Waste handlers and excavators are both pieces of machinery that are used in sectors requiring material management and handling. There are differences between the two. Waste handlers are mainly used within the sorting, loading and unloading of discarded waste materials, and in recycling applications. Excavators are used for digging and trenching, demolition, and material handling tasks. This article will dig deeper into both and provide you with the knowledge you need should you be searching for waste handlers and excavators to purchase, either new or used.
Waste Handler vs Excavator: The top line difference
The key difference to an excavator is that waste handlers are designed to lift, whereas an excavator is designed to dig. This difference in functionality has led to key design differences.
Waste handlers
Waste handlers are used to handle materials that are to be discarded as waste. This can be everyday waste or hazardous materials, depending on the industry in question. A good material waste handler will collect and transport waste for disposal, meeting strict environmental regulations and compliance. Waste handlers play an important role on recycling sites and waste removal. This is especially useful in heavy industry and recycling centres where there is scrap metal to sort from other waste materials.
Greater working range
Waste handlers typically offer a longer reach than the equivalent-weight excavator. This is because the density and therefore weight of material a waste handler typically works in is lower than that of an excavator. This allows the waste handler to move around a site less as it has a larger working radius. This allows a waste handler to load large wagons more efficiently and stack material stockpiles higher.
Elevating cab
Waste handlers typically have a cab that elevates several meters from the machine, whereas an excavator’s cab is at a fixed height. This elevation on waste handlers raises the operator’s eye level and allows them to see into what they are loading or unloading. This visibility ensures maximum productivity and efficiency in an industry where maximising each load is the key to sustainability.
Wheeled or tracked
Both excavators and waste handlers are available with wheeled or tracked undercarriages. However, the most common set-up for an excavator is with a crawler-style tracked undercarriage. Whereas a waste handler is most commonly configured with a wheeled undercarriage along with four stabilisers that allow the machine to be raised off the ground on fixed points to improve stability when it is not moving.
Improved operator visibility
A waste handler commonly does not have a steering wheel. This allows the operator an uninterrupted view of the waste material they are sorting and grabbing, allowing them to sort and separate recyclable materials from mixed waste efficiently.
Excavators
Excavators provide a versatile solution for handling a wide range of heavy materials. Within construction sites, and demolition jobs where there is the need to move heavy and large quantities of materials, an excavator is a great choice. For heavy lifting, and use on uneven and challenging terrain an excavator helps to improve standards, speed up tasks, and minimise workplace hazards.
Excavator attachments
One of the reasons why excavators are an attractive choice for many industries is that you can add a range of applications that transform their function. This adds versatility and flexibility to its application, and it is quick and simple to switch between different tasks when using attachments such as trenchers, clamps, grapples, breakers, rippers, and a whole host of other attachments. However, a waste handler can also handle a wide range of attachments. A common attachment for a waste handler to be fitted with is a selector grapple, also known as a demolition grab.
How to choose the right machinery
Choosing the correct model of waste handler or excavator for your needs requires some consideration that is specific to your needs.
The size of your operation – assess the size of your recycling centre or scrap yard, as this will have an effect on the size of the waste handler or excavator that you purchase. Also consider the volume of waste that is to be handled at any given time, to help determine the relevant power required from the machine.
What are the handling requirements? – there are many different types of materials that are worked with by waste handlers and excavators. For some waste material you might require the use of a sturdy waste handling machine, whilst for general waste sorting and the movement of a smaller volume of items, a compact excavator might be all that you need.
Safety first – safety should always be a priority for you when working with waste and recycling machinery. Think about the limitations of your site and the employees working on site at any given time. Think about operator control, cameras for improved visibility, and various other safety features that might make one scrap or waste handler stand out from another.
Both waste handlers and excavators play an important role within industry, ensuring that there is proper sorting and movement of materials that would otherwise all go to waste. They are implemented within processes that boost efficiencies and help to maintain cost control, improving recycling methods and handling materials across a range of challenging environments. Finding a supplier of both new and used waste handlers and excavators provides you with the best options of machinery to match your site, task usage, and budgets. It can make all the difference to how you sort materials effectively.
