LCSWMA - Transfer Station Complex - Virtual Tour
Welcome to LCSWMA’s Transfer Station Complex virtual tour! To get started, click on the thumbnails below. For the best experience, we recommend clicking through the thumbnails in order from left to right. As you explore, you’ll notice a variety of buttons called “hotspots”. Click on the hotspot to access more information.
Welcome
This location includes 4 hotspots. Be sure to click on all of them. Click the button at the right bottom of the screen to advance to the next location.
In addition to its convenient location, a major benefit of the TSC is it greatly reduces truck traffic on local highways by serving as a waste delivery consolidation point.
In fact, for every five customer vehicles that enter the facility, only one LCSWMA transfer trailer is needed to haul waste to its final disposal location.
On average, that equates to an 83% reduction of vehicle traffic to end disposal facilities.
Scalehouse
Find all 4 hotspots! Click the arrow in the bottom left corner of the screen to go back to the previous location or click the button in the bottom right corner of the screen to go to the next location.
Before entering the site, all vehicles must pass through radiation detection monitoring equipment to ensure no loads are carry hazardous waste.
All vehicle traffic is weighed in when entering the facility and again on the way out. The difference in vehicle weight determines the tipping fee or disposal fee.
At LCSWMA, we generate revenue through our tipping fees, so no tax money is used to support our system.
Here at the Transfer Station, we receive upwards of 400 customer visits every day, making this our busiest site.
The Transfer Station Complex was revitalized in the early 2000s and designed to resemble a 19th century railroad station. If you look around, you’ll notice a variety of unique architectural details that give this complex depth and charm.
Meet a LCSWMA Weighmaster
A LCSWMA Weighmaster is responsible for ensuring that all trucks are weighed-in at the facility in a safe manner, preventing unauthorized types of waste from being delivered to the site and directing customers to the appropriate drop-off area.In order to become a Weighmaster in Pennsylvania, one must obtain a Weighmaster License from the Department of Agriculture.
Small Vehicle Drop-Off
Find all 3 hotspots! Click the arrow in the bottom left corner of the screen to go back to the previous location or click the button in the bottom right corner of the screen to go to the next location.
Tipping Floor
Find all 6 hotspots! Click the arrow in the bottom left corner of the screen to go back to the previous location or click the button in the bottom right corner of the screen to go to the next location.
This is where commercial garbage haulers come to dump their waste.
If you look closely, you can see three types of waste on the floor:
- The largest pile on the left consists of regular household trash like you and I throw away. This material is taken to our Lancaster Waste-to-Energy Facility where it is combusted to make electricity.
- The pile in the middle is construction/demolition debris, which consists of items like concrete, shingles, brick and other construction materials. Most of that waste is generated by contractors and builders and is taken to our Frey Farm Landfill.
- The pile on the right where our loader is operating consists of single- stream recycling. This material is taken to Penn Waste in York County for final processing and disposal.
Meet a LCSWMA Heavy Equipment Operator
LCSWMA heavy equipment operators are responsible for the safe operation of equipment in support of the daily operations at the Transfer Station Complex.
Loading Process
Find all 3 hotspots! Click the arrow in the bottom left corner of the screen to go back to the previous location or click the button in the bottom right corner of the screen to go to the next location.
“Somewhere” is into our transfer trucks, so the waste can be transported to the appropriate location, either the Lancaster Waste-to-Energy Facility, Frey Farm Landfill or Penn Waste’s Recycling Center, depending on the material type.
Undeath the tipping floor is a loading tunnel, where our transfer trailers wait to be loaded.
Our excavator operators compact the trash in the trailer in order to get as close to our 82,000-pound weight limit without going over. To pick up smaller pieces of trash and sweep the floor, our excavator operators use mattresses!
As you can imagine, it’s hard for the excavator claw to grab small items and debris, so they use the mattress to gather and sweep the material into the trailers.
Loading Tunnel
You’ve arrived at the loading tunnel. Be sure to click on all 2 hotspots. Click the arrow in the bottom left corner of the screen to go back to the previous location or click the button in the bottom right corner of the screen to go to the next location.
The fine mist you see above is used for dust and odor control.
LCSWMA transfer trucks are top-loading, meaning the top of the trailer opens for waste to be deposited inside.
Trucks pull into the tunnel and position themselves on a scale.
Heavy equipment operators working on the tipping floor above push the trash through the openings in the floor into the trailers below.
Once the trucks reach their 82,000 lb. weight limit, they pull off the scale and proceed out of the tunnel.
Before continuing to their next destination, truck drivers check to make sure there is no trash hanging on the outside of the trailer.
Our team of talented drivers make 5 to 6 trips per day driving back-and-forth to our facilities: clocking close to 300 miles every day!
Maintenance
Find all 4 hotspots! Click the arrow in the bottom left corner of the screen to go back to the previous location or click the button in the bottom right corner of the screen to go to the next location.
Not only do our mechanics need the skills and knowledge to work on gas and diesel engines, they must also be able to work on compressed natural gas engines as well.
Meet a LCSWMA Mechanic
LCSWMA mechanics are responsible for the repair and diagnosis of various truck and trailer equipment at our facilities.Mechanics must be able to diagnose and repair clutches, electric systems, hydraulic/air brake systems, heating/air conditioning systems, instruments and gauges, and perform preventative maintenance service.
CNG Slow-Fill Station
Find all 3 hotspots! Click the arrow in the bottom left corner of the screen to go back to the previous location or click the button in the bottom right corner of the screen to go to the next location.
When our fleet returns at the end of the day they hook up at our Time-Fill Station and fuel overnight between the hours of midnight and 4 a.m. when electricity is cheapest.
Our trucks fuel slowly, allowing the maximum amount of gas in the tanks.
This allows our truck drivers to drive all day – upwards of 300 miles – without having to fuel up.
Meet a LCSWMA Truck Driver
LCSWMA truck drivers transfer waste between LCSWMA facilities and assigned destinations in a safe, efficient, and courteous manner.A Class A CDL is required for this position.
CNG Customer Station
Find all 3 hotspots! Click the arrow in the bottom left corner of the screen to go back to the previous location or click the button in the bottom right corner of the screen to go to the next location.
Conveniently located steps from the Scalehouse and on the way to the tipping floor, customers can easily pull off the scales, fuel up and head to the tipping floor to dump.
By converting to CNG as a fuel source, you can:
- Reduce the environmental impacts of your operations
- Stabilize long-term fuel costs
- Support the Pennsylvania-based natural gas industry, and
- Build a cleaner, more sustainable future
Recycling Drop-Off
Find all 4 hotspots! Click the arrow in the bottom left corner of the screen to go back to the previous location or click the button in the bottom right corner of the screen to go to the next location.
Help us Recycle Right by only placing the following types of items in the drop-off:
- Corrugated cardboard
- Plastic bottles and jugs with necks
- Metal food and beverage cans
- Glass bottles and jars
HHW
Find all 6 hotspots! Click the arrow in the bottom left corner of the screen to go back to the previous location or click the button in the bottom right corner of the screen to go to the next location.
In fact, 65,000 – 70,000 visitors visit the HHW facility each year, and, on average, we collect between 2 and 3 million pounds of material!
This drive thru drop -off facility is the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania and accepts a variety of items for FREE from Lancaster County residents, including: electronics, paint, pesticides, cleaners, batteries and more.
Simply pull into the drive-thru lane and our friendly staff will help you unload your items for proper, safe disposal.
For a complete list of items accepted at HHW, visit www.lcswma.org.
Meet LCSWMA’s HHW Staff
LCSWMA Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility technicians are responsible for accepting, sorting, and segregating materials from customers.Because this position interacts so frequently with the public, excellent customer service skills are required.
End of Tour
You’ve completed the tour! Before you go, be sure to click on all 6 hotspots. Click the arrow in the bottom left corner of the screen to go back to the previous location. Thanks for joining us!
Installed in 2012, the solar project generates 434 megawatt hours of electricity each year and provides 80% of the Transfer Station’s annual electric needs.
The dome-shaped building at the complex is home to our Administrative Building.
We employ professionals in a variety of departments, including accounting, engineering, human resources, environmental compliance and more!
If you’re interested in a career with LCSWMA, visit www.lcswma.org/careers/ to view available jobs or fill out an application.