Two new packer trucks added to the fleet

New equipment at Eastman Recycling Services in Steinbach has positioned the company to be able to handle the continued increase it sees in recycled materials.  Manager Jake Giesbrecht says they have invested $400,000 and purchased a new baler and two new recycling packer collection trucks.



He explains the old baler was too slow and was getting worn out.  The new baler can put out 18-20 bales per hour and squeezes in up to 750kg of material per bale, more than double in weight from the old unit.  Giesbrecht says it's important they can make heavier bales because it allows them to have full trailer weights.  This means they can put more material onto each semi trailer that leaves their building.  He notes they average about a semi trailer load of shipped material each day.  The baler, including installation, cost about $300,000.

The new trucks were purchased to replace the old truck and trailer units that were also getting worn out.  The trucks are already in use and are working well.  Giesbreht says they can handle about 40% more material and are much safer for the pickup crew because all the work is done between the truck
and the curb and not in the traffic lanes surrounding the trailer.

Meanwhile he reports the depot in Steinbach has seen an increase in material and their tonnage is climbing all the time.  Looking into the future Giesbrecht expects the move to automation will continue plus he anticipates they will have to upgrade their sorting line at some point.  In the meantime he encourages us to keep plastic bags and garbage out of our recycling bins which will make it easier on the sorting staff.