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CONVENIENCE STORES, GAS STATIONS AND TRUCK STOPS WASTE RECYCLING
 EQUIPMENT AND CONSIDERATIONS

 

(For More Information Read the Article Below the Equipment - Material Table)

	Waste & Recycling Equipment Category	Brief Description / Typical Application	Main Material Classes (Select the materials below for additional information)
	Smart-Pack - Automatic Compacting Receptacle	For the small eating areas, quick service areas and other public areas	Mixed Trash
	Mini-Baler Space Saver	Up to 90 lb bales of Cardboard and 110 lbs plastic film	Cardboard	Plastic Film
	30" Standard Baler	Bales a wide variety of recyclables into easy to small handle bales	Cardboard	Paper	HPDE
	6 Yd Front & Rear Load Compacting Dumpster	Outdoor Compacting Dumpsters are tipped onsite by Haulers	Mixed Trash
	Commercial Manual Compactors	Super easy to use and achieves a compaction / reduction ratio of about 3 to 1	Mixed Trash
	Trash Bin Ready Compactors	Compact into existing 95 / 96 gallon Containers	Mixed Trash	Recyclables

 

Convenience stores, truck stops and gas stations all have one thing in common:  fuel station waste. Customers have a tendency to empty their cars and trucks of waste while getting gas.  Waste accumulation at fuel stations can be substantial and recyclable waste makes up a good portion of the waste discarded at fuel stations.  The first step in implementing a recycling program is to add recycling containers at each fuel station.  According to the volume of trash accumulated, it may be lucrative to have compacting recycling containers.  When the recycling containers are emptied, it usually pays to have balers and compactors present (out of the customer areas), to accumulate the recycling materials in for baling and/or pickup by the recycling haulers.

Truck Driver and Consumer Waste

Customers getting gas have a tendency to clean their cars out at the fuel station.  Some studies have shown that the trash at gas stations contains up to 50% recyclable material. Trash cans at fuel stations can easily be replaced with compartmentalized recycling bins for paper, plastics and aluminum.  In addition, at truck stops where truck drivers empty trash from their trips, dumpsters should be replaced with compartmentalized dumpsters.  Not only are these changes a benefits to the environment, but they are also make for a very environmentally sound business move which impresses the environmentally conscience customer. 

According to a 2010 press release, Speedway Super America stores recycled more than 2,200 pounds of materials, such as bottles, paper, and cans over a 10 week period by implementing recycling bins at their fuel stations.  According to the press release, "A random sampling of waste collected at Speedway stores was followed by a trash audit at each store. That audit found 45% of the materials collected were recyclable."

Compactors and Balers for Recycling

Compactors and balers are frequently utilized in truck stops, convenience stores and gas stations.  Not only do they lesson labor costs, but they also make waste collection areas more acceptable to the public.  Cardboard (OCC) is one of the more frequently recycled items.  Balers are used to compress and bale the cardboard into bales that the haulers will pick up.  Cardboard balers range in size from 30" to 72" for use in truck stops and convenience stores.

Recycling Fluorescent Lamps

Overhead fuel station lighting is usually fluorescent.  Since fluorescent lighting contains mercury, it is very important to dispose of it properly. Many times, it is very lucrative to recycle fluorescent lamps.  More information on recycling florescent lamps can be found here.

Professional Car Washes at Truck Stops, Convenience Stores and Gas Stations

Car washes are a good environmental option for consumers if they are designed correctly.  Professional car washes should be designed to collect the "dirty" runoff water and route it toward treatment facilities.  Runoff water from car washes can contain hundreds of chemicals.  In comparison, when cars are washed in the driveways of homes, the runoff water goes to storm drains which route to rivers, lakes, and streams.  In addition, professional car wash systems at truck stops, convenience stores, and gas stations can be designed to reclaim and reuse water for future washes.

Scrap Tire Tubes from Commercial Truck Tires

One easily overlooked recycling income opportunity for truck stops is recycling scrap tire tubes.  These tire tubes generally generate more recycling income than aluminum, plastic or paper products.  In order to accumulate a quantity that is large enough, an Extra High Density Baler is usually necessary (for shipping purposes, Rubber Recycling companies are generally interested in full truckload quantities which are approximately 40,000 pounds).  Truck stops usually generate between 2000 to 4000 pounds of scrap tire tubes a month, so within a years time a 40,000 pound load can easily be accumulated for pickup.  Commercial tire dealers can also combine their tire tube waste with a local truck stop's tubes to speed the accumulation time.

 

 

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For assistance in determining the best approach for your particular facility, email WasteCare Corporation at sales@wastecare.com and in addition to your contact information, let us know the approximate volume of trash being hauled from your facility each week or month and the approximate waste hauling cost each month and we will be glad to give you some suggestions.

 

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