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What is a Compressed Garbage Truck?

Jan. 13, 2025

How Does a Garbage Truck Compactor Work? 


Compressed garbage trucks play a vital role in waste management, ensuring the efficient collection and transport of waste from residential and commercial areas to disposal facilities.

 

By compressed garbage trucks to reduce its volume, the garbage truck compactor increases the load capacity, enabling waste hauling companies to maximize the number of pickups before needing to unload.

 

How Garbage Truck Compactors Work

 

The trash compactor has a compression chamber that runs along the length of the truck and has a discharge opening at one end and a feed opening at the other. In the compression chamber, there is a ram that is driven by hydraulics. Its job is to pack the trash to a certain density and pressure by moving back and forth. At the discharge opening of the chamber, a door can be manually moved between open and closed positions. When closed, the trash is compacted against it.

 

A hydraulic compactor uses hydraulic pressure to compress materials, with a standard garbage truck compactor exerting a force of approximately 2,750 psi (pounds per square inch).

 

1. Loading Waste: Waste is loaded into the hopper located at the rear, front, or side of the truck, depending on its design.  

2. Compression Process: A hydraulic press compacts the waste in the hopper, reducing its volume significantly.  

3. Storage: The compacted waste is transferred into the truck's storage compartment, maximizing collection capacity.  

4. Transportation: Once full, the truck transports the compacted waste to a landfill, recycling center, or processing facility.  

5. Unloading: At the disposal site, the truck’s hydraulic system ejects the compacted waste from the storage compartment.  

 

Compressed Garbage Truck


Compactors Work in Tandem With Other Design Elements  

 

Garbage trucks are equipped with various components to handle different types of waste collection. The rear loader garbage truck, commonly used in residential areas, collects curbside trash cans. These trucks typically feature a hydraulic lift that raises and empties trash cans into a hopper at the rear of the vehicle, operated by a set of buttons and levers mounted on the exterior.

 

Once the hopper is full, a hydraulic mechanism transfers the trash into the truck’s compacting section, where the compactor reduces the space the waste occupies in the truck’s body. This process repeats until the truck is fully loaded.

 

Benefits of Compression Garbage Trucks

 

- Efficiency: Compacting waste allows these trucks to carry more, reducing the number of trips required and saving both time and fuel.  

- Cost-Effective: Fewer trips lower operational expenses, including fuel, maintenance, and labor costs.  

- Environmental Benefits: Reduced trips mean lower carbon emissions, promoting a cleaner and greener environment.  

- Reduced Noise and Odor: Waste compaction minimizes odors and reduces noise during collection operations.  

- Improved Hygiene: Securely contained waste ensures cleaner streets, reducing litter and contamination risks.  

 

Compression garbage trucks are vital in modern waste management. Their efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits make them indispensable for maintaining public health and urban cleanliness, especially as waste generation continues to rise.  

 

FAQs  

 

1. How much waste can a compression garbage truck hold?  

Compression garbage trucks can carry up to three times more waste than non-compacting trucks, depending on their size and compaction ratio.  

 

2. Are there environmental benefits to using compression garbage trucks?  

Yes, these trucks reduce trips, lowering fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Compaction also minimizes waste volume, conserving landfill space.  

 

3. What maintenance is required for compression garbage trucks?  

Regular maintenance includes checking the hydraulic system, lubricating moving parts, inspecting compaction mechanisms, and routine vehicle servicing such as engine and brake checks.  

 

4. Can compression garbage trucks handle all types of waste?  

These trucks are suitable for general waste but may not handle hazardous materials or large, bulky items. Specialized trucks and procedures are required for such waste types.  

 

5. How do automated side loader trucks benefit waste collection?  

Automated side loaders enhance efficiency with robotic arms that collect bins, reducing manual labor, speeding up collection, and improving worker safety by limiting direct waste contact. 

 

Compressed Garbage Truck