What’s in a Recycling Lorry?

After talking about the journey your can of Coke takes once it’s in the bin, we now turn our attention to what happens to your recycling whilst it’s inside the lorry. A recycling lorry is made from different components, all of which need to be manufactured with the highest quality possible, as well as with a precise engineering that allows it to function properly.

We’ve all wanted to know what happens to our garbage, from the moment it’s collected and placed inside a recycling lorry, to the moment it leaves the vehicle, so here at Dean Group we’re taking a look at how that process occurs – which includes how the different parts that make up the lorry (small or large) work together to deal with recycling.

What Happens Inside a Recycling Lorry?

All recycling lorries follow the same principles when it comes to how they work. They’re manufactured to accept two or more types of recyclables, which means they allow the separation of paper, glass or metal. Each material has its own separate space which the rubbish is going to fall into. The bins are lifted from the ground and the recycling is unloaded and compacted inside.

More specifically, the loading process in a recycling lorry occurs when the bins are lifted with the hydraulic arm and the waste falls into a hopper. Once this is full, the compacting blade is activated, forcing the waste down to fit even more, meaning a recycling lorry can stay out on the road for a very long time, collecting trash. Hydraulic cylinders continue to compact the waste inside the lorry.

Because this compacting unit is on the outside of the lorry, the recycling doesn’t fall out when the lorry is full or in movement. When it’s at full capacity, the lorry goes to the recycling facility of a landfill, and that previous compacting process is reversed. The waste is emptied when the rear end of the vehicle tilts back and the hydraulic cylinders move the compacting panels out of the way. Once the lorry is empty once again, the cycle repeats itself. To make this process possible, a wide range of small parts, manufactured to the highest quality, not only have to fit well together, but also function flawlessly.

What Materials are the Lorry Parts Made From?

Most of the components on a recycling lorry are manufactured out of steel, a sturdy material that can withstand a lot of pressure. The floor, sides, top and ends are made from steel sheet or plate and reinforced, to add to that sturdiness. The use of different thicknesses of steel is also an important factor, as it allows different pressures and weights to be placed in certain areas.

So a recycling lorry is made from a range of parts that work together to receive, compact and empty waste and, for this to happen, the inside of that lorry needs to be constantly working, in order to fit even more recycling materials.

At Dean Group we understand the importance of those parts, as even the smallest ones have a vital role to play in the process. If you wish to talk to us about the services we provide in terms of the manufacturing of small parts, contact us on 0161 775 1633 or send your enquiry. You can also follow us on Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn to receive our latest news and updates.