What is a transfer compactor?

A transfer compactor is a large scale industrial compaction machine which compacts waste material at high speed and high volumes. Transfer Compactors are typically used in the management of Solid Waste Material also known as Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). The waste material is typically compacted into articulated trailers that are then hauled away by truck. These trailers usually are walking floor trailers which means they self eject when at their final destination – either incineration or landfill.

Where in the waste processing cycle does a Transfer Compactor fit in?

Firstly, let’s take a look at a typical waste cycle. Solid Waste Management or Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is one of the critical actions required to be undertaken in both urban and rural areas. We are all creators of Solid Waste – whether we like it or not. Waste is all around us and we must manage waste in a responsible fashion. For a typical domestic user or small commercial user, this waste is managed by Wheelie Bin Collections by a waste management company or waste contractor. But what happens the waste once it goes in the wheelie bin. Generally speaking, once the wheelie bin is picked up by the Bin Lorry or Garbage Truck, it is compacted by the truck itself – and your wheelie bin is placed back at the kerbside. The truck then continues on its way, collecting each wheelie bin as it goes around its route. Once the truck has completed its route – which are generally optimised so that the truck is at maximum capacity – it returns to its main depot, where it is unloads. The main depots are general materials recovery facilities (MRF).  The unloaded material is then loaded by large scale machinery such as a large bucket loader into additional processing material, such as separating trommels. The material goes through various different screening processes (which are actually pretty cool pieces of engineering) and also through a picking line to extract any materials which may be recycled (these picking lines are either by human hand or robotics). Once anything that can be reused is extracted you then are left with pure solid waste. This waste is then required to be removed and sent to its final resting place – landfill or incineration. So how does one get the processed solid waste material to the end point? This is where the Transfer Compactor comes in – the Transfer Compactor is designed to fit in to the end of the solid waste material processing cycle so all solid waste once processed is deposited directly into the transfer compactor.

Technical Stuff?

So, what is the difference between a Transfer Compactor and a Commercial Blade Compactor? 

Size, Speed and Power – A Transfer Compactor can compact MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) at a rate of several tonnes per minute at an increased force and speed to compact waste material into the ejector trailer/container. A Commercial Blade Compactor operates on a smaller scale and at a slower speed. Moovmor Transfer Compactors branded as Transpaker can be developed to integrate with a MRF (Materials Recovery Facilities) exact requirements or selected from our standard range of Transfer Compactors which start with the MTP4000-65T and go up as far as the MTP4500-90T with cycle times of 15 to 30 seconds available. These compactors are built to operate in the toughest of environments for sustained usage.

Why should we be concerned about Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)?

As stated by Hoornweg, D., & Bhada-Tata, P. (2012).  In their paper “What a waste: a global review of solid waste management”

“Ten years ago there were 2.9 billion urban residents who generated about 0.64 kg of MSW per person per day (0.68 billion tonnes per year). This report estimates that today these amounts have increased to about 3 billion residents generating 1.2 kg per person per day (1.3 billion tonnes per year). By 2025 this will likely increase to 4.3 billion urban residents generating about 1.42 kg/capita/day of municipal solid waste (2.2 billion tonnes per year). Hoornweg, D., & Bhada-Tata, P. (2012). What a waste: a global review of solid waste management.”

Growth of Municipal Waste is a global issue and as such we need to address the issue at every possible juncture. Firstly, we as individuals must try to reduce our personal generation of waste. Some wastes are unavoidable, and it is the efficient processing and management of the disposal of this waste that is critical to the overall environmental impact.