Garbage trucks are road going vehicles, which means that they are bound by state and federal regulations that govern vehicle weights. Truck scales can be used to weigh waste vehicles and ensure that they are compliant and operating within safe weight parameters. To streamline processes and save time, many waste processing sites are opting to install their own truck scales to ensure the safety and compliance of vehicles.

Once garbage trucks have collected the waste, it is transferred to a waste transfer station. Waste transfer stations are facilities where municipal solid waste (MSW) is unloaded from the collection vehicles.

Vehicles are usually weighed on a truck scale as they enter the site – with some sites opting for unmanned truck scales and traffic management solutions to marshal trucks into and out of the site. Once on site, waste is sorted in preparation for processing, or onward transportation (by trains, trucks, or boats) for shipment to landfills or other treatment or disposal facilities. Heavy duty floor scales are often used to weigh the waste in the transfer station, while forklift truck scales can be useful for weighing waste while in motion.

Waste reduction is a huge focus for governments all over the world – and the US is no exception. To meet waste reduction targets, there is an increase in local, state, and federal regulations, all of which require data relating to the amount and type of waste collected.

Having access to reliable weight data helps in assessing the environmental impact of waste collection and processing, as well as the implementation of waste reduction measures. To achieve this, weighing equipment such as truck scales and floor scales can be linked with sophisticated weight indicators and software to collect, store, and analyze data.

If scales are used to buy, sell or trade items, they must be certified as legal for trade. This is true of any commodity, including waste. Commercial waste collection services often use weight data to charge their customers based on the weight of their waste; landfill sites charge tipping fees based on the weight of the waste being disposed of; and many waste processing and transfer sites will also charge, or be charged, based on the weight of the waste. Using weighing equipment – such as truck scales, floor scales and forklift scales – that is verified as legal for trade is critical in these industries.