Have you ever wondered how your trash gets from your house to the landfill? The process is more complicated than you might think, involving many trucks and machines coordinated by professionals called garbage truck drivers. Garbage trucks are a critical tool in waste management. Understanding how they work can help us appreciate the effort involved in keeping our environment clean.
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The Garbage Truck and Its Automated Arm
Garbage trucks are an essential part of any municipality’s sanitation system. They collect trash and recyclables and help keep the streets clean. The garbage truck’s automated arm is a crucial feature that comes out from the side of the vehicle, grabs the garbage cart, and lifts it for dump into the truck. This system ensures that trash is collected quickly and efficiently, with minimal disruption to traffic flow, and improves safety for the driver.
The Compactor and Compression
The standard garbage truck, also known as a compactor truck, uses a hydraulically powered compactor that compresses the garbage from the back to the front, reducing its size by 50-70%. Although the truck can technically crush garbage, its primary purpose is to compact it to take up less space in the dumpster. The amount of compression can vary depending on the garbage type and the particular dumpster’s weight limit.
Emptying and Cleaning the Truck
Once the garbage truck collects a full load, it drives onto a weighed platform to determine how much waste has been collected. The truck then backs up to the dumping area, where its bed is raised to deposit the refuse onto the ground. The compactor is then cleaned out by a “tippler,” which rotates it and dumps its contents onto a conveyor belt for sorting and recycling. The tippler also removes any remaining garbage from the compactor, making it ready to be used again.
The Hydraulic System
The hydraulic system on a garbage truck is responsible for operating the lift and the compactor. The system uses a series of pumps, valves, and cylinders to generate the necessary force. The lift is operated by a pair of hydraulic cylinders at the truck’s rear. In contrast, the compactor is operated by hydraulic cylinders at the front of the truck. The hydraulic system is powered by a diesel engine that drives a series of pumps to provide the necessary pressure to operate the lift and compactor.
Side Load Garbage Truck
A side-load garbage truck is used to collect waste from residential areas. Its notable feature is a hydraulic arm that lifts the waste container from the side of the truck, allowing it to operate in tight spaces. The lifting capacity of the hydraulic arm varies by model, but some side loaders can lift up to 1,600 pounds. In addition to its hydraulic arm, a side-load garbage truck also has a rear-loading platform that can be used to collect smaller items, such as yard waste.
The Power of Garbage Trucks
Garbage trucks come in different sizes and shapes, but the largest ones can generate incredible force. Medium-sized trucks can produce a combined force of 80 tons and hold up to 30 cubic yards of raw waste. The larger the garbage truck, the more power it has to compact trash, making it an essential tool for managing large amounts of garbage.
Conclusion
Garbage trucks are powerful tools for managing waste and play a crucial role in keeping our environment clean. The process involves many trucks, machines, and professionals working together from the collection to the disposal. Understanding how garbage trucks work can help us appreciate the effort involved in waste management and inspire us to reduce our waste production. These trucks are necessary to manage the waste we produce.
