Page 138 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

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Municipal Solid Waste Collection 109
5.3.5 WASTE PICKUP LOCATIONS
In urban and suburban communities, waste is typically collected using curbside or alley pickup.
Backyard service, more common in the past, is still used by some communities. Curbside or alley
service is more economical but requires greater resident participation than backyard service. The
productivity of backyard systems is about one half than that of curbside or alley systems (Hickman,
1986). Therefore, with smaller municipal budgets and increased service costs, more municipalities
have switched to curbside or alley collection. Some municipalities also offer collection services to
larger apartment buildings and commercial establishments. In other communities, service to these
customers is provided by private collection companies. In general, wastes from such buildings are
stored in dumpsters or roll-off containers.
Regarding collection services in rural areas, residents are usually required to place containers
near their mailboxes or other designated pickup points along major routes. Other municipalities
require a drop-off arrangement, where wastes are brought to a facility known as a transfer station
(see below). A drop-off service is obviously much less expensive than a collection service but is less
convenient for residents. Table 5.1 lists various waste collection methods and their advantages and
disadvantages.

TABLE 5.1
Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Pickup Points for Collecting MSW

Curb-side/Alley Collection
Residents place containers to be emptied at curb or in alley on the collection day. Collection crew empties containers into
collection vehicle. Residents return the containers to their storage location until next scheduled collection time.
Advantages
• Crew can move quickly
• Crew does not enter private property, so fewer accidents and trespassing complaints arise
• This method is less costly than backyard collection because it generally requires less time and fewer crew members
• Adaptable to automated and semiautomated collection equipment
Disadvantages
• On collection days waste containers are visible from the street
• Collection days must be scheduled
• Residents are responsible for placing containers at the proper collection point
Backyard Setout – Setback Collection
Containers are carried from backyard to curb by a special crew and emptied by the collection crew. The special crew then
transports the containers back to their original storage location
Advantages
• Collection days need not be scheduled
• Waste containers are not usually visible from the street
• Use of additional crew members reduces loading time as compared to backyard collection method
Disadvantages
• Because crews enter private property, more injuries and trespassing complaints are likely
• The method is more time-consuming
• Residents are not involved and more crew members than for curb-side and alley collection are required
• This is more costly than curb-side and alley collection because additional crews are required
Backyard Collection
In this method, collection crews enter property to collect refuse. Containers may be transported to the truck, emptied, and
returned to their original storage location, or emptied into a tub or cart and transported to the vehicle so that only one trip
is required
(continued)