobile apps has further simplified the waste management process while ensuring driver safety.
a.- Optical sorting (sometimes called digital sorting) is the automated process of sorting solid products using cameras and/or lasers. Optical Sorter processes use a photodetector, camera with programming technology paired with accurate separation modules. The sorter will simply determine how much light is reflected off the object. It will accept or reject the item depending on how reflective it is.
Features
· The sorting systems can “LOOK”, use of photo detector (Light sensors) and identify materials according to their type. Redirecting the material for a cleaner end-product.
· The system can be arranged in vertical or horizontal configurations to perform multiple sizing and specific material separations.
· With analyses capacity of up to 16 feet wide, the vision optical sorting system offer a variety of possible combinations for waste recoveries under ONE camera.
· Sophisticated programing technology paired with accurate separation modules allows the Vision system to sort and separate a variety of materials using one camera system, with the ability to make several production cuts per system.
· The optical sorting system is specifically designed for sorting Construction and Demolition “C&D”, and co-mingled material, including Old Corrugated Cardboard “OCC”, Polyethylene or polythene, abbreviated PE common plastic PE colored, PE natural, thermoplastic “PET”, Polyvinyl chloride or synthetic plastic “PVC”, Tetra and more!
b.- Magnetic separation is a method of waste management where magnets are used to separate metal from refuse. ... These magnetic systems were mostly electromagnets, bulky, expensive items that relied on a power source to work and were notorious for overheating.
c.- Disk screens is the Dynamic disc screen to separate any waste stream by size. Agitating the material while keeping precise maximum opening. Unparalleled speed, accuracy and efficiency
3.Route Optimization
Smart routing gives you control of balancing residential waste and recycling collection days for your fleet of rear-and side-loaders and optimizing multiple days of service for your commercial service customers.
Commercial and Residential Routing can be a time-consuming process to find the best way to service tens or hundreds of thousands of customers. We need tools to balance the workload throughout the week, improve daily routes, and optimize driving sequence. All with an eye toward decreasing mileage and minimizing or eliminating costly overtime.
Roll-Off Route Optimization improves dynamically changing roll-off service by building balanced routes and maximizing productivity. Safety issues are also a concern to resolve with same-side service routing, U-turn controls, and street barrier information helping you build routes that meet your safety requirements.
Optimal routing is essential to protecting the environment and reducing hazardous emissions which is why companies are investing in advanced systems and optimization software. They are now employing automated trucks that are installed with robotic arms for saving time and effort along existing routes. Technology has made point-to-point pickups eco-friendly and financially viable while improving energy-efficiency. Route Optimization for Residential Workload Balancing, Commercial Service Routing and Roll-Off will help you achieve waste collection goals and meet priorities by:
· Decreasing miles
· Maximizing stops and lifts per hour
· Balancing workloads across the week
· Reducing overtime
· Improving safety
· Speeding your route planning time
· Modeling new service areas
Industry Challenges:
· Meeting time windows
· Right-hand side pick-up only
· Account for vehicle capacity, compaction ratio, disposal trips
· Account for different scenarios like winter routes Vs summer routes
· Different business rules for Residential, Commercial and Roll-Off
Route Optimization
· Territory Planning
· Route Optimization
· Disposal Cost Optimization
· GPS Tracking
· Scheduling & Dispatch
· On-Board Computer
· In-Vehicle Navigation System
Key Benefits:
· Savings 10-35%
· Easy to use
· Improve safety
· Improve customer service
· Improve productivity (Hauls/hr.)
· Streamline daily operation
· Efficient Fleet & Resource Management
· Enhanced capacity management
· Decrease same day missed pickups
· Maximize asset utilization
· Increase extra pickups per route
· Consolidate dispatch centers
· Increase route to dispatcher
4.Landfill Modernization
Harnessing the power of science and scale, the waste management industry has modernized garbage dumps. Highly engineered landfills that comply with federal and state regulations ensure complete protection of human health and the surrounding environment. Solar panel systems integrated with geomembrane are facilitating the production of sustainable energy while preventing carbon from re-entering the environment.
5.Enhanced Safety
Recycling and waste management companies are making consistent efforts to improve safety which is of prime importance to an industry running several 30-ton trucks through residential areas. All drivers are subjected to rigorous training at designated facilities to reduce the rate of accidents and injuries. Improving Safety Program:
· Look for patterns – time of day, type of accident or injury, certain employees (repeaters), temporary workers or weather conditions.
· Identify a few priorities based on frequency and/or severity.
· Route observation.
Reduce Fatalities, Accidents and Injuries
1. Look at your injury logs and workers comp. data:
a. What is most common? (frequency)
b. What is most expensive? (severity)
2. Driver Training:
a. New drivers – how long? (two weeks or two hours)
b. Coaching the Refuse Driver/Smith System.
c. Pre-trip and post-trip inspections.
3. Helper Training:
a. Lifting – videos, hands-on.
b. Riding on side.
c. Dealing with traffic.
d. Wearing PPE.
4. Route Observation:
a. Observe workers on routes.
b. Coach if not following rules: Talk to them not at them.
5. Safety meetings and communication.
6. Accident Investigation:
a. Root cause analysis.
7. Incentives/Discipline:
a. Individual rewards (e.g., X yrs no accident).
b. Group rewards (e.g., x months no accident/injury).
c. Progressive discipline – 3 strikes v. zero tolerance.
8. Medical Management:
a. A light duty program is an effective way to get a worker back to work. Median days missed due to reportable injury/illness for collection employees is five.
9. Equipment/Technology:
a. Cameras, lighting packages, collision avoidance systems, etc.
10. Routing/Workload.
Getting Employees to Care About Safety
1. What’s in it for them?
a. Employee can’t provide for his/her family if dead, injured or unemployed.
b. Tie worker’s personal interests (e.g., hunting, fishing) to workplace safety.
2. Communicate the program:
a. Signs/posters – make it interesting.
b. Verbal reminders.
3. Training:
a. Short, ongoing, interactive.
b. Language and literacy barriers.
c. Use pictures and videos.
d. Use humor…
6.Quick Turnaround Times
Bigger waste management companies have also invested in feature-rich customer-facing technology. They are leveraging user-friendly mobile apps to facilitate prompt service, extra pickups and bill payment through push notifications. Technology has greatly reduced the complexity and cost of modern-day waste management systems making them even more efficient, safer and productive while reducing their environmental impact.
Types of Waste Management
The overflowing landfill, increasing carbon footprint and a growing negative impact on the economy are only some of the many effects of growing amount of waste generated across the world. Let’s look at what are some of the most common yet major contributors of waste worldwide and how they can be managed innovatively:
E-waste
Tons of e-waste is generated every year. Even with all the recycling awareness initiatives, only a meager percentage of e-waste is recycled across the world. Recycling e-waste has not just environmental but economic benefits also. Also, a lot of various valuable metals are recovered through recycling of e-waste. Industrial shredders are best suited for e-waste recycling. They ensure a high yield of valuable metals during the recovery process, as the shredding technique is such that it generates only a very low number of fine particles. The industrial shredders are heavy-duty and high-volume systems specifically designed to process recycling material streams such as e-waste, plastic, paper and wood. Automated industrial shredders particularly when used for e-waste recycling also liberate materials for recycling. Besides, you can reduce pollution, save natural resources, create jobs and conserve precious landfill space. Products like mobile, circuit boards and other electronic equipment make for a great recycling opportunity.
Food Waste
Food waste tremendously affects the environment. Not only are the resources such as water, land, energy, labor, packaging, manufacturing, etc. which go into manufacturing uneaten food are wasted, but most of this also ends up in landfill. There, the food waste decomposes without access to oxygen and creates methane – which is deadlier than CO2, by manifolds.
A great option to handle food waste is by investing in a food composter. The advanced model of food composters today uses no chemical, additives, enzymes or water and dehydrate food waste by turning it into sterile biomass and potable water. The equipment is designed to control odor, emit zero greenhouse gases and doesn’t require any sanitary drain connection. It also minimizes waste hauling expenses and converts organic waste into reusable products. The result is an odor-free area and product which doesn’t harbor and protect bacteria.
Household Waste
A major chunk of your household waste can be recycled or reduced. There are numerous products in your household waste which are made up of natural raw materials like metallic ores, timber or petrochemicals. Sorting is the first major step before the actual recycling process. Make sorting simple by setting up a row of hooks to hold plastic bags or separate bins. These bags should be labeled clearly as to what it holds – plastic, glass or aluminum. Nowadays, lots of communities have recycling centers as part of their waste management program. Even the local municipality offers recycling services. You can think of reusing some of the waste products before throwing them away in the garbage or checking up with your friends or family if they can find new uses for them.
Follow the 3 R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Last but not the least is the 3 R’s mantra – reduce, reuse and recycle. It is in fact one of the most effective ways to curb the volume of waste you generate. Start by reducing your consumption. Before you buy anything, ask yourself whether you really need it or not. If you reduce your consumption, you will automatically curtail the waste generated. Next is reusing or finding new uses for the items like clothing, food jars etc., rather than throwing them away or buying new ones. If you don’t find any use for them, maybe someone from your friends or family circle can reuse those products. Finally, recycle! Recycling not only reduces the amount of waste you contribute towards the overcrowded landfills tremendously but also gives you extracts which may be valuable. Community recycling programs are a great way to ensure that minimal amount of waste is sent to the landfills and more people are encouraged to go green. As a responsible citizen, you can contribute towards planet conservation by buying recycled products.
If you too are looking for effective waste management solutions, contact us at Compactor Management Company today. Our team of experts is dedicated to helping you with any requirements related to recycling equipment and waste management solutions which will prove beneficial not only environmentally, but economically as well.
Waste Management Practices for Your Business
Every business generates waste and how that waste is managed is critical. You must strive to keep your organization’s waste away from landfills and identify opportunities to manage waste better. Here are 5 waste management tips that may come handy:
?Measure the Waste
Measure the amount of waste that is being collected from different sites. It is common to weigh the skips and convey the amount to an organization via bills from the waste management company, but smaller bins or collection of sacks aren’t weighed or recorded. Carry out a quick visual assessment by examining the bins that are presented for collection.
Check before the collection truck arrives and see how full they are. Even if they are differently sized bins, just note down their sizes and estimate how full they are, and how often the waste is collected. Once you have all the required information, you will know exactly how much waste material your business produces within a given time frame.
?Curb the Amount of Waste Going to Landfill
Most of the generated waste finds itself in landfills at the end of its journey. Landfill waste has severe economic as well as environmental impact. Moreover, it has a slow decomposition rate taking thousands of years, which means that several acres of land, which could otherwise be used for setting up industries or residential areas, will be effectively deemed as useless.
As a business, you must try to identify opportunities in the following:
? Reducing waste: Figure out different ways to reduce the overall waste when you obtain goods and services or change the way you operate that can help in reducing waste
? Reuse materials: Would other local businesses have a use for the waste materials you produce?
? Recycle materials: Identify all the materials that can be targeted for recycling
· Identify Local Collectors
Having an idea of how much material your business produces over a stipulated period and the different kinds of materials that can be diverted from the landfill will help you identify the most suitable waste and recycling collection contractors. Check the list of private as well as local government recycling services, which include collection, transport or drop-off points in your city. You can also search by type of material and location to easily find the recycling services that would be suitable for your business.
?Understand Waste and Recycling Collection Contracts
It is important that you choose the most appropriate collection arrangement for the recoverable materials you produce. Ask your current waste service provider, whether he is a private operator or part of the local council, what is the most suitable collection arrangement for your business. When you are investigating what materials can be recycled, consider the impact your waste or recycling contract arrangements will have on your ability to recycle. For instance, make sure that your recycling bin is large enough to hold the waste for a week if the recycling is picked up on a weekly basis. If not, you can change your contract to have your bin picked up more often.
Evaluate your current contract offers and how it affects your waste and recycling practices. Consult with an independent legal advice if necessary.
?Invest in Trash Compactors
Trash compactors are an essential waste management tool. They help in reducing the trash volume, protecting against pests and dumpster divers, reduce odors and fire damage. They are divided into two primary categories defined based on the type of waste they are constructed to handle—wet or dry. Choose the one that would best suit your requirements. Keep your waste to a minimum and follow good waste management practices to handle the generated waste in a proper way.
Glossary of Waste Management Terms
This list contains terms and their definitions frequently used either in the waste industry or specifically by Waste Management.
Airspace: The projected bank cubic yards (BCY) of the landfill to be filled with waste as determined by survey and/or other engineering techniques.
Baler: A piece of equipment used to compress, and form recycled material into bales.
Boiler (Wheelabrator): A device used to absorb the heat released during the combustion process of burning waste. This combustion produces steam that can be sold or converted into electrical power.
Brownfield Development: EPA defines a brownfield as an “abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facility where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.” Waste Management has worked with states, communities and other economic development stakeholders to pursue several brownfield development projects across the U.S.
Capping: This is the process of placing the final cover material on the landfill.
Cell: Landfills are constructed in phases (cells) that adjoin one another, separated by a berm to contain leachate within an area. The entire permitted area will be divided into separate cells for construction.
Closed Site (Landfill): A landfill that has reached its permitted waste capacity and has been permanently capped and certified as closed by the appropriate state regulatory agency.
Closure: The period of time after a landfill has reached its permitted capacity but before it has received certification of closure from a state regulatory agency. During the closure period, certain activities must be performed to comply with environmental and other regulations (e.g. capping, landscaping, etc.).
Commercial Customer: A segment of the business that is made up of commercial and industrial collection.
Construction and Demolition (C&D): A waste stream that is primarily received from construction sites. Some examples of C&D waste include, but are not limited to, concrete, rebar, wood, paneling, linoleum, and carpet.
Container: Any receptacle used to accumulate waste from residential, commercial and industrial sites. Containers vary in size and type according to the needs of the customer or restrictions of the community. Containers are also referred to as dumpsters.
Chemical Waste Management (CWM): The operating name of Waste Management's hazardous waste landfills. WM currently owns and operates five hazardous waste landfills in the U.S.
Daily Cover: The material used to cover the working face of a landfill at the close of each day.
Disposal Fee: A fee charged for the amount of waste disposed of by customers at a landfill. (also see Tipping Fee)
Drop-off Box or Center: Sectioned containers where individuals and businesses can put recyclable material or containers used for waste collection where individual service is not available.
Dumpster: A generic term use for front-load and rear-load containers.
Emission Control Equipment (Wheelabrator): A category of equipment used at waste-to-energy facilities to meet emission standards and generate reports required by agency regulators.
Gatehouse: A gatehouse is found at a landfill or a transfer station. All incoming vehicles must stop to be processed and weighed, and all outgoing vehicles must stop to be weighed and receive a disposal ticket for charges. See also Scale House.
Greenfield Development: A tract of undeveloped property purchased with the intention of obtaining necessary permitting on which to operate a landfill. This would not include expansions to existing landfills.
Hauling Fee: A fee charged to roll-off customers calculated from the amount of time it takes to pick up their roll-off container or compactor, dispose of the waste and return it to the customer.
Hazardous Waste: Waste that is designated such by regulatory agencies either because it has elevated levels of hazardous chemicals or materials, because it exhibits a potentially dangerous characteristic (e.g., ignitable, corrosive, etc.) or because the material belongs to a general family of materials which have been deemed hazardous by regulatory agencies.
Hopper: The hopper is the part of a garbage truck or compactor where trash is emptied before compaction into the container.
Landfill: A modern engineered way to deposit waste into the ground and still protect the environment. As the landfill is built, the base of the cell is lined with a protective layer and materials are installed to monitor and collect leachate and gas emissions. As waste is deposited over the liner, it is compacted with heavy machinery to get the maximum amount of waste in an area. At the end of the day the waste is covered with soil or special fabric cover (unless specifically exempted by state regulators.) Once the lined area is completely full, it is covered with an engineer-designed cap. Regulations mandate the periodic testing of ground water, leachate levels and gas emissions. Landfills are accounted for a separate line of business within the WM organization. Different types of landfills include MSW, C&D, Asbestos Monofil, Ash Monofil, Special Waste and Hazardous Waste.
Landfill, Construction & Demolition (C&D): A landfill that has been permitted by a state regulatory agency to accept Construction and Demolition waste. This type of landfill must have properties and design features specific to this type of landfilling that have been established by the state regulatory agency.
Landfill, Hazardous Waste: Wastes that exhibit certain characteristics may be regulated by RCRA. A waste may be considered hazardous if it is ignitable (i.e., burns readily), corrosive, or reactive (e.g., explosive). Waste may also be considered hazardous if it contains certain amounts of toxic chemicals. In addition to these characteristic wastes, EPA has also developed a list of over 500 specific hazardous wastes. Hazardous waste takes many physical forms and may be solid, semi-solid, or even liquid. A hazardous waste landfill is built to specific regulations to allow for the disposal of waste designated by regulatory agencies as being hazardous. These regulations are far more stringent that for an MSW landfill. WM has 5 secure hazardous waste landfills permitted under RCRA. These sites all operate under the name "Chemical Waste Management" (CWM).
Landfill, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): A landfill that has been permitted by a state regulatory agency to accept municipal solid waste. This type of landfilling must have properties and design features specific to this type of landfill that have been established by the state regulatory agency.
Landfill footprint: Parcels of land that are designated and permitted to perform landfilling activities. This would include the entrance, staging area, buffer area and the area that will accept waste for disposal (the waste footprint area).
Leachate: Liquids that have come in contact with waste. Leachate accumulates in the waste footprint of the landfill. Leachate levels within the landfill must be monitored and cannot exceed state regulatory agency established levels. Depending upon the site, there are different ways to handle collected leachate. Some of these include: 1. Collecting it in tanks and periodically transporting it off-site for treatment and disposal; 2. Collecting it in evaporation ponds which allow it to naturally evaporate into the air; 3. Discharging it into the sewer system, 4. Re-circulating it back into the landfill to aid in the biodegradation of the waste.
Liner: A clay and/or synthetic protective layer that is placed on both the bottom and top of a landfill.
Lockbar: An optional feature of front-load containers. The lockbar allows a customer to lock the container. When the container is emptied, and the container is raised up and over the truck, gravity causes the bar to drop allowing the container to be emptied.
Materials Recovery Facility (MRF): Line of business where recyclable material is processed, separated, and sold. This is a facility where recyclable materials are sorted and processed for sale. This process includes separating recyclable materials (manually or by machine) according to type and baling or otherwise preparing the separated material for sale. Operating costs and revenues for MRF's are accounted for as a separate line of business.
Methane: A gas byproduct generated through natural decomposition of solid waste in landfills. This gas is monitored to maintain state regulatory agency levels. Accumulated gas is either burned off using a flare or is converted to energy by use of a gas plant.
Methane Gas Plant: A plant where methane gas (generated from decomposing solid waste) is collected and transported to a gas-processing facility at the landfill site. Once processed, the methane gas is sold directly to industrial users or to an Affiliate of WM to use as a fuel to power electricity generators.
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): "Regular" garbage from non-industrial sources, such as residential homes, restaurants, retail centers, and office buildings. Typical MSW includes paper, discarded food items, and other general discards. Green waste is considered MSW and includes yard clippings, leaves, trees, etc.
Port-O-Let TM: The trademarked name for WM's portable toilet line of business.
Post-closure: The period of time after a landfill is certified as closed by a state regulatory agency, until WM has no further monitoring responsibility. Environmental and other regulations require the owner of the closed landfill to continue monitoring activities and general maintenance of the site for a specific period of time (generally 30 years).
RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act): RCRA is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which was enacted by Congress in 1976. RCRA's primary goals are to protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal, to conserve energy and natural resources, to reduce the amount of waste generated, and to ensure that wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner.
Recycle America Alliance (RAA): Recycle America Alliance (RAA) will be a majority owned and consolidated subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc. RAA handles more than 8 million tons of commodities per year; operates 80 recycling plants and provides marketing responsibility for more than 190 locations in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, RAA operates seven container processing facilities, one plastics recycling facility, and four electronics recycling facilities.
Residential Customers: A segment of the collection business that is made up of single and multi-family dwellings.
Route: A specifically directed course that a driver follows that has been designed for efficiency and to provide optimal service to customers.
Scale House: A scale house can be found at either a landfill or a transfer station. It is the office, located a short distance from the main entrance, where all incoming vehicles must stop to be weighed or measured and receive a disposal ticket.
Solid Waste: "Regular" garbage from non-industrial sources, such as residential homes, restaurants, retail centers, and office buildings. Typical MSW includes paper, discarded food items, and other general discards. Green waste is considered MSW and includes yard clippings, leaves, trees, etc.
Special Waste: Any waste that requires special handling. Special waste is non-hazardous waste generally from an industrial generator and must be profiled to ensure that it does not contain elevated levels of potentially hazardous chemicals or materials.
Stoker (Wheelabrator): A grate system used to combust refuse in a controlled fashion.
Subtitle D: The Federal rules and regulations that govern the environmental operations of MSW landfills.
Sump: The lowest area of a landfill into which leachate drains.
Tipping fee: A fee paid by anyone disposing of waste at a landfill. (also see Disposal Fee)
Transfer Station: A facility that consists of a large pad where residential and commercial collection vehicles empty the contents of their trucks. Other machinery (e.g. bulldozers) is then used to push the garbage into long-haul trailers for transport to disposal facilities.
Turbine Generator (Wheelabrator): Device that converts the heat energy of the steam from the boiler into electrical power.
Waste Stream: Specific types of waste found in customer's disposal (trash, cardboard, aluminum, metal, etc.) or a broader definition of disposal type. (e.g. MSW, C&D, Hazardous, etc.)
Waste-to-Energy Plant: The WM waste-to-energy facilities are part of Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc. These facilities consist of large incinerator-type operations where trash is incinerated (burned). The heat from this combustion process is converted into high-pressure steam, which can be used to generate electricity for sale to public utility companies under long-term contracts. The residue from the incineration process is disposed of in a Landfill.
Wheelabrator (WTI): The WM waste-to-energy facilities are part of Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc. These facilities consist of large incinerator-type operations where trash is incinerated (burned). The heat from this combustion process is converted into high-pressure steam, which can be used to generate electricity for sale to public utility companies under long-term contracts. The residue from the incineration process is disposed of in a Landfill.
Working Face: The section of the landfill where waste is being actively placed by disposal vehicles.