Equipment investment means twice the pick ups, half the time, says local garbage hauler

Time is money, so the old saying goes. In the trash-collecting industry, the race for cash translates into more pickups in less time, explains Tom McKnelly, president and co-owner of Scott Bolte Sanitation. His company is one of five licensed to provide garbage and recycling services in Tea.

The day starts early for McKnelly and his employees, as early as 5 a.m. for route drivers. The drivers cover some 400 residential stops, as well as about 90 percent of the town’s businesses, McKnelly estimates, every Tuesday and Wednesday.

At the end of their runs, drivers take their loads to Sioux Falls recyclers and to the landfill. The loads average three to five tons.

Until recently, the company, which merged with RBS Sanitation in 2013, employed traditional rear-loading trucks. These trucks require the driver to get out at every stop and dump each bin by hand.

Soon, the company’s purchase of more efficient, automated trucks will increase productivity, allowing more stops to be made in less time and leading to fewer fatigued and injured drivers.

Read the rest of this story and more of this week's local news by logging into the e-edition or picking up a copy of the Tea Weekly, on stands at the Tea Casey's, Cubby's, Get N Go, Sunshine and Jimmy's Coffee. Remember, subscribers get free e-edition access!