Last December Potomac Landfill in Dumfries, Va., decided to improve and expand upon its operations and purchase additional screening equipment from Powerscreen Mid-Atlantic Inc. (the authorized dealer for Powerscreen crushing and screening equipment in both the Virginias and Carolinas). Potomac Landfill had owned a Powerscreen Warrior 1800 for two years yet decided to buy an additional screener, a Powerscreen Warrior 2400, to improve its production and output.
Potomac Landfill, along with Potomac Recycling, are privately-owned by the same parent company and are located in Northern Virginia about 30 miles (48 km) south of Washington, D.C. According to Tom Lewellen, general manager of Potomac Landfill, the site takes in "waste from all over the D.C. metro area." Furthermore, the landfill only accepts construction-related material and debris.
Potomac initially purchased the Warrior 1800 to perform all the work at the site including the mining work and recycling. However, the company's objective all along was to eventually own two screeners to handle the workload. Since the Warrior 1800 proved itself, Potomac decided to get a bigger, better machine with more volume, which was the Warrior 2400.
"The 2400 was available when we decided to buy," explained Lewellen. "It was the best machine for C & D material."
"Potomac Landfill purchased one of the first Powerscreen Warrior 2400s in the U.S.," stated Mark Keenan, sales manager-parts and company advertising for Powerscreen Mid-Atlantic Inc.
The need for two screeners came about several years ago when Potomac Landfill started running out of airspace.
"There is a very short timeline that a landfill is open and you want to extend that," Keenan said. He also explained that 20 years ago recycling was not as common as it is now, and waste was just buried. People didn't realize the landfill would actually fill up, so now the company has to mine those old areas of the landfill in order to create more airspace. What has turned up, among other things, are old stumps that were shoved into holes and covered with dirt. The Warrior 1800 is now being used for mining those older areas of the landfill and screening the topsoil and wood to create more airspace.
Since the Warrior 1800 is being used primarily to free up airspace, the Warrior 2400 is needed for the recycling side of the landfill. Potomac Landfill will be using the 2400 to scalp C&D waste and remove the fines. Any oversize material will be sent to a picking station. Still, the 2400 also will help free up airspace by reducing the amount of waste that actually goes into the landfill.
Lewellen cites some impressive numbers: "In 2010 we didn't have the 2400, yet we diverted 60 million pounds that didn't go into the landfill. We are trying to double that amount in 2011 using the 2400."
Keenan describes the 2400 that Potomac purchased as "custom made with special screens for scalping C&D trash."
One advantage of the Warrior 2400 is that it has a bigger, redesigned screen box compared to the 1800. The 1800 has a screen box measuring 16 x 5 ft. (4.88 x 1.5 m) while the 2400's screen box is 20 x 6 ft. (6.1 x 1.8 m), which allows for a bigger area for material to spread out. More screening area equals more production.
"A lot of little adjustments can be made on the screen box to adjust the throw of the screen, the speed and the screen angle," Keenan added. "It pays to be able to adjust the screen box and have some fine tuning — helps the end product."
Keenan points out that the Warrior 2400 is not just a bigger version of the 1800, but it is more heavy duty. One feature of the 2400 that allows for heavy duty work is its apron feeder, which is a metal conveyor that is more durable than rubber belts. Trash that includes steel and oddly-shaped objects will cut or rip belts, whereas an apron feeder can handle the assorted debris.
Potomac Landfill's Warrior 2400 also was designed with custom made heavy duty punch plates.
"The half-inch thick steel plates can take quite a hit without doing damage," explained Keenan.
The steel plates are durable and longer lasting, while traditional woven mesh screens require replacing after several months of heavy duty work.
Lewellen also prefers the punch plates instead of the finger screens, found on their Warrior 1800, because "fresh C & D material goes through punch plates better."
Keenan calls the Warrior 2400 the "Jack of all trades machine because recycling is one of many things it can be used for." However, its ultimate purpose at Potomac Landfill is to reduce and minimize waste.
Powerscreen Mid-Atlantic Inc. provides Mobile Crushing, Screening and Washing equipment to Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Its main office is located in Kernersville, N.C., while its Ashland, Va., branch services Potomac Landfill. The company provides support for its products as well as parts and service. Powerscreen Mid-Atlantic Inc. also offers custom designed picking stations, sorting facilities and recycling systems. CEG
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