Dumpster Moving Equipment Archives

Beyond the Dumpster: Could We See a End to Plastic Waste in Our Lifetimes?

Could your dumpster moving equipment soon be pulling less plastic waste? With plastics rapidly accumulating, littering our green spaces and waterways, materials scientists and designers are looking to reinvent the plastics regime.

They’re striving to put an end to plastics problems such as unrecyclable products, confusing recycling symbols, and a lack of compatible recycling facilities worldwide. Their innovations, if adopted and integrated into the plastics industry, could put an end to the pileup.

What New Technologies Could Put an End to Plastic Waste?

1. New recyclable films

Plastic films, comprised of an assortment of polymers and used in paper and plastic packaging, make materials unrecyclable. Swapping these films for nature-inspired, nano-engineered recycled materials mimicking a few of nature’s molecular building blocks can provide a wider variety of new materials – those that are water-resistant, airtight, or printable.

2. Magnetic additives

Magnetic additives can improve the ability of plastics to block oxygen in sensitive products like coffee and medicines, while upholding their recyclability.

3. Wood ‘plastics’

The cellulose in renewable agricultural/forestry wood byproducts, formed into a compostable multilayered material, can be used for stand-up food pouches such as those used for dried cereal, nuts, and fruits.

4. Plastics from recycled food waste

Agricultural byproducts and food waste can be used to create compostable plastics for packaging in a broad range of products, from cereal bars to detergents.

5. Compostable coatings

Silicate and biopolymer compostable coatings could improve the performance of biodegradable packaging, which by itself cannot uphold the required minimum shelf-life of products.

Are your waste management practices falling behind the times? As the industry enters a a new era, ensure a safer, more efficient waste management system. Learn more about dumpster moving equipment from DJ Products today.

Beyond the Dumpster: The Problem with Plastic

Look Closer at Plastic in Our World

Our dumpster mover accommodates loads of up to 5,000 pounds, but how much of that is plastic? Despite an increased focus on recycling, a disturbing amount of plastic continues to end up in the trash.

Plastic poses a wide range of threats resulting in long-term damage to the environment. Scientists continue to grapple with the problem of controlling the massive quantities of plastic waste around the globe.

“Statistic of the Year”

Approximately 9% of plastic produced over the last 60 years has been recycled. This staggering fact is so significant that Great Britain’s Royal Statistical Society named it their Statistic of the Year for 2018.

In quantifiable terms, plastic waste is accumulating at 6.3 billion metric tons per year. Even scientists working on the study were shocked at this almost incomprehensible number. Since plastic takes more than 400 years to decompose, most of it still exists.

A Global Approach to Plastic Recycling

For the past two years, scientists have been conducting their first-ever global analysis of plastic production and disposal. With 79% of plastic waste taking up space in landfills or across the environment as litter, projections show there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic waste by 2050.

Most plastic waste ultimately finds its way into the ocean, where it causes significant harm to fish, birds and marine wildlife. Previous studies found that 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in oceans annually.

According to researchers, production of plastic has accelerated beyond the capacity to handle the waste. Scientists urge re-evaluation of manufacturing, design and usage to develop more eco-friendly strategies.

Dumpster Mover: A Practical Solution to Easier Trash Removal

Reduce costly workplace injuries with a dumpster mover from DJ Products. Call 800.686.2651 for more information.

Beyond the Dumpster: Landfills – a Growing Community Problem

Landfills are a necessary evil that can have a lesser impact if people are careful about what goes inside of them. Gas emissions and poisoned water supplies are the real problems with landfills, far more than just the space they take up.

If responsible waste management were easier, wouldn’t you and your staff be more on board with it? When facilities managers have the proper dumpster moving equipment to make short work of trash day, it’s much easier to recycle and prevent toxic garbage from going to landfills.

Why Are Landfills a Problem?

Sometimes people should argue about where landfills should go, whether waste should cross state lines, and other matters for the bureaucracy. As far as human impact and environmental impact, there are really two reasons why landfills are so bad.

– Greenhouse gas emissions: decomposing materials release methane and carbon dioxide, hurting local air quality and the climate.

– Groundwater contamination: Heavy metals and chemical substances leach toxic compounds into the water supply and bodies of water.

To reduce the gas emissions, add composting bins near existing trash facilities and encourage participation.

To protect waterways from landfill contamination, everyone should avoid throwing away items like electronics, scrap metals, or chemical containers. Recycle them instead, or take them to a special drop-off site.

Dumpster Moving Equipment for Easier Management

Motorized dumpster moving equipment makes garbage duty less time-consuming and physically demanding.

Maintenance staff and building owners alike benefit from the DJ Products WasteCaddy. Easier trash hauling means fewer injuries, lower premiums for workers comp, and less time spent moving dumpsters.

With the right tools, it’s much easier to incorporate a recycling and composting system into your facilities so you can tout your green efforts. Contact DJ Products for a demonstration.

Dumpster Tips: When Is a Dumpster a Better Solution than a Trash Compactor?

When to Know When to Make the Right Decision

Having a place to keep garbage is essential for businesses of all kinds, but what type of trash storage does your company need? Whether your company would do better with a dumpster or trash compactor depends on a few different factors. Keep the following in mind when you need to choose the right trash storage for your business.

Company Budget

The amount of money in your budget is another factor to consider. Keep in mind that you’ll need to include the cost of dumpster moving equipment in your budget if you decide to go with a dumpster. Trash compactors can help you save money, since they don’t need to be emptied as often.

Amount of Garbage

The amount of garbage your company produces on a regular basis is one of the most important factors to consider. Companies that produce smaller or moderate amounts of garbage can use a dumpster to hold it until a local waste hauler empties it, which usually happens once a week or every other week. Companies that produce large amounts of garbage on a regular basis should look into getting a trash compactor. Trash compactors are able to hold more, since they compress the garbage inside them each time they’re filled.

Pest Concerns

If your property has problems with rats, mice, cockroaches or other pests, then you might be better off with a trash compactor. These tend to have tighter seals compared to dumpsters, which helps prevent pests from getting inside.

If you’re interested in dumpster moving equipment for your business, please visit DJ Products. We carry a wide selection of high-quality equipment that can help your business reduce the risk of injuries, save time and cut down on manpower hours.

Prevent Potential Waste Bin Cover Injuries

Dumpsters Can Be Dangerous

Waste handling poses several obvious risks, especially in regards to hazardous materials and the physical injuries associated with pushing or pulling heavy dumpsters. Your staff should also be aware of dumpster safety tips for operating the bin cover or lid.

Ideally, maintenance staff should use a motorized dumpster pusher to prevent muscle strains and back injuries. For loading and unloading, it’s important to use a reasonably clean lid that’s in good working order.

Dumpster injury hazards to address include:

– Tipping hazards: Never move a dumpster or waste bin with the lid open. The lid can crush or cut the hands, or even cause a lightweight container to tip over backwards. This garbage can injury story details the potential for lacerations, nerve injury, and worse.

– Keep out unwanted people and pests: Use padlocks to deter dumpster divers, unauthorized access, and raccoons or other vermin. If locks aren’t a good option, make sure to use tight-fitting lids and replace broken lids.

– Best practices for waste bins: Workers should avoid throwing the lid open wildly. Check to make sure no one is standing behind, and use a step stool if you’re too short to safely open the lid.

Most importantly, never rely on the safety labels to teach employees how to handle waste bins. Conduct safety meetings regularly, post large signs as reminders, and use tools like our automated dumpster pusher to alleviate the heavy strain.

If your team needs to move dumpsters or waste bins around the property, request a demo of the WasteCaddy dumpster pusher from DJ Products, the industry leaders in ergonomic safety equipment.

Tow Device for Moving Your Dumpster Safely

Work Smarter, Not Harder. Get a Dumpster Caddy Today!

When trash day rolls around, do your employees struggle to maneuver the dumpster to the designated pick-up area? Our battery-powered dumpster mover lets a single worker easily handle the job with reduced risk of injury.

Our dumpster tow device is so effective that it was featured in an article for American City and County, a magazine for state and local government officials. Here’s what they had to say about the WasteCaddy from DJ Products.

Battling the High Costs of Trash Room Injuries

Fully-loaded trash dumpsters can weigh thousands of pounds. Manually moving these loads can result in serious back and shoulder injuries, causing expensive medical claims and costly loss of productivity.

Benefits of the WasteCaddy

With our WasteCaddy, a single employee can maneuver dumpsters weighing up to 5,000 pounds up and down inclines, around tight corners and through narrow hallways. If your business or organization is located in a cold-weather area, the WasteCaddy works through snow and ice as well.

The unit’s 36-volt, three-battery system is recharged with a charger that uses 120/220-volt outlets. Ergonomically-designed features such as the variable-speed twist grip help prevent common repetitive-motion injuries that can have chronic long-term effects.

WasteCaddy Works for All Applications

American City and County serves state and local governments, but our dumpster mover is appropriate for any business or organization that produces trash. The WasteCaddy is used in facilities as varied as warehouses, office buildings, multi-family housing units and retail complexes.

Which Dumpster Mover Is Right for You?

DJ Products offers a number of dumpster tows with a wide range of standard and optional features. Visit our website and use the convenient online chat feature to learn which dumpster mover is the best solution for your specific needs.

What Happens When We Run Out of Landfill Space?

Where Does the Trash Go Once Landfills are Full?

How much do you know about what happens to waste once it’s transferred to pick-up with your dumpster moving equipment? Out of 258 million tons of solid waste produced in the United States each year, roughly one-third is recycled while the rest goes to landfills.

Unfortunately, land is a non-renewable resource and the country’s 2,000 landfills are running out of space. How did we reach this point, and what can we do to solve the problem?

An Industry in Crisis

Experts point to two significant factors contributing to dwindling landfill space.

– The amount of waste generated in the U.S., is already the highest in the world, and has been increasing over the last few years.

– China, which once accepted one-sixth of our country’s recyclable material, enacted strict bans at the beginning of 2018. As a result, waste companies have been forced to deposit the spillover in landfills.

According to a report from the Solid Waste Environmental Excellence Protocol (SWEEP), U.S. landfills are projected to reach capacity within 18 years. The situation is particularly dire in the Northeast, while landfills in the West are in slightly better shape.

Solving the Landfill Problem

– Data from the Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) indicates the U.S. currently produces energy by burning 33 million tons of waste per year. That number could rise, but the tradeoff in pollution may be unacceptable.

– More landfills could be created, but the process takes time and often meets resistance from local communities.

– Regulators, manufacturers and consumers can band together to develop more sustainable packaging and be proactive with waste-reduction activities.

Eco-Friendly Dumpster Moving Equipment from DJ Products

Our dumpster moving equipment is designed to make waste removal easier and reduce risk of workplace injuries. Contact us today for more information.

Top Trends in 2018 for Dumpster Safety

Top Trends for Dumpster Safety

Our electric dumpster mover protects employees from common workplace injuries, but trash disposal involves a number of more wide-ranging safety concerns. What’s actually in a dumpster can present health hazards that spread to surrounding areas.

As companies strive to become more environmentally responsible, these trends are becoming part of green trash disposal procedures.

Updated Plastic Recycling

Polystyrene foam and other traditional packing materials have given way to more eco-friendly plastics. China, which previously imported the bulk of global plastic waste, instituted a ban on many disposables. As a result, waste and recycling centers are instituting systems to properly handle plastics.

Promoting Awareness of Bio-Hazards

Products such as pesticides, automotive fluids and cleaning solutions do more than cause injury when handled improperly. Chemicals can leak into the ground and seriously damage the ecosystem. Companies are training workers on identification and disposal of hazardous materials.

Responsible E-Waste Disposal

With computers, tablets, cell phones and other digital devices becoming staples in most households, frequent tech upgrades result in a flood of discarded electronics. Communities are increasing the number of e-waste programs and stations to accommodate the demand.

Converting Waste to Energy

California has taken the lead in development of anaerobic digestion technology, which is a method to convert food and other biodegradable waste into energy. The city of Sacramento currently processes more than 100 tons of organic matter each day. If they can sustain this success, the technology will undoubtedly make its way across the country.

Battery-Powered Dumpster Mover Combines Productivity and Safety

Show your commitment to responsible waste disposal and worker safety. Contact us to learn how an electric dumpster mover from DJ Products lets a single employee move loads of up to 5,000 pounds with less risk of musculoskeletal injury.

Top 2018 Waste & Recycling Trends for the Restaurant Industry

How Do You Handle the Food Your Customers Don’t Eat?

Our electric dumpster moving equipment makes it safer and easier for employees to handle the physical requirements of waste removal. But what are you doing at your restaurant to manage waste and recycling at the source?

Restaurant waste negatively impacts the environment and sharply reduces profitability. Here are three major trends currently affecting waste and recycling in the restaurant industry. How can you apply these ideas in your own business?

1. Avoid Food Waste

This sounds like a simple concept, but it’s essential to identify where the waste is coming from so you can implement solutions. Are chefs being careless when peeling vegetables or slicing meat? Do all employees follow consistent portion sizes? Make sure the staff has the necessary training and equipment to minimize food waste.

2. Waste Management by the Numbers

Restaurant technology has moved beyond POS systems and kitchen equipment. IoS sensors in garbage and recycling containers can capture data such as fluctuations in waste volume that let you make better decisions and catch problems before they grow out of hand.

3. Reduce, Reuse then Recycle

It’s not enough to simply recycle waste and call it good. Factors such as China’s stringent new waste and recycling restrictions are resulting in overburdened recycling systems. Reducing waste should be the first priority in processing trash, followed by reuse. Recycling should remain the last resort when the first two options are not feasible.

Is Your Dumpster-Moving Equipment Up to Date?

Trash rooms and dumpsters are frequently the top causes of workplace injuries, which seriously harm productivity and profitability. Dumpster moving equipment from DJ Products reduces the risk of muscle strain, pinched fingers and other injuries.

Visit our website or call 800.686.2651 for more information about our dumpster moving solutions.

Beyond the Dumpster: What’s Trending in the Garbage Collection Industry

Questions on Garbage Collection Trends

The garbage collection industry is relatively straightforward, with the basics remaining largely the same from year to year. Innovations such as our eco-friendly dumpster mover become standard as companies recognize the benefits.

Even so, the industry does find itself periodically shifting in response to domestic and global changes. Here are some significant trends that are affecting waste collection today.

China’s Revised Import Policies

Many industry members point to China’s stringent new policies on importing recyclables as the biggest factor impacting garbage collection today. China once accepted up to half of the world’s scrap paper, plastic and metals, and the changes are leaving countries scrambling to find alternate means of disposal.

The Franchising Controversy

Smaller garbage collection companies fear that franchising, or zoned collection, will hurt their ability to compete on the open market. The largest such franchise to date in the U.S. is recycLA in Los Angeles, which works with Waste Management and six other service providers with a market of more than 70,000 customers.

Integration of Technology

Technology has been a game-changer in just about every industry, so it was only a matter of time before waste collection followed suit. In addition to the use of artificial intelligence and more sophisticated software, the industry will likely begin moving toward more electric or hybrid vehicles with an eye toward autonomous vehicles in the future.

The Zero Waste Debate

“Zero waste” has long been an industry buzzword, but there’s little consensus about what the term means beyond a reduced reliance on landfills.

Waste Collection Made Easier

Our electric dumpster mover is eco-friendly and ergonomically designed to fit your company’s needs now and transition smoothly through the future. Visit our website to learn more from one of our helpful sales engineers.

Tag: Dumpster Moving Equipment