Safe Waste Disposal Tips for Businesses

Your Safety is Our Priority!

Penn Waste Safety Vehicle

Safety is the top priority at Penn Waste. Our entire team, from our drivers to the men and women who staff the recycling center, are committed to safe waste disposal operating practices. Because they are out in the community each and every day, we ensure all of our employees are trained in the latest safety practices and provided the most up-to-date equipment.

Below are some tips for commercial customers to help ensure safe waste disposal and efficient material collection.


Safety Tips

Safety Tip #1: Maintain Clear Access to Trash Receptacles
Penn Waste drivers must have clear and safe access to your container(s) at all times. Maintenance and snow removal companies tend to pile snow in front of and around dumpsters and corral doors during the winter. By doing this, they are creating an unsafe area for our drivers. Piles of snow make it impossible to get corral doors open and it makes it impossible to get close enough to empty the container. In addition to snow, delivery trucks and employee cars often times are the cause of blocked access to your container. If the corral is blocked and Penn Waste is unable to reach a member of your team for access, your containers will not be picked up for the week.

Safety Tip #2: Don’t Overload Containers
Overloaded Containers are a hazard to your team members and ours! Containers with trash protruding from the top or sides can result in scattered trash and possible injury or accidents. When our team members empty your containers, loose heavy objects can easily turn into dangerous projectiles, potentially crashing through our driver’s windshield, broken glass, nails and other debris scattered on your property causes a risk to everyone. Additionally, Penn Waste cannot be responsible for, or clean up the litter caused by overloaded dumpsters. If this is an ongoing issue, additional service may be a good solution.

Safety Tip #3: Break Down Large & Bulky Items
Large bulky items may become lodged inside your dumpster and remain there even after your container is dumped. The driver cannot always tell when this happens, so you suffer reduced capacity until the item is dislodged. Instruct your employees to break down bulky items as much as possible.

Safety Tip #4: Watch the Weight
There is a limit on the weight we can pick up with our trucks. Do not fill your dumpster with materials such as dirt, rocks, bricks, asphalt, steel or shingles. These items are not acceptable at the incinerator. If found in your dumpster, we have to refuse pickup of such materials for the safety of our employees and equipment.

Safety Tip #5: Don’t Lock Us Out
If your container is in a secured area, please unlock any gates the night before your scheduled pickup. Or, if you prefer, you may provide a key to your gate. This will eliminate the need for you to remember to unlock the gate and then leave it unsecured for several hours.

Safety Tip #6: Missed Pickups
If you believe Penn Waste has missed a scheduled pickup, please call us within 24 hours of your scheduled service day. If the missed pickup was due to a reason within our control, it will be made up within 24 hours.

Safety Tip #7: Repair Asphalt Damage Immediately
We cannot take responsibility for the damage to asphalt or other coverings of roads or parking lots. The paved area must be able to maintain structural support for our trucks. Paved roadways are not meant to carry such weights and could easily be damaged. Please consider this when the container is placed. If damage starts, repair it immediately because it will only get worse.

Safety Tip #8: Setup Corrals Properly
Some municipalities or counties require commercial businesses to adhere to certain sanitary or health guidelines and could require the use of a corral around dumpsters. Let us help you determine local sanitation requirements by contacting Penn Waste first to ensure that the opening is wide enough for our trucks to properly service the container and doors are securable.

Safety Tip #9: Prevent Hazardous Waste Fires
Do not place any special or hazardous waste in the container without providing us with prior notification. Many trucks have been destroyed by fires because a customer placed a small amount of hazardous or flammable materials in the container. Penn Waste cannot dispose of any type of medical waste.

Safety Tip #10: Break Down & Bag Wood Products
Loose pieces of wood can create hazardous conditions to our trucks and drivers. If disposing of wood, please make sure that it is broken down and properly bagged.

Need Hazardous & Flammable Waste Disposal?

Please contact a member of our Hazardous Waste Disposal Team to determine if a waste product is considered hazardous or flammable, and to learn how to properly dispose of it.

Penn Waste’s Hazardous Waste Disposal Team
Phone: (717) 767-4456
Email: info@pennwaste.com


Safety Resources: Penn Waste Is Here To Help!

Penn Waste offers on-site safety training and safety materials designed to help your employees stay safe, reducing worker’s comp issues and other hazards that can harm your business. Our safety program includes information on:

  • Educating your business team on how to properly and safely load your container.
  • Options for increasing container size, if necessary.
  • Increasing the frequency of service, if necessary.
  • Proper disposal of special and hazardous waste materials.

To schedule your Penn Waste safety training session, Contact Us!