Friday, October 28, 2011

Transfer Station Operations

One of the many operations that SP Industries manufactures compactor systems for is the transfer station. SP offers many options for choosing a high quality, high density transfer compactor from different cylinder configurations to custom-designed systems that fit the needs of specific waste streams. In the waste handling industry, transfer stations allow municipalities a manner of collecting waste at one location before it is hauled off to a landfill that may be miles away. Because they are often times located in residential and commercial areas, transfer stations must take into consideration how daily operations may affect their neighbors. For instance, the coming and going of waste haulers dumping into compactors, debris clean up, and garbage odor are a few concerns that become important to monitor while operating in and around communities.

Waste Advantage  has recently released an article detailing the plan for community outreach that transfer operations should make as a part of the ongoing communication with their neighbors. A transfer station located adjacent to homes and businesses, for example, should consider monthly meetings with community members regarding a commitment to hiring local workers or landscape improvements. Also, as is the case in almost all planning and development stages, stations should develop a clear explanation of why the community needs the station and what benefits it provides.

After brainstorming a plan, transfer stations need to develop a process for responding to community concerns that the community is familiar with. One person should be assigned as the primary contact for community members with questions and concerns. Another consideration is for transfer stations to organize periodic facility tours for neighbors who are unfamiliar with station operations.


For more information on transfer stations and their role in a community visit http://www.sp-industries.com/ or http://wasteadvantagemag.com/

Thursday, October 13, 2011

The SP Triple Bottom Line

We have been busy updating our literature, tweaking the website, and working on new products! The theme we have kept in mind during these updates and changes has been a continuing focus on sustainability, most popularly known as “thinking green.” At SP, we take a very detailed and involved approach to sustainability. The development and production of new products to be added to our line of waste handling equipment centers around meeting the needs of the present without compromising those of the future. In other words, we gauge how sustainable our products and operations are according to how well they uphold three interdependent dimensions: the environment, economics, and society—what we refer to as our triple bottom line.


For a leader in the waste material handling industry, adhering to this triple bottom line means manufacturing equipment that not only achieves maximum density but also increases our customers’ payloads and results in less trash hauling. Also, with the economy in mind, we have specific criteria designed to help our customers perform an accurate cost savings analysis regarding their material handling and recycling efforts. For instance, it is important for companies to ask: “What size and type of waste am I dealing with?” “What volume have we produced in the past?” “What compaction ratio are we currently getting?” How many pick-ups do we currently have and what is the maximum load allowance in our current container?” Moreover, we help companies navigate deciding among buying, leasing, and renting. Labor and equipment intensity also becomes relevant in making purchasing decisions especially in terms of the number of workers and machines utilized within a waste handling operation.


Read more about how our systems make waste handling operations more sustainable in our latest metal recycling catalog or on our website. Also, we would love to hear any questions or comments that you have via a response to this post or by emailing us.