Static and portable compactors are designed to compact medium to large volumes of mixed waste and recyclables. By compacting the waste, fewer collections are required to remove it and since transport costs are a high proportion of the cost of removal you will reduce waste disposal costs. But which one is right for me? The picture below left is a rear-loading static compactor. The picture on the right is a portable compactor. Here are some key points to bear in mind:
Static Compactors
1. They are bolted to the ground.
2. The container is a separate item (see the container furthest away in the picture above, left) and is attached to the compactor with retaining clamps. When the container is full, it is exchanged for an empty one.
3. Static compactors are not sealed so are not suitable for wet waste or general waste with high proportions of liquid (like food waste) as this will leak out onto the ground around the compactor and container.
4. Static compactors require more space. The total length including the container and any safety cage is around 10m or more. The picture above left is a rear-loading compactor where the safety cage is in line with the compactor so requires even more space. In addition, the vehicle which exchanges the container needs sufficient access to pick up the container.
5. The container is picked up on the hook on the back of the container, furthest away from the
front of the compactor. You, therefore, must decide where to place the compactor for vehicle access (at the back of the container) and loading (at the front or side of the compactor).
Portable Compactors
1. They are not fixed to the ground.
2. The container is an integral part of the machine, so when the compactor needs to be emptied, the whole unit is taken away (see picture top right). The compactor, therefore, isn’t available for loading during the time it is being emptied (unless you have more than one), which may be a couple of hours or more.
3. Portable compactors have a smaller footprint of around 6.5m, plus the access for the waste lorry to empty it. If space is a problem, a portable could be more suitable.
4. They can be sealed so would be required for wet or general waste with liquids. 5. The compactor is picked up by the hook at the front, the same end as the loading, so the vehicle will need access to the front of the portable compactor. 6. Portable compactors can either be roll-on-off (hooklift) or skiplift - skip compactors, where they are picked up with a skip lorry.
Both types can be loaded with bin-lifter for wheelie bins in which case the static compactor will need a safety cage to protect the operator (picture left, below). The bin lifter control panel is outside the cage, so the cage must be closed before being able to operate.
Portable compactors don’t generally need a safety cage but can have safety fences at the side to screen off the bin as it tips. The operator activates the bin lifter with a two-handed button which must be pressed simultaneously (pictured right, below).
Bergmann Direct supplies both static and portable compactors. The Bergmann portable compactors have a unique design which eliminates a key maintenance problem with standard static and portable compactors: the need to clear out the space behind the press ram. That space fills up with material and if not removed weekly will eventually stop the compactor from working.
Bergmann portable compactors have a different design with no space behind the press plate and are therefore lower maintenance and last longer. It is a key reason why so many local authorities and blue-chip companies use Bergmann portable compactors rather than any other make or static compactors.
❖ For more information on our static compactors go to
https://www.bergmanndirect.co.uk/static-waste-compactors
❖ For more information on Bergmann portable compactors go to
https://www.bergmanndirect.co.uk/portable-waste-compactors
Or Contact Us for more information.
