Why do I need to separate trash and recycling if it goes into one truck? How split-body garbage trucks work.
Why do I need to separate trash and recycling if it goes into one truck? How split-body garbage trucks work.
If you’ve ever watched the garbage truck roll down your street, you might have done a double-take. You spend all week making sure to separate trash and recycling, only to watch the driver dump both of your carefully sorted bins into what looks like the exact same truck.
It feels counterintuitive. In fact, it’s one of the most common questions we get: “Is my recycling actually being recycled, or is it all just going to the landfill together?”
At All American, we want to clear up the confusion. The secret isn’t in the destination, it’s in the technology. Our entire fleet consists of split-body garbage trucks, designed specifically to keep your waste streams apart while saving time and fuel.
The Mystery of the Single Truck
In the past, waste companies had to send two different trucks down every street: one for trash and one for recycling. This meant double the noise, double the wear and tear on local roads, and double the fuel.
Modern technology solved this with the “split-body” design. Even though you see one vehicle, there are actually two completely separate compartments inside that single truck body.
How Split-Body Trucks Work
The magic happens at the hopper (the part where the bins are emptied). Inside the truck, a metal flap or divider splits the interior into two sealed sections.
The Toggle Switch: As the driver approaches your curb, they use controls inside the cab to toggle the lift mechanism.
The “Flip”: When the arm grabs your trash bin, the internal baffle directs that waste into the “trash” side. When it grabs the recycling bin, the driver flips the mechanism so the material is diverted into the “recycling” side.
No Cross-Contamination: These compartments are physically sealed off from one another. Your glass, paper, and plastic never touch the household trash.
Watch it in action! Want to see the “flip” for yourself? Click here to watch our video on Facebook and see exactly how our trucks maintain the separation of your waste in real-time.
Why You Still Need to Separate Trash and Recycling
Since the truck is split, the system only works if the source is sorted. When you separate trash and recycling at home, you are the first step in a high-tech chain of recovery.
If recycling is mixed with trash inside your bin, it becomes “contaminated.” Once paper is soaked in food waste or liquids, it often can’t be processed at the recycling center. By keeping them in their designated bins, you ensure that the split-body truck can do its job effectively.
The Benefits of a Split-Body Fleet
At All American, we invested in an entire fleet of split-body trucks because they align with our commitment to efficiency and transparent service:
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Reduced Footprint: We cut the number of trucks on the road in half, significantly reducing fuel consumption, wear, and tear.
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Less Neighborhood Traffic: You only have to hear the truck once, and your street stays clearer and safer.
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Predictable Pricing: By running a more efficient operation, we avoid the “hidden fees” and “fuel surcharges” that other companies use to cover the cost of running two separate fleets.
The All American Promise
We know that trust is a big part of waste management. When you put in the effort to separate trash and recycling, you deserve to know that your effort isn’t going to waste. Our split-body trucks are proof that we take your recycling seriously.
Ready to switch to a hauler that values transparency?
Contact All American today to start your service!
About All American
All American is a family-owned and operated local business, providing roll-off dumpster rentals, commercial and residential trash pickup, and specialty waste removal services. We currently provide trash removal services to a growing list of communities, including Antigo, Wausau, Merrill, Rhinelander, and Stevens Point.
Our mission is simple: to provide the best possible trash removal services for our Northwoods neighbors with top-notch customer care. When you call, a local person answers! Experience the difference of working with the Antigo area’s leading trash removal service. Contact us today.
