Designing for the future

With 33 years of experience in the solid waste industry and having completed more than 250 projects across 42 states, Cambridge Cos. is a go-to source for facility design, budgeting and project development. Delivering high-quality results in industrial and commercial construction services, the company specializes in design-build solutions for recycling centers, trucking repair shops, transfer stations and renewable natural gas facilities.

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To ensure a smooth scoping, estimating and construction process, we focus on accurate initial cost estimates, thorough site investigations and detailed design plans. As the project progresses through the design phases, we refer back to the initial project budgets to reconcile them wherever possible to keep the project in line.

By understanding the specific requirements of solid waste facilities, Cambridge Cos. helps clients avoid common mistakes often made by inexperienced contractors, which can lead to budget overruns or costly delays. The company’s experienced team of engineers, project managers, architects and builders can provide budgets within 5 to 10 percent of the project’s final cost at the predesign stage through early site scoping efforts, development of a risk-register, diligent design reviews and use of reliable construction costs across different parts of the country.

Assessing your needs

This early planning includes assessing the facility’s purpose, its maximum requirements and potential risk. To understand the site, engineers will review historic aerials, FEMA reports and flood maps and other geotechnical records. Inbound material flows, volume spikes, anticipated truck traffic and a facility’s operating hours are other considerations that can help teams create more accurate building plans.

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In a transfer station or a recycling center tipping area, how material is handled throughout the day and the rate at which it needs to enter and exit the building are two major trend lines that can impact facility sizing. The facility should be large enough to handle potential volume increases but small enough to remain within budget. A good way to estimate a facility’s material storage needs is to map out the anticipated material waste pile as it grows and shrinks throughout the day due to inbound and outbound material flows. At the end of the day, the goal is to have an empty tip floor.

However, it’s recommended to prepare for possible disruptions, such as shipping delays or labor shortages, by having surge capacity. Many facilities will opt to retain two days’ worth of storage while remaining operational.

Safety in the design of waste facilities also is paramount. When designing a facility layout, project teams will consider how employees access the facility, walking paths, employee parking versus truck parking and vehicle traffic, using 3D models to aid in planning. To align with client expectations, Cambridge Cos. prioritizes well-defined employee walking areas and safe operating zones for equipment.

Trust the experts

Cambridge Cos.’ longstanding reputation and close relationships with all major equipment processing system integrators make them an ideal partner for conceptualizing recycling center projects.

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With the ultimate goal of finding solutions that fit clients' short- and long-term needs, the company’s teams take the guesswork out of building design, leaving owners and operators to do what they do best—running their business.

Rather than relying on general contractors who don’t fully understand the complexities of waste management, Cambridge Cos. understands these operations inside and out. Through high-level Q&As, a project team can provide detailed construction cost estimates, full design plans, permitting, construction and handover.

Get it right the first time with a team you can trust. To learn more about Cambridge Cos. and its services, visit https://cambridgecompaniesinc.com/. You can also reach Cambridge Cos. President Jeff Eriks at jeff@cambridgecoinc.com or Design Project Manager Evan Williams at evan@cambridgecoinc.com.