Palmer's new truck will save time, money

By STEVE KADEL-Frontiersman reporter

PALMER -- A new garbage truck that hoists 97-gallon trash cans and automatically dumps them into a container is expected to cut pickup time for crews as well as save money for the city of Palmer.

The $200,000 vehicle will begin rumbling through Palmer neighborhoods as soon as 1,200 special garbage cans are received -- probably by the end of next month. Public Works Supervisor Rick Koch says the machine will pay for itself over time through extra speed and avoidance of worker compensation claims from possible employee injuries.

The latter is a real possibility, given that each crew member hoists from 10 to 12 tons of garbage each day while using traditional trucks, Koch said. The threat of injury is magnified when there's ice on the streets, he added.

City waste collector Brett Talmadge put the bright yellow truck through its paces Wednesday during a demonstration in the Public Works Department parking lot. Two metal arms grasped a garbage can sitting on the ground and lifted it high in the air, turning it over so the contents fell into a large bin.

Longer metal arms attached to the bin then rotated it up and over the cab, pouring contents into a large holding area behind the driver.

The new plastic cans vary in size from 67 to 97 gallons. Most of the city's 1,200 customers put out about three 30-gallon cans now, so one of the largest containers will meet their needs, Koch said. Those who have less garbage may opt for a smaller can.

The cans are on wheels and have sturdy lids that Koch believes will keep things more sanitary while they're sitting out waiting for pickup. For instance, they'll be resistant to marauding ravens, he said.

They'll also withstand the coldest temperatures. A demonstration model was left out during a recent subzero cold snap, then was bounced around in a test. It stood up to the punishment without cracking.

Besides the cost of the truck and $80,000 for new cans, the city will spend $20,000 to fit one of its existing garbage trucks with an automatic hoist mechanism.