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Transfer Stations
The Revitalization of a Transfer Station Complex
Lancaster county soLid Waste ManageMent authority (LCSWMA) manages the municipal solid waste from Lancaster County, PA homes and businesses, serving approximately 520,000 residents. Once private haulers deliver the waste to LCSWMA, the organization employs a multi-step approach to trash disposal and processing, called an Integrated System. This system saves significant landfill capacity and generates enough clean, renewable energy (electricity) to power approximately one in six Lancaster County homes. LCSWMAs transfer station complexincluding a permanent, drivethrough household hazardous waste (HHW) facility and its administrative officesperforms a critical role in the Integrated System. It serves as a central drop-off location for waste haulers who collect refuse, certain recyclable materials and construction/demolition waste within Lancaster County. Improve operating efficiency Separate commercial haulers from self-haulers Improve site safety for customers and employees Increase permit capacity from 1,600 tons per day to 2,200 tons per day Enhance facility aesthetics The scope of the project involved expanding the site footprint, remediating an acquired brownfield site and redesigning the entire transfer station complex to improve traffic flow and overall operating efficiency, including: 1) constructing a new 40,000 square foot, top load transfer station building, 2) constructing a 17,000 square foot small vehicle dropoff facility, 3) replacing the scale house, 4) constructing a separate facility for HHW collection, 5) constructing a separate facility for equipment maintenance and 6) improving the administrative office faade and interior space.
LCSWMAs transfer station complex is permitted to process up to 2,200 The previous transfer station was built in 1968 and tons of waste per day. Each building on the complex features an all underwent two additions over the years to try and brick facade with beautifully manicured landscapes. Photos courtesy of accommodate growth.
LCSWMA.
The new scale house offers automated features which reduce onsite delivery times for haulers.
Equipment Purchases $2,758,000 Transfer Trailers, Loaders, Excavators, Etc. Total Project Cost $33,455,620
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Phase I
Beginning in 2005, Phase I involved Award to Wohlsen the construction of a new HHW Construction for their work on facility on the expanded site. The the transfer station 8,000 square foot building features drive-through convenience, material storage and a semi-automated paint can processing area. The facility went from serving 6,000 customers per year, to more than 43,000 customers per year, due to its prominent location (visibility), ease of use, accessibility and free service. Once residents began using the HHW facility, word spread and use of the facility significantly increased. In fact, we recently
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The 40,000 square foot tipping floor manages three different waste streams: refuse, construction/ demolition and single-stream recyclables.
Phase II
In 2006, Phase II began with the demolition of the previous HHW facility and equipment maintenance facility to clear enough space for the larger transfer station building. Zorbaugh explains that, during construction, they brought in 80,000 cubic yards of structural fill to raise the elevation of the tipping floor (a process that took months) in order to create a tunnel for top-loading transfer trucks. While the old transfer station was still operational, construction began on the new building. At one point, we only accepted municipal refuse and diverted the construction/ demolition material to our landfill. We made this critical decision in order to complete construction of the transfer station, says Zorbaugh. We incentivized our haulers by reducing the tipping fee to offset their extra costs of traveling to the landfill. The traffic to the transfer station lightened and allowed the construction crew to finish the work. Features of the new transfer building include: 40,000 square foot tipping floor Three loading chutes Two-lane truck loading tunnel Onsite employee offices and facilities Large training room with viewing area of the tipping floor The new transfer station processes approximately 1,250 tons per day, averages 293 inbound vehicles per day and sends out 62 transfer trailers each day. The tipping floor manages three different waste streams in one building: refuse, construction/demolition and single-stream recyclables. One of the unique features of the new transfer station is a training room with floor-toceiling windows that offer a view of the tipping floor and the entire transfer operation. The training room provides a safe, clean environment for training seminars, tours and meetings. Visitors can learn about the transfer station operations in a climate-controlled environment, removed from the dust and smell inherent to any waste transfer operation. When LCSWMA designed the new complex, they didnt intend on managing recyclables. However, during the construction process, the private company that handled recycling for the county informed LCSWMA that they were getting out of the business. Since haulers picking up recyclables needed a place to deliver their material, LCSWMA felt that, as a public agency managing waste, they could fulfill this service. After evaluating the new operations, LCSWMA designated one of the pits on the tipping floor for single-stream recycling material. Although initially challenging, managing recyclable materials is now part of LCSWMAs everyday routine. The new transfer station offers such customer delivery efficiency that many haulers decreased the amount of trucks out on the road. By automating some of the scale house procedures, drivers reduce their onsite delivery time. This
also lessens queuing issues during peak delivery times. Customer delivery efficiency was one of our primary goals for this project. The result has been a big plus for the hauling community, says Zorbaugh. Phase II also incorporated renovation of the administrative office, including several interior improvements and a new faade. An interesting architectural element of the office building features two of the original roof trusses salvaged from the rear portion of the structure before it was demolished to create space for the larger transfer building. The front of the administrative office is unique and often commented upon by visitors to the complex, says Zorbaugh. Its instantly recognized by the community.
Phase III
From 2007 into early 2008, Phase III involved construction of the small vehicle drop-off facility. Prior to its construction, small vehicles and commercial haulers shared the same tipping floor space at the transfer station. This required a significant amount of manpower to ensure safety for all customers. One of the projects goals was to separate the small vehicle traffic from the commercial hauler traffic. Small haulers are popular in Lancaster County. We also have many residents who drive a short distance and bring their waste in trailers or pickup trucks. In fact, this type of business comprises 20 percent of all deliveries to the transfer station complex. We needed to create an efficient plan for this situation. We designed a miniature version of our transfer station for small vehicle waste deliveries. The facility offers adequate space and shelter from inclement weather when delivering waste. Only pickup trucks, cars or vans are permitted to use the facility. A compliance officer directs residents where to go and assists with the unloading process. Its a great experience for customers, says Zorbaugh. Focused on creating a comfortable, safe environment for small haulers, the 17,000 square foot facility contains no heavy equipment. There are 11 unloading positions, as well as space for separation of recyclable tires, metals and appliances. Before construction of this facility, as the daily volume of refuse grew, self-haulers waited up to an hour during peak times, causing extra expense. Now, self-haulers are in and out within an average of 12 to 15 minutes.
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