Caterpillar's Landfill Efficiency Solution Hits Australia

Australia's landfill space is dwindling rapidly due to increasing demand and limited capacity. By 2030, Greater Sydney will run out of landfill according to the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA), while Victoria's landfills are expected to reach full capacity in the mid-2030s.

In response to this pressing issue, landfill operators are turning to Caterpillar for assistance. The heavy equipment manufacturer offers a telematics platform called Compaction Algorithm, which uses GPS and satellite data to help operators compact waste efficiently.

The platform consists of two levels: the Satellite Base Augmentation System, which tracks machine routes and passes, and the Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) system, which measures elevation changes during compaction. The data is displayed on a monitor in the cab and can be loaded with site designs created by civil engineers.

Caterpillar's 836 and 826 landfill compactors are compatible with the Compaction Algorithm platform. Matthew Blackwood, Caterpillar Senior Sales Representative, Industrial, Waste and Forestry, notes that customer feedback drove the expansion of the technology to smaller machines.