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What is a compactor?
A compactor is a machine that pushes waste or recycling material into a container at pressures that squeeze or reduce the volume of the material. In general, the compaction ratio is 4:1 reduction from loose to compacted waste.
Compactors come in all shapes and sizes. WESSCO offers a complete line of waste and recycling equipment for many different types of facilities. To find out which compactor is right for you contact us at 800.453.2360.
How a Compactor Works
A compactor is a machine that pushes waste or recycling material into a container at pressures that squeeze or reduce the volume of the material. In general, the compaction ratio is 4:1 reduction from loose to compacted waste.
Compactors come in all shapes and sizes. WESSCO offers a complete line of waste and recycling equipment for many different types of facilities. To find out which compactor is right for you contact us at 800.453.2360.
Compactor Terms:
- Ram: The structure that is attached to the cylinder that pushes the material.
- Power Pack: Contains electric motor, hydraulic pump, and panel box and controls.
- Charge Box: Area into which material is loaded.
- Clear Top Opening: Measurement located at the top of the charge box opening.
- Container: Structure that holding the compacted garbage.
Methods of Loading
WESSCO offers many different loading options for compactors.
Our expert design team will work with you to select an option that offers both convenience and safety. Selecting the proper loading method for your application will ensure years of trouble free and safe operation.
5 types of loading methods:
- Side Load
- Rear Load
- Chute Load
- Cart Lifter
- Enclosure
Benefits of Using a Compactor
- Greatly reduces waste hauling cost – WESSCO can provide an estimate cost reduction & ROI
- Increases recycling revenue
- Reduces carbon footprint
- Saves space
- Improves safety
- Limits insect, rodent, and bird problems
- Reduces labor associated with waste and recycling management
- Discourages scavengers and unauthorized disposal of waste
- Improves aesthetics and cleanliness of trash area
- Limits employee pilferage through your waste stream
- Potential capital equipment tax advantages
Compactor Hauling Process
Loose waste is the term used when a compactor is not being used. Compacted waste is the term used when a compactor is used to process waste.
Commercial and industrial waste is hauled in two ways, front load and roll-off.
Front Load Service
Waste is loaded into front load containers that have a capacity from two to eight cubic yards. The load height from the ground to the front lip of the containers is from 42” to 62”. The disposal service is typically on a predetermined schedule to handle the waste.
The front load garbage truck arrives on site and either rolls the front load containers to the truck or has direct access to drive the truck right up to the container. The truck forks are lowered to the container level and the cart pockets are pushed onto the truck forks or the truck forks are driven through the cart pockets. The cart is lifted and the waste is dumped into the truck’s on-board compactor and the carts are lowered and set back into place.
Front load compactors are processed the same way as loose waste containers. The benefits of the front load compactor is that the compactor greatly reduces the volume of the waste, requiring the hauler to be on site less often. In most cases, the load in height of a front load compactor is less than a container, improving employee safety. Additionally, the access door is easily locked. The compactor is lifted by the truck and the waste is dumped into the truck’s on-board compactor and the compactor is lowered and set back into place.
Roll-Off Service
Large producers of waste and recycling use roll-off containers or open top containers to hold the loose material. Roll-Off containers range from 15 cubic yards to 40 cubic yards. The load height from the ground to the lip of the container ranges from 60” to 84”, making the loading of these containers difficult.
When the roll-off container is full or scheduled to be hauled, the hauler arrives with a roll-off truck. The container is then pulled up onto the truck and taken to the landfill or a material recovery facility to be dumped. Afterwards, an empty container is left at the site.
Roll-Off compactors are hauled to the landfill or material recovery facility the same way that containers are hauled. The benefits of the roll off compactors are that the compactor greatly reduces the volume of material, requiring fewer hauls, compactors come in many different configurations, which improves the safety of loading the material, self-contained compactors will not leak waste liquid onto the ground, the access door to the compactor is easily locked, and rain water will not mix with the waste or recycling material, preventing flow onto the ground. Roll-Off compactors are hauled to the landfill or material recovery facility and then returned to your site.
