Rake Will a rake work on litter?

[TheCommissioner]

I am working here in Iraq advising a municipal government about how to be more effective in providing services, particularly trash pickup. This city has many vacant lots where buildings damaged by the war once stood. Some of these lots have turned into the neighborhood trash dump. I am looking for expensive and/or quick ways, besides manual labor, to pickup all this trash. Most of the trash is plastic bottles, paper, and cans.

The trash collection department has some New Holland tractors with 3-PT hitch. I am wondering if a rake would work to windrow trash where it can be scooped up with a front end loader. The vacant lots aren't always level and they often contain brick-size rubble mixed in with the trash. There is no vegetation and the ground is usually always dry.

Anyone have any opinions or experience concerning raking litter? Thanks guys!

 

[IslandTractor]

Yes it can. I've used a rake to collect rocks and debris from logging and it works quite well. It will take some dirt and turf along with the debris but in an emply lot that should not be a problem.

 

[GE222]

How about the rakes that are used for cleaning up beaches???

 

[gator]

If you are talking about a landscape rake it should work just fine. When its angled you will have to adjust the side link to level it. It will probably be best to remove every other tine and angle the rake and it will collect and windrow the large stuff and leave most of the soil in place.
I remove every other tine on my Fronteir LR1072 when I rake pine needles and it collects the needles fine and leaves most of the soil in place.

 

[firemen122]

Get a hydraulic grapple for the loader, have it built with teeth a little closer than normal. It will work like a charm...

 

[AndyMA]

These may not be practical but take a look. They would make very easy work of the job you describe.

Beach Cleaner, Beach cleaners, Sand Cleaners, Stone and Rock Pickers

Andy

 

[IslandTractor]

Get a hydraulic grapple for the loader, have it built with teeth a little closer than normal. It will work like a charm...

I'm not so sure. No one could accuse me of not being a grapple enthusiast but I'd think that "trash" as in soft drink cans, paper, plastic bags, bricks, small chunks of concrete, left over RPG rounds etc etc would not be the idea load for a grapple, even one with narrow tines. I'd personally use a FEL mounted rake but a 3PT mounted rake would be a close second for this type of urban lot cleaning.

 

[ninefinger]

If I had to get rid of one or more of my implements, my rake would not be among that group. I am amazed at what all a rake can do.