Maintain clear access to bins and containers. Penn Waste notes that maintenance and snow removal companies tend to pile snow in front of and around industrial containers and corral doors during the winter, but piles of snow make it impossible to get corral doors open and to get close enough to empty a container. In addition to snow, delivery trucks and employee cars can block access to containers.
Don't overload containers. Overloaded containers are a hazard to employees of both companies. Containers with trash protruding from the top or sides can result in scattered trash and possible injury or accidents. When waste and recycling employees empty containers, loose heavy objects easily can turn into dangerous projectiles, potentially crashing through a truck's windshield.
Break down large and bulky items. Large bulky items might become lodged inside a collection bin and remain even after the container has been emptied. The driver cannot always tell when this happens, so a customer suffers reduced capacity until the item is dislodged.
Watch the weight. Trucks have a limit as to the weight they can pick up. Customers should not fill a collection bin with materials such as dirt, rocks, bricks, asphalt or shingles as part of a municipal solid waste or municipal recycling pickup.
Don't lock us out. For containers in secured areas, customers should remember to unlock gates the night before scheduled pickups. Penn Waste allows customers to provide keys to their gates, which eliminates the need for customers to remember to unlock gates or leave them unsecured for several hours.
Repair asphalt damage immediately. Penn Waste says it cannot take responsibility for damage to asphalt or other surfaces of roads or parking lots, and the paved area must be able to maintain structural support for its trucks. Some paved roadways are not meant to carry such weight and easily could be damaged, which should be considered when a container is placed. If damage starts, customers are urged to repair it immediately because it will only get worse.
Set up corrals (storage areas) properly. Some municipalities or counties require commercial businesses to adhere to certain sanitary or health guidelines and could require the use of a corral around containers. Penn Waste offers to help customers determine their local sanitation requirements and ensure that their corral openings are wide enough for trucks to properly service the container.
Prevent hazardous waste fires. Any special or hazardous waste should not be placed in a container without providing the collection company with prior notification. Trucks and even recycling facilities have been damaged or destroyed by fires because a customer placed a small amount of hazardous or flammable materials in a container.