by MARY M. COX
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There is a myriad of options in the global market for the containment of waste and recycled materials. A wide range of options is necessary due to the vast number of settings and processes that might be involved when waste or recyclables must be contained.
Molok provides waste containment systems for trash, recycling, organics and even used cooking oil. “Our containers are all two-thirds underground, which offers many benefits: odor control, hygienic handling, pest control and greater capacity. This is all due to the basic law of nature, coolness of the earth and gravity. New waste always caps older waste, compacting the older material and minimizing odors.
Due to the secure containment design, pests cannot access the waste,” Marja Hillis, president and chief executive officer stated. Containers are used wherever waste is generated: industrial, commercial, institutional and residential settings, as well as parks and open spaces. Hillis said, “As landfill trends lean towards densification to reduce their footprint, the crane-lifted semi-underground Molok® system occupies less than 10 percent of conventional systems and makes excellent use of space.”
Containers range from 0.4 cubic yards up to 6.5 cubic yards. Due to the vertical design and small surface area, waste material compacts – allowing for 1.5 to 2 times the volume of the container by weight. The vertical capacity of the Molok system may provide a significant reduction in service requirements, often up to 50 percent, which may also provide significant operating efficiencies and environmental benefits. The Molok container for organics collection has a capacity of 1 cu.yd. and a safe working load of 880 lbs., making it a large, secure container for organics.
Hillis noted that the uniqueness of the Molok container goes beyond the underground innovation and into another dimension of their exclusive design – they are emptied by an articulated crane. The benefits of articulated crane collection are twofold: one is freedom of installation location and the second is further waste containment control.
The containers can be installed in places where they are most convenient and accessible for people of various ages and abilities. Space savings may aid in more options for designers and planners. Because the containers are emptied by lifting the inner container from the main chamber and the contents are released through the bottom of the inner container, there is never any moving or tipping of the main container. No tipping of the Molok container means less dripping, less escaped litter and less pest attraction. Also, the Molok system is one of the only waste containers easily accessible by persons of all ages and abilities. The lightweight filling lid is easily managed and the opening height meets most accessibility guidelines. In 1991, Molok was established in Finland and has operated in North America since 1999. Molok containers are used in more than 40 countries and scores of original containers are still in use 25 years later.
“Snyder Industries is our nation’s largest rotational molder. We’ve been a premier molder since 1957 and our containers are manufactured at 3 of our 17 U.S. locations. Our hottest product is the round, 300 gallon container but we also offer 200 and 450 gallon sizes,” said Dian Sommers, national account manager, refuse & utility at Snyder Industries. The 300 is used at recycling centers, schools, apartment complexes, alleys, city events and parks. The containers are stationary and molded from high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. Sommers explained, “They are very durable and can be ordered in custom colors, with hot stamping and decals. Each order that we receive seems to be customized. Clients have started adding multiple decals, hot stamps, style of lid and a variety of color combinations to reflect the image of the city or operation involved.”
The 300 gallon containers have a slightly larger foot print than the 95 gallon carts, but the 300 can hold triple the waste of the 95. In large cities, the end user property size is typically quite limited, so having one container that will do the same as three is a clear advantage. The 300 is also popular at special events like the Sturgis, South Dakota Motorcycle Rally, downtown events, festivals, and at city beaches. Because the containers also holds more waste than the 55 gallon drum container previously used in such settings, it is not as typical for the container to overflow, allowing waste to spread. Since the cans are so large and sealed, the 300 is also popular for use in restaurant kitchens, for holding food waste.
The containers have been sold since the 1990s and “the continued growth of the specialized unit is due to the flexibility of the container. The 300 was originally molded using high density crosslink plastic resin and when the cans needed to be retired, we wanted to avoid sending them to landfills. Any container that is molded using crosslink resin can’t be recycled. So, the construction material for the 300 changed to HDPE plastic. HDPE has excellent thermal and impact properties, plus it’s rated as a Class 2 recyclable plastic,” Sommers said.
For close to three decades the T.M. Fitzgerald & Associates company has been manufacturing and distributing quality American made plastic containers. According to Tom Fitzgerald, president, “We take pride in our quality products and responsive customer service. We are happy to offer our full line of TripleRCan® containers, which offer everything needed for any size project – perfect for commingled recycling, green waste, trash and yard waste. We offer capacities of 20, 25 or 32 gallons as well as a smaller 50 quart model, ideal for valet trash services. We offer lids, solid or with various openings, containers available with either a solid bottom or drain holes, and a large selection of standard and custom colors are available. Customers can even choose to add recycling logos or custom imprints across multiple branding areas. Clients can customize an order to include the color and logo desired, for any recycling program. We also stock standardized containers so we can meet the needs of non-municipal programs.”
Fitzgerald noted that the firm’s commitment to quality and service comes standard with every order. All products are made in America with impact resistant, all weather material containing UV stabilizers, to protect against sun damage. “We use seamless, high pressure injection molding that puts plastic where it is needed most for strength and resilience. That includes reinforcing radial ribs under the rim and base for added durability. Our containers are designed with users in mind – featuring large, open handles that are easy for a gloved hand to grip. The height of our containers means less bending and lifting for homeowners and collection workers.
The TripleRCan nests inside itself for easy delivery, distribution & set-up. We look forward to increased growth within the recycling industry, as our country continues to embrace green initiatives across all levels – municipalities, universities, corporations and military bases – as all do their part to reduce, reuse, and recycle,” said Fitzgerald.
Published in the May 2017 Edition of American Recycler News