Town Board Considers Self-Loading Garbage Truck

Impressed by the potential savings in manpower and route efficiency offered by a new self-loading garbage truck, the Harrison Town Board is poised to purchase one of the new machines.

The new truck would cost about $350,000, approximately $60,000 more than the model the town currently uses, estimated Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Ron Belmont. The town would also need to purchase about 600 new garbage pales for residents on the new truck's route.

The self-loading truck picks up garbage from specially fitted garbage pales. Garbage is lifted by the truck and placed in the back mechanically; meaning sanitation workers wouldn't need to pick up pales on their route.

"We know we have to go this way," Belmont said, noting that one of Harrison's sanitation trucks needs to be replaced this year anyway. "It doesn't make sense to not get this kind of truck."

Belmont and other members of the town board recently visited Woodbridge, NJ, where a self-loading garbage truck is currently being used. Board members said after seeing the truck in action they are confident it will reduce the strain on Harrison's Department of Public Works crew, making the job more safe and efficient. Only two men would need to go out on every garbage route with the self-loading truck, one less than with the old truck.

"It's about time that Harrison make an attempt to lighten the load of our decreasing men in the DPW, as well as lighten their load and get the job done quicker and more efficiently," said Councilwoman Marlane Amelio.

Overall staffing in the department has decreased over the last four years as the town has cut spending. Belmont said he doesn't expect to further reduce the DPW staff if the new truck is purchased. 

The board is currently preparing specifics to go out to bid, so costs of the new truck are only estimates at this time. In order to bond the new truck, the board would need to vote for a finalized purchase at a public meeting, which it has not taken place yet.

But after seeing the truck in action, the board seemed confident in that direction. Councilman Fred Sciliano said he was initially concerned that a self-loading truck wouldn't fit down some of the town's more narrow roads, but said the visit to Woodbridge changed his mind.

"There were some extremely narrow streets that the truck worked," Sciliano said. "I think there's a possibility of actually more routes."

Councilman Stephen Malfitano said he watched two routes in Woodbridge where a self-loading truck was used and also came away impressed.

"We were taken down one roadway that we would all think was a driveway, I don't think it was wider than 10 or 11 feet, and this truck was able to operate in that kind of an environment," he said.

The self-loading truck is also safer, Belmont said, and will help prevent workers from being injured on the job, a costly situation for any town. Other municipalities the board spoke with reported less injuries after making the move to a self-loading machine.

"Simple math tells you it's going to pay for itself," said Belmont, referencing the cost of having an employee out on disability for an extended period of time.

The new garbage truck would replace one of the town's four trucks currently in operation and take over two of eight garbage routes overall.

Belmont said this week the board is currently putting together specifics for a final bid.