Dive Brief:

• New Way, a company based in Scranton, IA that manufactures sanitation vehicles, has released an automated organics collection truck. The company calls it the first mobile compactor with a body that will not leak.
• The body of the vehicle was created specifically to work in conjunction with organic substances, but can also be used to collect municipal solid waste. New Way says it can move seamlessly between the two different waste types.
• The truck is capable of lifting 500 pounds of materials with its arm, and features a payload capacity of up to 25,000 pounds. The truck can ostensibly pack 1,000 pounds of waste per cubic yard without leaking.

Dive Insight:

The company, a subsidiary of Scranton Manufacturing, says the new organics truck is the first of its kind in the nation. Food waste and organics collection has been gaining momentum across the US, as municipalities and states determine the best approach for diverting the heavy waste materials from landfills. On August 14, New York City announced that it was planning to expand its food waste collection program. 

Studies have found that food comprises 80 billion pounds of waste deposited into landfills. The breakdown shows that residential waste accounts for 47% of food waste, 22% is produced by restaurants, 15% is waste generated by fast-food chains, and 11% is institutional waste.