A new Bomag compactor is helping Fraser Coast Regional Council reach its goal to quadruple available space at its Saltwater Creek landfill.
A new 40-tonne compactor, the first of Bomag’s new generation machines in Australia, has been enlisted to help extend the life of the Saltwater Creek Road landfill in Maryborough, Queensland.
Fraser Coast Councillor David Lee says the new compactor is 10-tonne heavier than its predecessor and is expected to have an immediate impact.
“The extra weight will improve compaction rates, allowing us to fit more into the same space, which will extend the life of the facility,” he says. “This is the newest generation of the machine, so it is packed with the latest technology such as a more efficient motor, which helps us cut greenhouse gas emissions. It is GPS guided, which will ensure the driver is not going over the same spot too often or missing areas as they move up and down the face of the landfill. This ensures the compactor is working efficiently at all times, saving fuel and reducing wear and tear.”
John Glossat, National Business Development Manager for Bomag/GEHL/NorAm products from Tutt Bryant Equipment, says that Bomag refuse compactors have many convincing design advantages that have been tried and tested over decades of practical use on landfill sites.
“Together with an uncompromising quality philosophy, they are up to every challenge on modern landfill sites,” he says. “The result is a refuse compactor with outstanding efficiency, which uses the latest technology to combine high productivity with low operating costs and excellent serviceability.”
He says Bomag’s Operator Support System helps optimise performance and relieves the burden on drivers. The all new BC773RB-5 comes fitted with a Stage 5/Tier4 engine, delivering reduced emissions.
“It’s no surprise, when BOMAG goes the extra mile in design they deliver features as standard which support daily operations and operators greatly in the harshest environment – landfill.”
Umur Natus-Yildiz, Fraser Coast Regional Council Executive Manager Waste Services, says the team is excited to have a machine with “all the bells and whistles”.
“The Bomag is completely operated with joysticks, left and right, which makes it more precise to operate,” Umur says. “There’s a learning curve in the beginning but the team has mastered that quite quickly. The Bomag is quite user-friendly and quite intuitive.”
He says the Bomag offers value for money, but that is only part of its appeal for the council.
“The other part is the features of the machine and how well suited it is to our operations. How well can treble systems be fitted and how responsive will it be in operation?,” he says. “We need a machine that can handle from 70,000 to 100,000 tonnes of waste. Overall, the Bomag came out best for our purposes.”
The new compactor is part of an ongoing improvement program that aims to quadruple the amount of space available at the Saltwater Creek landfill, extending its life and improving its environmental performance.
David says the changes will bring further savings because the council won’t have to identify and develop a new landfill site for 30 years.
“Instead of using funds to buy and develop a new site, we can use these funds to improve environmental practices and ensure the Saltwater Creek Road facility is industry best-practice,” he says. “If our reuse and recycling targets in the Waste Strategy 2019-2029 are met and maintained, the life of the landfill could be extended even further.”
Umur says the compactor’s GPS trackers and drone surveys will allow the council to check compaction rates monthly. He says although the Bomag has only been in use for a short amount of time, first results are already showing an improvement.
For more information, visit: www.tuttbryant.com.au