In the container system, special types of containers are placed at collection points.

When full, the containers are removed by a tractor prime mover to which a hydraulically powered frame chassis (carrier) is hitched. The tractor along with carrier comes to a specific site and the carrier hydraulically lifts the container and grips it firmly and for safe transportation (figure below).

At the processing/disposal site, the container is hydraulically tipped to discharge its load. This system suffers from some disadvantages such as the low speed of the tractor and low ground clearance of the container which causes problems in the case of uneven road surfaces.

Hauled Container System

1. Collection systems in which the containers used for the storage of wastes are hauled to the processing, transfer or disposal site, emptied and returned to either their original location or some other location are defined as hauled container systems.

2. There are two main types of hauled container systems:

   1) tilt frame container

   2) trash-trailer

3. The collector is responsible for driving the vehicle, loading full containers and unloading empty containers and emptying the contents of the container at the disposal site. In some cases, for safety reasons, both a driver and helper are used.

4. Systems that use tilt frame loaded vehicles and large containers, often called drop boxes are ideally suited for the collection of all types of solid waste and rubbish from locations where the generation rate warrants the use of large containers.

5. The application of trash-trailers is similar to that of frame container systems. Trash trailers are better for the collection of especially heavy rubbish and often are used for the collection of demolition wastes at construction sites.

Stationary Container System

1. Container systems in which the containers used for the storage of wastes remain at the point of waste generation, except when moved for collection are defined as stationary container system.

2. Labour requirements for mechanically loaded stationary container systems are essentially the same as for hauled container system.

3. There are two main types of stationary container systems:

   i) those in which self loading compactors are used.

   ii) those in which manually loaded vehicles are used.

4. Container size and utilization are not as critical in stationary container systems using self-loading collection vehicles equipped with a compaction mechanism as they are in hauled container system.

5. Trips to the disposal site, transfer station or processing station are made after the contents of number of containers have been collected and compacted and the collection vehicle is full. This system is used for the collection of all types of wastes.