Trash Masher

[Mark_in_NH]

Well, I finally have my trash masher / dumpster reducer.
I turned the project over to my local welder, who also happens to be one of the 2 guys that bought my JD 950.
I gave him some measurments and told him what I wanted to be able to do with it. And this is what he came up with for me. Photo's attached.
I finally had time tonight to unload it from the back of the truck. ( it's been in there for 2 days) I think it will work very well. I was able to reduce a full 2 yard dumpster into almost, a 1/2 full 2 yard dumpster. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif $$$$$$ /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Photo 2

 

[Bird]

Looks pretty good, Mark. It also reminds me of the summer we spent working in an RV resort in Virginia. They were charged simply by how many dumpsters they had to empty, regardless of weight, they didn't have enough dumpsters, and didn't want to spend the money for more of them, but one of the newest, nicest piece of equipment we had was an industrial model John Deere TLB (I don't remember the model number, but it was a right good sized backhoe) and I'll bet they spent more in fuel using that big backhoe to pack the dumpsters tighter than they'd have spent adding more dumpsters. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Bird, remember Mark is in New Hampshire, with the state motto "Live Free or Die". He'd rather spend money the way he chooses, for the masher and the fuel, than pay a mandated fee for more or bigger dumpsters. I used to live in MA about 6 miles from the NH border, and some of that rubbed off on me, too. It's the principle of the thing...
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[CTyler]

I bet you could make a LOT of mashed potatoes with that!!!

 

[DocHeb]

I can see it now - a TBN Forum member 50 years in the future posting pics and saying: "I found this implement - what do you think it is and what was it used for?"

 

[Mark_in_NH]

A big Patato masher is exactly what it reminds me of.
The welder was happy to get it out of his shop because he was tired of explaining to people what it was.
I called Waste Management Tuesday morning to cancel that days pick up because the dumpster was somewhat full, but I knew that I now had the means to compress it. I was informed by W/M that there had been an error all along and that the fee I pay every month was a fixed monthly fee that included 1 pickup every other week and that in the future there would be no more credits or a reduced monthly fee if I cancelled any pickups.
What it boils down to is that, If I call them to cancell this weeks pickup because the dumpster is empty, there still going to charge me for the pickup.
I am unsure how to accept or deal with this policy. Either accept it as merely a term of doing business or argue it, throw W/M off my property and set up with another company.
In the summer seasons I won't mind, for filling the dumpster is not a problem and I need it emptied at least every other week. But in the winter season it can be hard to find enough stuff to dispose of, to fill it.
I really do not like the idea of HAVING to pay W/M to empty an all but empty dumpster. It just seems to be an incredible waste of $$, time and resources.

 

[kensfarm]

My dumpster service works the same way.. pick up every other week.. same monlthy fee. I let my farm neighbor fill it w/ used bale wrappings the day before pickup.. he's offered to pay.. but he rents my farmland.. and he's a good neighbor.. so I wouldn't charge him. Maybe a close neighbor would share the cost. I like having the dumpster because once I throw something away.. I don't have to deal w/ it again. Looks great.. now you just need some huge patatoes.. a big bowl.. & a FEL full of butter!

 

[popeye]

Chris
<font color="orange"> I can see it now - a TBN Forum member 50 years in the future posting pics and saying: "I found this implement - what do you think it is and what was it used for </font>
You forgot the rest of it: <font color="blue"> .....and where can I buy one? </font>
Mike

 

[CTyler]

Can you cancel the service for the winter and start it in the spring? Do they have a fee to stop/start the service?

 

[Mark_in_NH]

I still need the service in the winter because I have a couple of year round trash clients as well as my own trash.
I called another waste company today and they said that their policy would be pretty much the same. A fixed monthly fee for a every other week pick up whether they empty it or I cancel it. It's still about $67 a month.
This may well be a policy that I am going to have to accept and deal with.

 

[tdenny]

Mark,

Out here all of the trash collectors work the same way. They don't want to have to keep track of a) whether or not they actually picked up something on your property, or
b) to staff the office full of people to handle the calls, complaints, cancellations, billing errors, and c) they make money no matter what.

I'll tell you what though if you actually put out a little extra bag one week they absolutely won't forget to charge you the extra $$$ for that. Can you tell I'm a little bothered by this policy as well. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif