Caster wheels, lids and bottoms are the top three items that 鈥済o鈥� on containers. A little TLC can go a long way in extending a container鈥檚 鈥渦ptime鈥�.
By Kerry Holmes
Extending the life of your commercial waste container makes sense from both economic and environmental perspective. Dumpsters are built to withstand a lot; day in and out they are exposed to the elements. Poorly maintained lids and wheels that won鈥檛 roll will impede workflow and contribute to illegal dumping around the container. Here are some maintenance considerations that will help you get the most out of your containers.
Lids
Invest wisely; a lid will cost seven times more to replace then to purchase. A quality manufactured dumpster lid should be maintenance free and should last at least five to seven years. Some lids are damaged beyond repair by fires, vandals and animal bites. Although impossible to stop, you can safeguard as much as possible by buying the best quality lids. Here鈥檚 what to look for:聽find a lid that is made from recyclable materials (vs. recycled)鈥攖here is a big difference. Lids made from 100 percent recycled materials have already had their usage; they are at the end of their life. Lids that are made from a suitably engineered percentage of recyclable plastic can be recycled into a host of other non-food container based consumer products, i.e. park benches. Thermo-formed lids greatly reduce cracking and splitting. 聽It is a seamless product manufacturing process vs. rotomolding or blow molding, which will leave a seam on the perimeter of the lid, including the hinge. Look for more material on the hinge line (where the lid flips) as 90 percent of all breakage is on this hinge since it often flips back and forth when the container is stabbed. Plastic lids are a petroleum-based product; ensure that your lid has an ultraviolet (UVI) inhibitor package blended into the plastic to reduce fading or cracking from the elements.
Bottoms
Rainwater entering a dumpster can mix with waste in the container, forming leachate that will eat away at the bottom of the container. Using correct lids will ensure rainwater will not enter the container. If you do have a bottom that needs replacement, the most cost-effective method to replace it may be pre-fabricated container bottoms. Pre-fabricated bottoms are already formed standard size bottoms that come with or without caster plates and casters mounted. They are ready to be installed and require less welding and installation time.聽Labor time can be reduced by up to four hours using a pre-fabricated bottom, in addition to a correct fit.
Casters and Wheels
Caster rigs and wheels are the first components to fail on containers. Rusting, metal fatigue and seized bearings are all common occurrences.聽A good caster should have 6mm forks welded on the inside and the outside for maximum stability. Casters should be replaced if you see any signs of fatiguing, as the rigs will soon bend or snap. If the wheel seizes, you may have to change the internal wheel bearings. 聽Greasing the wheel via the zerk fitting will help bearings from seizing. A wheel made of one material 鈥攊.e. all polyolefin vs. rubber on steel鈥攚ill ensure less breakage than mixing materials.
Know What to Look For
Extending the life of your containers and knowing what signals to look for when purchasing and replacing parts is critical in this economy. Replacing parts鈥攅ven bottoms鈥攃an take as little as 45 minutes and makes good business sense. Not maintaining containers will increase the likelihood of escalated breakage during typical route wear and tear. Like maintaining your car and getting oil changes or rotating your tires, maintaining your containers will add years to the life of your container. | WA
Kerry Holmes is Vice President of Sales at Consolidated Fabricators (Van Nuys, CA). He has been in the solid waste and recycling industry for more than 30 years and has extensive experience with managing and maintaining steel container systems. Kerry can be reached at (800) 635-8335, via e-mail at [email protected] or visit www.con-fab.com.
