High level of efficiency thanks to the VC compactor

Steinmühle mixed-waste landfill site increases its capacity thanks to the HAMM VC compactor

Since 2020, a HAMM H 25i VC compactor has been used at the Steinmühle mixed-waste landfill site near Tirschenreuth to professionally compact waste that contains asbestos, glass wool and similar contaminated mineral waste. This saves valuable and scarce landfill space and, at the same time, increases the efficiency of the system: In future, much more material than planned can be stored here.

Basalt quarry as the ideal repository

For over 30 years, the former basalt quarry has been used to store packaged waste that contains asbestos and other mineral waste from landfill class 1 (DK 1). This also includes pressed glass wool – wrapped so that it is dust-tight, shaped into cuboids and installed as packages which are layered up to 2 m in height.

These layers are covered with layers of construction waste material, tile fragments, concrete residues and ash from waste combustion and then compacted using a HAMM H 25i VC crushing compactor. In order to protect the machine operator against harmful suspended solids, the compactor is equipped with special safety ventilation.

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"We want to minimise hollow space during compaction, as landfill capacity is becoming increasingly valuable. In our opinion, the VC concept is the most efficient solution for this task."

Peter Förster, manager of the mixed-waste landfill site

Crushing and compacting in a single process

The waste delivered can be easily compacted using a combination of weight force and vibration, creating a wide variety of particle sizes. Following extensive tests with various equipment and solutions, the decision was clear for Peter Förster, manager of the Steinmühle mixed-waste landfill site: The HAMM crushing compactor crushes and compacts the material in a single process in a way that minimises hollow space, and it is therefore also the most efficient solution with regard to the valuable resource of landfill space.

The heavy weight of the H 25i VC and the vibrating drum produce point loads of up to 50 t under each cutting tool. This load is able to crush the mineral waste immediately.

High waste density creates more space

Thanks to the compaction of the waste using the H 25i VC, more material can be stored at the landfill site than originally planned. "We used to use a landfill compactor without vibration. With the VC compactor, we are now achieving a waste density of 1.3 t/m³ at the landfill site. This enables us to use the landfill site for longer, which ultimately increases its profitability," explains Förster. Thanks to the vibration, fewer passes are required in order to establish optimum intermeshing of the crushed materials. We would not be able to achieve this high degree of compaction with static compaction alone.

Efficient process

An efficient process for disposing of the waste has become established at the landfill site: Construction waste, together with other waste from the same class, is distributed over each layer of contaminated material to a height of approximately 30 cm. Two members of staff are responsible for crushing and compacting using the VC compactor, and they operate the VC compactor alternately with other equipment. They enjoy working in the cab of the HAMM roller, as it provides a good overview and ease of operation.

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"There's nothing simpler than operating this roller."

Markus Döberl, Machine Operator

The cab on the H 25i VC has been equipped with safety ventilation to prevent the ingress of harmful suspended solids.

Designed for challenging tasks

  • Heavy-duty equipment: Reinforcement of the three-point articulation, the underbody, the front frame and the drum suspension with drum drive
  • Particularly robust EM tyres
  • Seat with extra-high backrest
  • Standard equipment with the Hammtronic machine control and the HCM compaction meter (HAMM Compaction Meter)
  • Low fuel requirement (approx. 20 l/h at the Steinmühle landfill site.)
  • Reduced wear
  • Simple servicing

Efficient solution for the long term

The decision in favour of the VC compactor from HAMM was made with the next few decades in mind as "with waste from landfill class 1 expected to increase, the landfill site will be operated for the next 30 to 40 years," explains Peter Förster. The type of waste being disposed of will change during this time. The majority of construction waste containing asbestos that is currently being produced during many building renovations will be removed at some point and the volume will drop considerably. On the other hand, road construction waste in the form of asphalt rubble containing tar will be created. This material also comes under mineral waste from landfill class 1 and is likewise easy to crush using the VC compactor.

"Replacing the cutting tool is no hassle at all."

Roller driver Robert Schaumberger

Reduced wear and simple servicing and maintenance are good arguments for the Steinmühle team – especially because the compactor is an investment for the next few decades. "From this point of view too, the VC compactor from HAMM has proven to be a robust and efficient solution for our landfill site," states Peter Förster.

The team at the mixed-waste landfill site for the Tirschenreuth district from left to right: Andreas Meyer (environmental engineer), Robert Schaumberger (roller driver), Markus Döberl (roller driver in the roller), Peter Förster (manager of the mixed-waste landfill site).

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