Email: Jim Rozier
Commercial-type trash containers (often referred to as dumpsters, although Dumpster is a trademarked name) are often positioned directly on the pavement. Setting there is not the problem. But, the large and very heave refuse collection trucks that service the containers impose repetitive, dynamic stresses to the pavement every time they perform their normal function.

The pavement immediately in front of the container is particularly susceptible to overloading by the front tires of the collection truck, which not only bear the weight of the loaded dumpster, but also tend to bounce with each shift in weight. The dumpsters are often shaken in order to dislodge refuse, which further increases the percussive effect.

As a result, the pavement develops ruts and other symptoms of fatigue, such as shoving and distortion. Even fairly stout pavements are subject to such ill effects during normal removal operations but may not evidence visible signs of distress as soon as a typical pavement. 

The cost to properly repair the damaged asphalt will usually require the pavement contractor to assemble a full complement of machinery and workers. Costs can approach or exceed two thousand dollars for a typical container site. Given the likelihood that the pavement will experience the same type of damage several times during the normal fifteen-year life of the pavement, the overall repair costs could easily exceed six thousand dollars. If this work is done apart from other pavement repairs, the contractor may require extra fees for mobilization.

By contrast, the cost to construct a concrete pad properly sized to accommodate the container as well as the front tires of the collection truck (roughly ten feet by twenty feet in size, in most cases) is about two thousand dollars. Assuming minimal performance (over a single paving cycle) the payback could be on the order of four thousand dollars. Concrete pad performance could conceivably span several asphalt paving cycles. As we say, 'IT MAKES CENTS!!!"

Jim Rozier