Transfer Station

Waste Management Transfer Complex

2007 Production Data:

240,116 tons of material received

64,647 inbound loads received

12.8 minutes average on-site time for refuse deliveries

14,027 outbound loads transferred

3.49 tons per average inbound load

18.6 tons per average outbound load

78.3% reduction in traffic to disposal facilities achieved

10,544 traffic trip reduction benefit to the Frey Farm Landfill

44,271 traffic trip reduction benefit to the Resource Recovery Facility

Scroll down for information about the Transfer Complex or click on the links to go directly to that section.

Transfer Complex Overview

In April 2005, the Authority began construction of a New Waste Management Complex to serve Lancaster County for decades to come. The new complex replaced one of the Authority's oldest facilities, which was built in 1968. To provide the necessary space for the project, the Authority acquired three adjacent properties; these acquisitions have allowed the Authority to design a site with significantly more room, an important factor for a site visited by 80,000 vehicles, most of them trucks, every year.

The Authority went the extra mile to construct a facility the County can be proud of, located as it is on a major thoroughfare into Lancaster City. The local architecture firm Reese, Lower, Patrick and Scott provided the new buildings with attractive facades; the firm used the site's close proximity to the Dillerville Rail Yard as its inspiration, and designed buildings evocative of a historic rail station.

Click on the drawing to go to information about the New Waste Management Complex

Click here for a fact sheet on the New Waste Management Complex.

Architectural rendition of Harrisburg Pike streetscape upon completion of the Waste Management Transfer Complex

The new complex allows for an enormous increase in operational efficiency, and includes the construction of four new buildings, the exterior renovation of another, a brownfield site cleanup, and the demolition of three structures and parts of an existing one. The key structure is a fully enclosed 40,000 square foot transfer building that provides protection from the elements, and for the temporary storage of waste. Customers weigh-in, dispose of their load out of the weather, weigh-out and are on their way.

The Scales and Scale House, Household Hazardous Waste facility, and Maintenance facility were completed in the spring of 2006. Construction on the Transfer Building was completed in the summer of 2007. The final stage of construction completed in the spring of 2008; the Small Vehicle Drop-Off building enhances customer service for residents that deliver waste in smaller vehicles and trucks. No longer need to jostle for position in the Transfer Station with large waste trucks.

Transfer Complex Operations

Front (southern) view of the Transfer Station.

The Transfer Complex has a very important role in Lancaster County's integrated solid waste management system.

It serves as a central drop-off location for waste haulers who collect refuse, certain construction/demolition materials and residual wastes within the 946 square miles in Lancaster County.

The Transfer Station is permitted by DEP to receive up to 2,200 tons of waste per day.

Front (southern) view of the new Transfer Station

Waste Processing

Inbound Delivery

Every day, more than than 225 commercial haulers and residents proceed to the inbound hydraulic scales where they are weighed.

All incoming waste is screened for radioactivity (from manmade or natural sources) by monitoring equipment.

Entrance to scales and scale house.

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Large vehicles proceed to the new 40,000 square foot transfer building where drivers are directed to one of ten unloading positions to deposit waste on the concrete floor.

Single stream and commingled recyclable materials have designated unloading positions, as do construction/demolition waste and refuse.

Entrance to transfer building tip floor.

Transfer building tip floor.

Tip Floor Safety and Operating Rules

Effective August 4, 2008, any professional waste hauler employee outside of a vehicle on the transfer station tipping floor is required to have on a fluorescent colored garment (vest, shirt or jacket). This applies to personnel of all types of delivery vehicles (front loaders, roll off trucks, pickup trucks, etc.) Fluorescent vests will be available at the scalehouse at a cost of $10 each.
Drivers must maintain 8' of space between unloading vehicles
Drivers/helpers DO NOT cross beyond Yellow Line marked on side walls. Fall Danger beyond this point.
Drivers/helpers must stay within 6' of their vehicle at all times.
STAY ALERT! Be aware of heavy equipment and truck traffic at all times.
NO blade or head cleaning on the tip floor after 12:30 p.m.
Please unload and exit tip floor as quickly as possible.
Smoking is prohibited on LCSWMA property.
NO Scavenging or salvaging of material on the tip floor.
Children and Pets must remain in vehicles at all times.

Click here to print these safety and operating rules.

On April 21, 2008, small vehicles began using the new 14,500 square foot building constructed specifically for the 22% of daily deliveries made in cars and pickup trucks.

Inside the building, drivers are directed to specific unloading stations depending upon the type of material being delivered.

Inside the Small Vehicle Drop-off building

Authority compliance officers inspect the loads to ensure that no materials such as tires and appliances, which must be delivered and processed separately, are mixed in with the trash.

After unloading, customers return to the scales to weigh out, pay for the transaction and receive a receipt.

Consolidation

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Authority staff operate equipment to push the waste from the transfer building floor through 3 cut out holes in the floor into top-loading transfer trailers parked in the loading tunnel.

The loading tunnel has 3 floor flush-mounted scales underneath the loading pits. A transfer trailer is able to be loaded on each scale.

A digital scale display is located on the tipping floor above the loading pit to enable the equipment operator to know when a trailer has reached its legal capacity (80,000 lbs.).

Loading tunnel

Outbound Delivery

Authority drivers deliver full transfer trailers to either of the Authority's disposal facilities (Resource Recovery Facility or Frey Farm Landfill) or to a private recycling facility depending upon the type of material in the trailer. (A trailer typically can haul 20 tons of material.)

In 2007:

196,836 tons of combustible waste were delivered to the Resource Recovery Facility.
40,203 tons of other waste were delivered to the Frey Farm Landfill.
3,077 tons of recyclable materials were delivered to various recycling facilities.

Transfer Trailers departing Transfer Complex to deliver waste to disposal facility

Equipment and Maintenance

Maintenance building

The Transfer Complex includes separate pieces of operating equipment including transfer trailers, transfer trucks, loaders, excavators, backhoes and a sweeper.

The maintenance facility on site provides:

Truck bays for repair work and vehicles inspections
A wash bay for cleaning vehicles and equipment

A fuel island is located at the Transfer Complex for refueling Authority equipment. All diesel fuel used by the Authority is a 5% biodiesel blend.

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