Waste Transfer Station

A waste transfer station is a facility where municipal solid waste is unloaded from collection vehicles, in some cases compacted, and then reloaded onto larger transport vehicles for shipment to landfills or other disposal treatment operations.

The transfer station is a key component of cost-effective solid waste transportation and the overall waste disposal system. By transferring waste from local collection vehicles onto larger trailers or other transport modes such as barge and rail, the cost of transportation to distant disposal sites can be significantly reduced.

Arrivals and Scale. Inbound commercial vehicles are first directed to the scale house. Loads are weighed and tippage fees are assessed as applicable. If a transfer station allows the public to also drop off solid waste, there may be a separate queue and scale for this purpose.

Tipping , Processing and Reloading. Vehicles are unloaded at the main transfer building. Solid waste may be dropped onto the floor, into a pit, or immediately onto another vehicle. During this process, transfer station employees will screen the waste for any unauthorized materials. Compactors are used at some transfer stations to compact waste and thereby increase the payload of outbound trailers.

Facility. The facility typically includes a scale location and an enclosed building where tippage and transfer take place. The property requires adequate space to facilitate the queuing of vehicles at the scale and at the main building. As well, there should be space to accommodate the parking of outbound transfer trailers. Additional property will be required for staging unacceptable garbage. Some waste transfer stations provide space for the public to drop off green waste or other approved recyclables.

Basic Equipment. Aside from scales, transfer stations typically use equipment such as front-end loaders, cranes, conveyors, walking floors and compactors.

Staffing. Waste transfer stations require customer service and scale house operators, traffic controllers, equipment operators, maintenance mechanics, as well as other technical and management staff.