Is automated collection for you?

Launch Slideshow

Is automated collection for you?

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Photo: O'Fallon Environmental Services

Left: O'Fallon, Mo.'s, Heil model 7000 trucks speed the waste collection for the town, which is growing rapidly.
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Photo: City of Florence

This 2003 Mack MR with a McNeilus 40-yard bed is picking up trash at an apartment complex in Florence, Ala.
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Photo: McNeilus

Above: Leach's Pendulum Packer, a packing system that allows cans to be dumped while the pendulum is in motion, is standard on the Crocodile model. Photo: Leach. Right: Houston recently added 21 AutoReach automated side loaders from McNeilus. A tandem gear pump allows all functions—including the packing arm, tailgate, and ALLCAN Grabber—to be operated at idle, minimizing noise levels and lowering fuel consumption.

An automated collection vehicle shopping list

According to industry data, about 15% of all refuse collection vehicles sold in the United States in 2003 were automated side loaders. So what should you look for? Here's a quick list of items to compare when shopping.

Arm “kick-out”

Body capacity

Compaction rates

Container size capability (the typical city uses 96-gallon containers)

Cycle times

Dump or eject unit

Ergonomics and operator comfort

Hopper capacity and throughput

Maintenance costs/parts costs

Overhead clearance

Payload

Price and financing