The factors to be considered in the design of transfer station are as follows:

When a city or entity faces hauling waste “longer” distances, a transfer station may be a viable option. Transfer station costs should be less than the cost of hauling to the landfill directly with collection vehicles (direct haul).

By using a transfer station, collection vehicles spend less time driving to/from the disposal site and more time on the route. Therefore fewer collection vehicles need to be purchased.

A transfer station can be registered if it meets the following criteria:

• Municipality with population < 50,000
• County with population < 85,000
• A facility that transfer < 125 tons per day
• Located within permitted boundaries of Type I or IV landfill

Transfer stations can typically be categorized into several groups such as:

• Open-top
• Surge Pit
• Compactor/Precompactor
• Baler
• Intermodal

Factors affecting the design of the transfer station site include:

• Waste stream demands
• Material types accepted
• Customer types
• Other on-site facilities
• Traffic flow within the transfer station

Design considerations for the transfer building include:

• Wind loading
• Lighting and ventilation
• Sizing and storage
• Expansion capability
• Floor topping
• Green building requirements

Most common equipment used to manage and load waste within transfer stations include:

Wheeled front loaders

• Quicker and more maneuverable than tracked loaders
• Rubber tires produce less wear on the floor

Tracked loaders:

• Better for volume reduction before loading into trailers.
• Tracks cause additional wear on floor surfaces (need to maintain a thin layer of waste on the floor to help reduce wear)
• More common in surge pit transfer stations

The number of personnel used at a station will vary greatly based on the style of the transfer station and the amount of waste processed. Typical positions include:

• Oversight/Administration
• Site Supervisor
• Equipment Operators
• Transfer Drivers
• Scale House Attendants / Cashiers
• Labourers