Need to plan an efficient, effective, and accessible waste station? No problem.

From right-sizing your Molok^® containers to determining the best way to arrange them, planning a waste station is easier than you think.

Waste stations are an often-overlooked — but absolutely critical — element of facilities and the broader waste management chain:

• Done well, they provide people with a clean, safe, and easy-to-use way to dispose of recyclables, organics, garbage, and other forms of waste until it’s collected and hauled away
• Done poorly, they’re dirty, unsafe, and hard to use, and can quickly become problematic and costly for facility managers

We’re proud to say that Molok^® waste stations aren’t just highly functional and cost effective, but they also look great and minimize odors so well that you can place them wherever it’s convenient (rather than hiding them behind your building or in an alley).

But it can be intimidating to plan out a waste station if you haven’t done so before — but it’s really as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Understand your waste profile and waste streams
2. Determine today’s waste volumes and plan for tomorrow’s
3. Select your Molok^® containers, accounting for your desired waste collection frequency

Our team are waste advisors and can help you every step of the way with your project.

Right-sizing your Molok^® containers to meet your needs

Fortunately, even while there are some interconnected factors that need to be understood and addressed, the general process is quite straightforward.

Plus, our experts at Molok North America have helped plan thousands of waste stations for a wide range of facilities/locations — and we’re happy to help you plan yours!

1. Understand your waste profile and stream/separation requirements

First, it’s essential to understand how your waste has to be separated to comply with local/regional processing and disposal requirements.

Some of the most common streams we encounter are garbage, mixed recyclables (e.g., glass and plastic containers), cardboard, and organics.

Of course, restaurants and other facilities with food services might also have a grease stream. Similarly, in some scenarios it makes sense to distinguish between different types of organics. For example, a large public park that also hosts a café could benefit from separating heavier food waste versus lighter material like leaves, brush, and grass clippings.

2. Determine the volume of each waste stream (and plan for known future needs)

A critical input into the container sizing requirements — that is, their number and combined capacity — is the volume of each waste stream a facility produces in a given period of time (e.g., per day, per week).

If you’re looking to retrofit an existing facility, then you probably already have this information or can readily determine it with some simple math incorporating the number of carts and dumpsters already in use.

If you’re designing a waste station for a new facility, or for an existing facility undergoing a change that will impact its waste profile (e.g., renovations, expansion, change of tenants, etc.), then we can help you estimate your stream volumes based upon our extensive experience.

If you’re managing a facility (or renovation) that will be expanded in phases, then keep that in mind as you assess your projected waste volumes. For example, will each subsequent addition/expansion contribute its waste to the initial or existing waste station (in which case that station needs to be able to accommodate the higher volumes), or will each phase have its own dedicated waste station?

3. Select your containers and specific configurations, while accounting for collection frequency

Each waste stream requires one or more containers, and each container will have a specific configuration (e.g., liner, lid, signage, accessories).

But exactly how many containers are needed for each stream is a product of the rate at which waste is produced and the frequency with which your waste is collected.

More frequent collection lowers the total capacity needed for each stream, but raises collection costs. Note that if the surface area available for your waste station is extremely restricted, then you may be forced to adopt a higher collection frequency; however, thanks to the space-saving installation flexibility of the Molok^® Deep Collection™ system, this is rarely the case and we mention it only in the interest of being thorough.

Less frequent collection lowers the collection costs, but raises the capacity requirements. It’s reasonable to wonder if less frequent collection can result in unpleasant smells around the waste station; fortunately, this isn’t a significant concern, as the Molok^® Deep Collection^TM system effectively minimizes odors.

Tight confines and an adjacent patio pose no problems for this Molok^® waste station

You also need to account for the natural compaction that occurs within a Molok^® container, which allows you to store more weight of material per cubic volume than is possible with carts or dumpsters.

For example — and while noting up front that the realized compaction varies by the specific waste profile — a garbage mix inside a Molok^® container can be 1.5 to 2 times more dense than in a conventional surface container, recyclables and organics are each often 1.25 times more dense, and cardboard can reach 3 times the density it would have in a surface bin.

After accounting for collection frequency and compaction, you’re ready to select your lifting liners (where applicable) and containers:

• Waste with large volumes of unseparated organics (e.g., garbage) requires the Semi-Hard Lifting Bag, which is available for either the M-5000 or M-3000
• Glass, plastic, metal, cardboard, and paper streams can use the Standard Lifting Liner, which can be used with the M-5000, M-3000, or M-1300
• Grease requires the M-Grease
• Heavier organics (e.g., food waste) should use the smaller M-Organics, while lighter organics (e.g., leaves, grass clippings, compostable paper) can use the larger M-Organics

Admittedly, striking the optimal balance of container capacity and collection frequency — while incorporating some degree of compaction — benefits from experience and expertise. Having planned hundreds of waste stations for all manner of facilities, we have the know-how to help you make informed choices.

With your containers selected, the next step is choosing where to ‘plant’ them, both in general and relative to each other.

Choosing a location and layout

Unlike traditional waste containers, which impose major restrictions based upon their unpleasant characteristics (e.g., odor, tendency to attract pests), Molok^® containers offer tremendous placement flexibility that might lead to new waste station possibilities.

There’s only a handful of requirements and recommendations to keep in mind:

• All Molok^® containers must be a minimum of 300 mm (1 foot) from any wall, other structure, or underground utilities or services; we also recommend a minimum of 300 mm (1 foot) between containers
• All Molok^® containers must be located no more than 7.0 meters (23 feet) from where the collection truck will access them; to allow for safe collection, the area above the waste station must be free of any overhead obstacles (e.g., trees, electrical lines, lighting, etc.)
• As the waste is collected, the reusable bag and lifting arm must at all times be a safe distance from nearby electrical sources (e.g., overhead wires, lights, etc.)

And that’s it! Other than those requirements and recommendations, you’re free to do pretty much whatever you want:

• Remember that unlike dumpsters or any other fork-lifted container, Molok^® units don’t need a long access laneway — so long as the truck’s crane can reach them (subject to the notes above), you can ‘plant’ them practically anywhere
• Because Molok^® units look great, have an accessible low-profile design, and effectively trap odors, you don’t need to tuck them out of the way — instead, you can confidently place your waste station in a convenient location where people will be far more likely to use it appropriately!
• If your waste station is going to be a cluster, we recommend placing the smaller units in the front (or around the outside)

Here are a few pics to get inspired!

Would you put a dumpster in a busy downtown? Of course not! But Molok^® units are clean and attractive, unlocking endless possibilities.

The low-profile and lid design of Molok^® containers means they are accessible and they can be placed on site in areas accessible for everyone.

Despite having containers for garbage, organics, and recycling, this entire waste station is neatly tucked into a tiny parcel of space and helps keep the park clean.

Waste containers right next to where they are needed in the car wash line.

Multi-residential waste streams in small and accessible spaces.

Prêt à commencer

We hope this post has demonstrated that planning an efficient, effective, and convenient waste station isn’t something that should keep you up at night.
In fact it can actually be quite satisfying and — dare we say — fun.

Plus, you’re never on your own, as our experts are always ready and willing to help you just as much or as little as you need.