Waste Collection and Transportation Practices Flashcards

Which factor most significantly increases the rollover risk for a rear-loading collection truck during operation?

Answer: High center of gravity from a top-heavy compacted load combined with sharp turns

A compacted, top-heavy load dramatically raises the vehicle's center of gravity, making sharp turns or uneven surfaces hazardous rollover scenarios.

What is the primary regulatory concern with transporting liquid waste in an open-top roll-off container?

Answer: Risk of spillage violating 49 CFR bulk packaging and non-bulk packaging standards

Open-top containers carrying liquid waste risk spillage during transport, violating DOT packaging and bulk liquid transport regulations under 49 CFR.

A collection program implements RFID tags on residential carts. What is the primary operational benefit?

Answer: Automatic billing adjustment based on set-out frequency and container weight

RFID-equipped carts enable pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) billing by automatically recording each set-out event and, when combined with onboard scales, the weight collected.

Under the DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations, a placard is required on a transport vehicle when the quantity of a hazardous material reaches:

Answer: 1,001 lbs (454 kg) gross weight in most hazard classes

For most hazard classes, DOT requires placards when a vehicle carries 1,001 lbs or more of hazardous material, though some categories require placards in any quantity.

Which collection system design best reduces contamination in a single-stream recycling program?

Answer: Implementing clear resident education paired with visible container color-coding

Resident education combined with distinctive container color-coding consistently outperforms other strategies in reducing contamination in single-stream programs.

What is the purpose of a 'tare weight' record in waste collection operations?

Answer: To establish the empty vehicle weight so net payload can be calculated at the scale

Tare weight is the known empty weight of a vehicle; subtracting it from the gross weight at the scale yields the net weight of waste collected.

A collection manager discovers that one route consistently requires 2 extra hours to complete compared to similar routes. The FIRST analytical step should be:

Answer: Compare the route's stop count, distance, container sizes, and terrain with peer routes to identify the root cause

A systematic root-cause analysis comparing the route's parameters against similar routes is essential before implementing any operational change.