5 questions about high-performance landfill compactors

1. Why are high-performance landfill compactors essential in landfill operations?

Modern landfill compaction prioritizes maximizing airspace to extend a landfill’s lifespan and increase its profitability. A landfill compactor should be designed with three core principles in mind: airspace conservation, superior performance and reliable operation.

The primary task of an efficient compactor is to maximize airspace, ensuring the landfill’s long-term value. BOMAG purpose-built landfill compactors achieve these goals through their innovative design, which includes optimized oscillation, superior articulation and enhanced stability. The machines’ precise weight distribution and specialized wheel configuration allow them to produce industry-leading compaction density, helping landfills achieve higher capacity and ultimately boost revenue.

2. What factors should be considered when selecting a landfill compactor?

When selecting a landfill compactor, consider these three key factors:

Compaction efficiency: Maximizing airspace is essential to extending landfill lifespan and avoiding costly expansions. Efficient and consistent compaction minimizes the need for opening additional sites and results in substantial long-term savings.

Safety features: High-quality compactors reduce worker exposure to waste and help stabilize landfill slopes, minimizing risks for workers and creating a safer work environment.

Reliable product support: A knowledgeable support team and reliable dealer network ensure proper maintenance, rapid parts availability and minimal downtime, helping to keep landfill operations efficient and uninterrupted.

3. How can advanced technology ensure superior landfill compaction?

Landfill equipment has advanced significantly from the use of standard dozers and wheel loader chassis to purpose-built machines specifically engineered for the rigors of daily landfill compacting.

Today’s compactors offer a variety of features, such as mechanical or hydrostatic drive systems, oscillating or rigid frames and configurations that range from four-wheel compaction to two oversized compaction drums. BOMAG’s innovative design features a robust X15 Cummins as standard in its larger models.

This engine powers four fully independent, hydrostatically driven polygon ring wheels with 30-degree oscillation frames, ensuring nonstop ground contact for maximum compaction—something that a two-wheel compactor cannot achieve. Added features like wheel scrapers, wire cutters and offset wheel positioning further improve compaction results, boosting efficiency in landfill operations.

4. What are the economic and environmental impacts of using a landfill compactor?

Maximizing compaction density yields significant economic and environmental benefits. As an example, BOMAG’s BC 973 RB-5 model processes up to 1,000 tons of waste daily while reducing fuel consumption by up to 15 percent with features like ECOMODE and ECOSTOP. Efficient compaction reduces the need for additional machinery, cutting fuel, labor and maintenance costs.

5. How can intelligent wheel design help in achieving optimal compaction?

BOMAG’s polygon wheels, designed specifically for waste compaction, employ a three-step intelligent process for maximum compaction efficiency. First, specialized tips break down the material. Next, polygon rings create a kneading effect to further compact the material. Finally, the machine’s weight drastically compresses the material, removing air, for unequaled density.

In sum, the BOMAG lineup of landfill compactors combines cutting-edge engineering with economic and environmental advantages, making it a top choice for optimized landfill management.