Page 146 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

CAT3525_C05.qxd 1/27/2005 11:15 AM Page 117
Municipal Solid Waste Collection 117

Start
Finish

Start
Finish

(a) Three-block configuration (b) Variation of three-block configuration

Start
Finish

(c) Four-block configuration

FIGURE 5.5 Routing patterns for three- and four-block configurations (U.S. EPA, 1974b).

time traveling to the disposal site) and fuel. In addition to lower collection costs, transfer stations
offer benefits including reduced maintenance costs for collection vehicles, increased flexibility in
the selection of disposal facilities, the opportunity to recover recyclable materials at the transfer site,
and the opportunity to process wastes (shred or bale) prior to disposal. In determining whether a
transfer station is appropriate, municipal decision makers should compare the costs and savings
associated with the construction and operation of the facility with costs for the direct shipping of
the wastes from local neighborhoods to the landfill.
Transfer stations are often difficult to site and permit, particularly in urban areas. The farther
the ultimate disposal site is from the collection area, the greater the savings attained from the use
of a transfer station. The disposal site is typically at least 10 to 15 miles from the generation area
before a transfer station is economically justified (see Figure 5.7). Transfer stations are sometimes
used for shorter hauls to complete other duties such as sort wastes or allow the shipment of wastes
to more distant landfills (U.S. EPA, 2003).

5.3.12 TYPES OF TRANSFER STATIONS
The type of station that would be most appropriate for a community depends on several design vari-
ables, for example (U.S. EPA, 2003):

• Capacity for waste storage
• Types of wastes received