PARKS AND RECREATION
In 2018 , Denver Parks and Recreation commenced a pilot program with the objective of reducing the amount of time employees spend picking up and disposing of trash in parks . Denver Parks purchased three automated waste handling machines ( in this case , Broyhill Load and Pack ).
With these additions , Denver Parks needed to change our existing trash cans — which were 55-gallon drums with a plastic trash bag liner — to a Toter unit . Toter units are made from an “ advanced rotational molding ,” and do not need a plastic trash bag liner . Denver Parks purchased them in the 60-gallon size .
It was decided that the program would be piloted in the southwest district of Denver , and in 2019 we started utilizing the machines in 14 % of our parks ( roughly 50 parks ). Denver Parks started formulating routes , exchanging trash receptacles , and training our employees on the operation of the machines .
Being in Colorado , we knew the ability to drive the trucks year-round would be tested , and we knew maintenance of the units would be critical to our success . Training included having Broyhill mechanics teach our employees about the maintenance and operation of the machines .
At first , everything ran smoothly . But , as with anything , there were some growing pains — the biggest of which was the new placement of the Toters throughout our parks . Prior to adopting the automated waste handling system , we would drive a pickup truck up to or near the barrel , remove the bag , load it onto the truck and move on to the next barrel . With the trash collection machines , the Toters needed to be strategically placed so the machines could access them and service the Toter . A pivotal aspect of this transition involved the strategic placement of Toters to ensure seamless collection . This required extensive community engagement to garner support for the new trash collection method . Over time , community acceptance grew , resulting in a noticeable reduction in litter accumulation in the parks .
Trash collection routes were developed that would operate seven days a week from late March through October . During this time , the trucks collected , on average , nine tons of trash per week . From November through March , we reduced our trash collection days to three days a week . In the offseason , we collected an average of 3.5 tons per week . On days when it snowed , or the roads were too icy , we would not run the units . Since the program ’ s inception , we have been able to continue our seven-day-a-week collection during the season . We have also increased our shoulder season collection rate to five days a week , collecting an average of six tons of trash per week .
With any good machine , there is going to be downtime . When we came across this issue where we couldn ’ t use an automated waste handling machine , we developed a “ priority route ” that serviced the Toters at the busiest parks and athletic fields . This helped immensely , as these were areas where we historically spent the most time collecting trash by hand . We started to see the benefits of the machines , as employees were not spending all day on Monday picking up trash around athletic fields and permitted spaces . sportsfieldmanagementonline . com June 2024 | SportsField Management
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