The City of Millersville, Tennessee
The City of Millersville is focused on creating a prosperous future while preserving our history.
How the Program Works
Millersville’s solid waste program was started to provide weekly collection of normal household trash. With limitations, the system provides for the removal of the occasional bulk item and, when time permits, the drivers conduct roadside litter cleanup. The program is based upon an automated system of trash collection that utilizes hydraulic lifting arms and a minimum number of personnel. This automated system is designed to reduce injury to the workers and provide efficient disposal to keep fees low. The equipment used in the program includes the following:
Automated Side Loading Collection Truck:
This is state-of-the-art equipment. Ideally, the driver never leaves the truck, The operator maneuvers a mechanical arm that picks up the container and empties it into the truck.
For this truck to work efficiently, it is vital that the container be placed away from overhead wires and at least 5 feet from other objects, including other containers, a mailbox, parked cars and anything that would interfere with the mechanical arm grasping the container. For the same reason, if there is an occasional overflow of trash, please do not place the extra bag against the container. It is also important not to place trash on top of the container lid. This can result in the extra trash being spilled and littering the area.
Trash placed outside of the container often requires the expense of a second vehicle making the pick up. Extra trash on a regular basis may require a second container at an additional charge.
Satellite Collection Truck:
This small truck is used in areas that present maneuvering problems for the larger automated truck, such as short roads, backyard pick up and mobile home parks. Although the operator must exit the truck to empty the can, it is normally a one-person operation. The operator places the container next to the truck and a hydraulic “flipper” empties the can. Since the operator is outside the vehicle, extra trash can be collected easier than with the automated truck. However, hand lifting the extra bags increases the chance of injury to the operator, increases the chance that a bag will break open and the added trash increases the disposal costs.
Rear Loading Collection Truck:
This truck is the typical collection vehicle we are all familiar with, often seen with an operator standing on the back of the truck. The containers are placed at the rear of the truck and hydraulic flippers empty the cans. This truck requires more than one operator and is therefore more expensive to operate than the other vehicles. Millersville uses this type of truck to transport trash to the landfill and as a backup to the other trucks.
Knuckle Boom Truck:
This is a large vehicle with a grappling hook and arm that can pick up appliances and other large objects. It is used for bulk item collection and the collection of tree limbs.
