To reduce wind blown litter, the boxes can be covered with lids and hatches. A truck with a special hydraulic hoist is required to remove the box and haul it to a landfill. The boxes can be lifted and emptied by a large packer truck. Boxes are generally located on a surfaced parking area. A contract hauler normally provides the boxes and hauling services.
Inaccurate estimates result in oversized or undersized facilities and possible operating losses.
The effects of future waste reduction and recycling need to be considered. An analysis of alternatives that examines economics, engineering issues, and community goals should be made to help determine which type of transfer station is best for each specific site. The direct dumping to a transfer trailer and the dumping to a tipping floor are perhaps the most common transfer stations. They can accept all types of municipal waste in variable amounts, and do not have compactor equipment which can cause unacceptable stoppages. The direct dumping station has the disadvantage of requiring a transfer trailer on site and thus it may require a second transfer trailer while the first is enroute to the landfill.