How do compaction trucks make refuse collection more efficient?

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solid-waste management Bulldozers working on a sanitary landfill.

Compaction trucks significantly enhance the efficiency of solid-waste collection by maximizing the capacity of each vehicle. By compressing refuse to less than half of its original loose volume, these trucks allow for a greater amount of waste to be transported in a single trip.1

This reduction in volume is a critical technological advancement that helps manage the high costs associated with waste collection, which is a labor-intensive activity accounting for approximately three-quarters of total waste management expenses. By increasing the density of the load, compaction trucks reduce the frequency of trips required to transport waste to disposal sites or transfer stations, thereby optimizing the use of both labor and equipment.123