2 min read / October 19, 2019 / Staff writer
The City of Fargo Solid Waste Division saw an improvement in operating efficiency with the Komatsu D65PXi dozer as the intelligent Machine Control took the guesswork out of grading.
City of Fargo Solid Waste Division Landfill Supervisor Paul Hanson oversees the operation that moves up to nearly 1,200 a day in summer.
On the northern edge of Fargo, North Dakota, sits the largest landfill in the state. Four hundred trucks from Cass, Barnes and Becker counties deliver material daily to the City of Fargo Solid Waste Division’s (SWD) 154-acre facility.
“The site accepts municipal solid waste, construction debris, asbestos, a little bit of ash and occasionally, some industrial waste,” said Landfill Supervisor Paul Hanson who oversees operations and the 15 employees who work there. “During the winter, it’s a little slower and we’ll take around 700 tons a day. In the summertime we are up to nearly 1,200 tons.”
The facility utilizes a leachate system to collect any runoff water before it reaches local waterways. “Five holding ponds collect the water and pump it directly into the sanitary sewer,” explained Hanson. “We take the necessary steps to have a positive impact on the environment and community.”
In winter months, the landfill is a repository for snow from across the city. “More than 35 trucks deliver snow that’s removed overnight from roads and parking lots,” said Hanson. “Our equipment runs 22 hours a day between grooming the mound and normal facility operations.”
The division purchased a Komatsu D65PXi dozer with integrated intelligent Machine Control (iMC) technology and Hanson was so pleased with the performance that he added a larger Komatsu D155AX-8 dozer to the fleet.
“The D65i is a good machine and easy to use,” said operator Norman Gustafson. “It has great power, visibility and fuel-efficiency. We can run it for two days without filling it up, compared to competitive brands that we have to fill every day.”
Gustafson said he noticed an immediate improvement in operating efficiency when using the iMC dozer. “Instead of riding a roller coaster all day, I can put everything at a nice, smooth slope,” explained Gustafson. “It takes the guesswork out of grading because stakes are unnecessary. The end result is better compaction and more garbage in the right spot,” he added.