landfill Waste Management Projects not only need to address the issues of being “small,” “old,” and “complex”(mixed waste management) but also require maximizing the utilization of limited space and intelligent sorting capabilities for complex waste.
1. Renovation Needs for Small and Old Spaces
The limitations of these sites typically manifest in three aspects:
First, the physical space is limited, preventing the flexible layout allowed for new projects;
Second, the existing building structure is aging and cannot withstand the load of large, heavy equipment.
Third, their proximity to residential areas necessitates extremely high environmental protection requirements, requiring strict control of odors and noise.
The key to site renovation lies not only in replacing outdated equipment but also in redesigning the processes.
Experience in Lizhou District, Guangyuan City, shows that optimizing site design through professional load calculations and embedding shock-absorbing materials can solve problems such as sewage overflow and vehicle bumps, extending equipment lifespan.
2. Extreme Compression and Vertical Layout of Small Spaces
Faced with limited space, the core of the renovation plan is to improve the output efficiency per unit area.
This requires simultaneous efforts in three dimensions: equipment selection, layout design, and process optimization.
Guoxin Machinery adopted an “integrated waste compression equipment” as its solution. This equipment combines compression, storage, and transfer functions, saving over 30% of floor space compared to traditional separate equipment.
The layout employs a vertical design approach, shifting from a traditional planar process to a three-dimensional design.
By stacking waste sorting machines vertically, materials flow by gravity, reducing the space occupied by horizontal conveying equipment.
This aligns with the concept of “gradient screening technology” in academic research, achieving a higher degree of integration through compact design.
Practice in Lizhou District, Guangyuan City, has demonstrated that a large-capacity container designed with high-strength steel, combined with aging-resistant composite sealing strips, can achieve “zero leakage” in waste transfer, improving efficiency while solving the odor problem.
3. Overcoming Complex Compositions of Old and landfill WasteManagement
The composition of waste processed at older sites is becoming increasingly complex, with significant differences in the composition of household waste across different regions, resulting in poor adaptability of equipment in practical applications.
Faced with complex waste compositions, modern intelligent sorting systems are gradually solving this problem.
Guoxin Machinery’s approach is that AI-powered intelligent sorting robots can identify over 260 types of recyclables with an accuracy rate of up to 99%.
For the specific needs of landfill Waste transfer station renovations, modular intelligent sorting systems can be flexibly configured according to site conditions and waste composition, and can be used independently or integrated into existing processes.
In the innovative case of the Gunnedah public waste transfer station in Australia, the use of a flat design and isolation barriers ensured both safety and facilitated staff inspection of waste, preventing problematic materials from entering landfills. This design approach can also be applied to the renovation of landfill waste transfer stations.
4. Ensuring Return on Investment
For most managers of landfill Waste transfer stations, limited budgets are a major constraint on renovation projects.
Successful renovation solutions must find a balance between benefits and costs to ensure a return on investment.
The renovation project in Wuning County achieved significant results: the use of clean energy reduced energy consumption by 28%, maintenance costs by 25%, and collection and transfer capacity by 16%.
While intelligent equipment requires a higher initial investment, long-term operating costs are significantly reduced.
Taking intelligent sorting systems as an example, each robot can replace 3 to 4 workers, increasing sorting efficiency by over 40% and improving the purity of recyclables by about 15%.
Phase-based renovation is an effective strategy for controlling budget risks.
Start with the most pressing aspects, such as upgrading the deodorization system or replacing key equipment, and then gradually optimize the entire process.
This disperses financial pressure and ensures that the renovation process does not disrupt normal operations.
5. From Renovation to Added Value
Traditional renovation thinking stops at solving immediate problems, while modern renovation concepts focus on enhancing the long-term value of the sites.
The case of Deqing County shows that through deep processing, the market value of primary organic products made from perishable waste can increase by about tenfold.
Successful renovation projects should consider both environmental and economic benefits.
The renovation in Wuning County not only solved the waste collection and transportation problem but also significantly improved the working environment of sanitation workers and reduced their labor intensity.
The added value after site renovation is also reflected in the accumulation of data assets.
By installing sensors at key nodes to collect data on equipment operation, waste composition, and operational efficiency, a basis for subsequent optimization can be provided, shifting site management from experience-driven to data-driven.
In the long run, modernized transfer stations can become key nodes in the urban solid waste management network, rather than merely temporary waste dumps. They can provide cities with multiple functions such as waste sorting, resource recycling, and environmental education, truly transforming from a “negative asset” to a “positive value.”
Modern transfer stations are no longer just smelly waste storage points. In Wuning, upgraded stations use clean energy, reducing energy consumption by 28%, maintenance costs by 25%, while increasing transfer capacity by 16%. In Guangyuan’s Lizhou District, renovations even included specially designed restrooms with air conditioning and sofas for sanitation workers.
In rural areas, organic fertilizer granules from perishable waste treatment centers are rolling off the production line.
These products, processed from compost produced in rural sunrooms, demonstrate that even the most difficult-to-process waste components can find a resource-based solution through scientific design and reasonable planning.