Australia is one of the largest producers of waste globally. A large portion is residential waste sorted and collected in wheelie bins, but also industrial waste in sectors like construction and manufacturing. Waste management is handled by your local council or waste removal companies. Organic household waste continues to be largely recycled, while plastics and hazardous waste in the industry are generally sent to landfills.
Wheelie bins, with red lids for general waste, larger bins with yellow lids for recyclable products, and green bins with lime green lids for organic waste are used by suburban households. Larger plastic or metal skip bins are often seen in front of apartment blocks. You’ll also see different bins in designated areas around schools, hospitals or shopping centres. For industrial purposes, there are heavy-duty bins that are handled by forklifts or cranes and feature different types of emptying mechanisms.
Garbage trucks have side, front or rear emptying for a variety of bin types. Where you need to empty the bin yourself, there are bin lifters or tippers which work much like a garbage truck does. They are used in many industries for disposing of different kinds of waste. Convenience, safety and speed are where they excel. All bin lifters Australia are designed to meet Workplace Health and Safety requirements as described in the AS/NZS 4024 Standard.
Bin Tippers and Lifters- What to look for When Buying
Different types of bin lifters are sold. They will differ in the bin capacity, the type of tipping mechanism, whether they are manually operated or powered electrically or by hydraulics. Lifting frequency also varies, with large-scale industrial tippers providing continuous dumping.
Capacity
Smaller bin lifters can comfortably lift fully loaded 120 and 240-litre bins, or up to 30 kilos at a time. This is approximately the waste generated daily in small retail stores or offices that dispose of waste paper products and general waste. For larger businesses, tippers that can handle all bin sizes, up to the largest 1100 litre skip bins weighing 750 kilos, will be more efficient and can be used incessantly. They can handle all waste products and are able to lift bins in different shapes, like industrial skips or oil drums.
Tipping Mechanisms
Two major types of bin lifters are sold – full swing lifters and tippers or lift and tilt tippers. Full swing tippers dispose of waste in a full swing path, so are ideal in areas or industries with restricted pedestrian movement. They also need higher height clearance to work optimally, so may not be the best solution for underground car parks or basements. On the other hand, lift and tilt bin tippers Australia are ideal where there is a high frequency of traffic and pedestrians since the entire process is contained within the footprint of the tipper. They are more compact waste disposal solutions, ideal for tight spaces. You’ll see these used in places like schools and shops.
Manual vs Powered Tippers
The cheapest bin tippers are manually operated. Gas strut or winch-based lifting mechanisms aid users in disposing of waste easily and quickly, without the risk of physical injury. Manually operated tippers are ideal for smaller businesses that generate moderate amounts of waste daily. Bins here will be emptied once or twice a day.
Construction sites and manufacturing facilities however need tippers that handle more waste, that needs to be removed regularly during the entire workday. Here powered tippers can handle larger bins and heavier loads. Industrial bin tippers are operated by hydraulics or battery-powered electric motors. Many heavy-duty lifters have both. Hydraulic or air-powered tippers are preferred in disposing of hazardous waste to maximise safety or the risk of electrical fires.
To accommodate all the weight and provide stability, sturdy frames of galvanised stainless-steel frames can withstand rigorous use both indoors, or outdoors in all types of weather. They can be used continuously alongside other equipment to streamline daily proceedings, like clearing building materials in renovations.
Optional Accessories
Bin tippers can be accessorised to offer better functionality and versatility. Heavy-duty bins can lift all standard bin sizes, but also can include custom cradles for lifting irregular bins or drums. Sealed batteries in electrically powered lifters with float chargers provide endless power, and can even be hooked up to solar panels. Safety features can also be enhanced to include automatically locking doors to contain the bin when in operation and additional guarding panels in case something goes wrong.
Buying and Use
Waste management and material handling stores sell all types of bin lifters and tippers. To choose what’s right for you, consider how much waste you produce, how often you’ll need to dispose of that waste, and whether you need the assistance of a powered tipper. Manually operated bins will be the preferred option for everyday small-scale residential or commercial use and are also reasonably priced. For large-scale industrial uses, consider the amount and type of waste that needs removal. Larger powered bin lifters are faster, more reliable, and can lift heavier loads more often. They’ll also include stricter health and safety standards in terms of build and operation required in industrial settings.
