windblown & surface litter control for landfills:
how the Road Rake and Litter picker improve daily litter management
Windblown litter is one of the most persistent challenges in landfill operations. Plastic film, paper, and lightweight debris can scatter across haul roads, access ramps, grassed slopes, and perimeter fencing—especially during high-wind conditions. Daily litter control requires significant labor, and many sites struggle to keep up while maintaining safety, compliance, and a clean public-facing appearance.
The Road Rake and Litter Picker offer two complementary mechanical solutions designed specifically to help landfill crews manage ground-level litter more efficiently across paved, packed, and vegetated surfaces.
The Daily Challenge of Landfill Litter
Windblown litter doesn’t just accumulate—it migrates. What starts as a few plastic bags at the working face often ends up hundreds of feet away on access roads, grassy banks, drainage channels, or perimeter berms. When this happens, crews must divert time away from essential operations to perform manual litter pickup, sometimes walking miles to retrieve scattered debris. This creates several problems:
Safety
Litter on haul roads and ramps distracts drivers, obscures hazards, and reduces line-of-sight visibility.
Compliance
Landfill permits require ongoing litter mitigation, and scattered debris can trigger inspections or public complaints.
Labor
Manual litter pickup consumes significant staff hours, especially after high-wind days.
Public Perception
For sites located near communities, any visible offsite litter becomes a public-relations issue.
Because litter spreads unpredictably, many landfills need a tool that can respond quickly, clean large areas efficiently, and reduce the amount of time staff spend on repetitive manual collection.
matching the right tool to your terrain
Different parts of a landfill require different types of equipment. A single machine rarely covers every surface effectively, especially when combining paved roads, compacted soil, and vegetated slopes.
The Road Rake and Litter Picker were designed to fill this exact gap.
the Road Rake: Ideal for Roads, Ramps & Packed Surfaces
The Road Rake is a self-powered machine that excels on hard surfaces such as haul roads, access ramps, internal loops, and the compacted top deck. Its tine-based system lifts scattered debris from the ground and collects it into a high-capacity hopper. Because it’s self-contained, crews can run it independently to maintain long stretches of roadway quickly.
The Litter Picker: Ideal for Slopes, Grass & Perimeter Zones
The Litter Picker is tractor-powered and lightweight, making it safe to use on uneven or vegetated terrain where traditional equipment can’t operate. It reaches areas where litter tends to accumulate but is difficult or unsafe for crews to access, such as grassy slopes, buffer zones, and fence lines.
Together, these machines form a complete litter-control system for both high-traffic surfaces and difficult-to-reach terrain.
How Mechanical Litter Removal Works
Both machines use a tine-raking and conveyor-collection method that lifts litter directly from the ground without clogging or disturbing the underlying surface. The tines comb through grass or skim across packed soil and pavement, capturing lightweight debris—from loose film plastics to wrappers and paper—before conveying it into a storage hopper.
Because the process is mechanical rather than manual, crews can cover far greater distances in less time, making it possible to maintain a clean site even during challenging weather.
For deeper technical detail, link to:
How the Road Rake Works →
How the Litter Picker Works →
Why Clean Grounds Matter for Landfill Operations
Clean access roads and perimeter zones directly affect how safely and efficiently a landfill runs. Drivers rely on clear lanes and ramps to maintain visibility. Slopes and buffer areas must remain clear to prevent litter from leaving the property or blowing toward nearby neighborhoods. A well-maintained site also projects professionalism during inspections and reduces the likelihood of public complaints.
By removing scattered debris quickly and consistently, mechanical litter-control equipment frees staff to focus on essential operational tasks, improves the site’s appearance, and helps maintain compliance with environmental and operational standards.
Add Your Heading Text Here
Road rake landfill litter control case study
we cleaned aqua! view full video in words of the )_ role?_ manager.
Add Your Heading Text Here
Road rake landfill litter control case study
we cleaned aqua! view full video in words of the )_ role?_ manager.
Case Study #1: oklahoma landfill
removing windblown litter from slopes & perimeter areas
The Challenge
An Oklahoma landfill struggled with windblown litter drifting onto grassy slopes and buffer areas surrounding the site. These locations were steep, uneven, and difficult for staff to access safely. When the wind was strong, debris would collect near the perimeter fence line, creating the risk of litter leaving the property and blowing toward nearby residential areas.
The solution
The site adopted the Litter Picker, a tractor-powered mechanical rake designed specifically for uneven and vegetated surfaces. Its tine system combs through grass and brush while maintaining stability on slopes, making it ideal for collecting windblown debris across long perimeter stretches.
the results
The Litter Picker allowed crews to clean areas that previously required slow, difficult manual work. The slopes and perimeter remained cleaner throughout the week, reducing the chance of offsite litter migration. Cleanup became safer, faster, and significantly less labor-intensive. Residents noticed the improvement, and the landfill benefited from fewer community complaints and stronger public perception.
let's get you started: rental
Windblown and surface litter will always be part of landfill operations—but controlling it doesn’t have to overwhelm staff or consume entire workdays. With the Road Rake and Litter Picker working together, landfill teams can maintain roads, ramps, slopes, and perimeter areas with far greater efficiency and consistency.
rental faq
The price of a Barber machine depends on your location and included features. To get an idea about how much a machine would cost, please contact our sales team with the form above or call the office during normal business hours to speak with a team member.
We ship to most locations across six continents.
While English is primarily spoken in our office, if you submit questions using our form we can use an online translating service to communicate back and forth. Additionally, we have a network of dealers across the world who can often perform translation services to facilitate discussions.
You can find a wide range of instructional videos in the customer resource section of the website to learn how to set up your machine and the best practices for using and maintaining it.
have more questions?
connect with a team member today!
