Waste material originates from a variety of activities which could include manufacturing as well as the debris created by average citizens such as broken furniture, large tree branches, and old appliances. Generally, trash is collected by regular garbage trucks; however some larger material cannot be handled by a normal garbage collection vehicle and special equipment must be used to handle this problem, one of them being the grapple truck. This is a specialized refuse collection machine designed to pick up bulky trash material too heavy for normal handling and is widely used for bulk garbage collection management programs.

The Problem – Bulky Waste Production

Bulky trash problems are a worldwide issue and the disposal of large items has been a problem almost since the beginning of time. The increase in the disposal of these bulky items is thought to be a by-product of our "disposable" economy. To address this concern, several innovative trash collection techniques have been developed to safely transport and dispose of this kind of garbage properly. These new collection methods allow the material to be disposed of in an efficient and environmentally sound manner.

The Solution – The Right Vehicle

Conventional garbage trucks are used in the collection of normal trash and smaller items, which are then transported to a landfill or treatment facility. Grapple trucks are used to pick up and haul bulky refuse; it offers rapid, efficient, easy, and safe hauling of oversized products such as discarded furniture, tree branches, and large appliances. The best method for collecting large material is through the use of this specialized device which has a hydraulic knuckleboom with a clamp attached at the boom end and a dump box mounted on the chassis.

Waste Management Programs

In most cases, oversized garbage should be collected by grapple trucks. In bulky garbage management programs, trash is separated into biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Branches, logs, discarded wooden furniture, and brush debris is collected separately for composting. During this process, the collected material is hauled to landfills, reducing the need for burning sites. Non-biodegradable items are either reused or recycled before they are picked up and transported by garbage collection vehicles.

Choosing the Right Truck

In order to select the right grapple truck, consideration must be given to durability, speed, length, and degree of rotation; all of these must work together to achieve exceptional performance. Product support by the manufacturer is also important, in case a component should break the ability to have that part easily and quickly replaced is very important.

Waste management is a worldwide problem due to the activities of its human inhabitants. The production of large, solid waste is increasing for many reasons. To resolve these concerns, both private and public sectors must work hand-in-hand to reduce the amount of refuse generated daily. An important part of a total waste management program is the utilization of grapple trucks. These vehicles can help ensure the safe, clean, and efficient handling of solid waste items!