Quickly remove litter from Haul Roads & Compacted Surfaces
Case Study: Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA), New Jersey
For landfill operations teams, blown litter isn’t just an eyesore — it’s a compliance risk, a neighbor relations problem, and a daily labor drain. When Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) found themselves managing more ground to cover after a 16-acre capping project rerouted truck traffic, their morning cleanup crews were falling behind. After testing multiple machines that clogged and failed, they brought in the Barber Road Rake — and cut their litter cleanup time by more than 75%.
The Challenge
ACUA operates a nighttime landfill near Atlantic City International Airport. When a 16-acre capping project forced the closure of their main earthen ramp, trucks rerouted to a longer haul road. The litter spread farther. The cleanup didn’t get any faster. And the existing approach — workers on foot, bags tied by hand, trucks making repeated dump loops — was struggling to keep pace.
Before finding the right machine, ACUA did what most teams do: they tried what seemed reasonable. First: they tried throwing more laborers at the problem, but that didn’t work. Then they tried a tracked, off-road vac truck rated for rough terrain, which clogged on-site and didn’t work out. A heavy-duty street sweeper had the same problem. Neither was built for the specific mix of debris types, terrain, and operational tempo that a working landfill creates.
The solution
Joseph Kenna, ACUA’s Solid Waste Regulatory Compliance Coordinator, came across the Barber Litter Picker while searching YouTube — he found footage of the machine operating on a landfill. Because ACUA’s tractor wasn’t powerful enough for a PTO-driven unit, the similar, yet self-powered, Road Rake was a practical fit: truck-towed, independently powered, no specialized equipment needed. They ran a demo. It picked everything up without clogging or jamming. They moved to a full rental shortly after.
the results
The difference in day-to-day operations was noticeable right away. The old process involved a lot of steps: tie bags, swap containers, drive to the dump site, drive back, start over. Each cycle could take up to 20 minutes. With the Road Rake, crews windrow loose debris into a center line, the machine collects it in a single pass, and the truck is back on the working face in under 5 minutes — a 75%+ reduction in cleanup cycle time.
For windblown litter across the landfill surface — a daily task with real compliance implications — what used to require 10 workers on foot now takes one operator driving the machine. And the hours that freed up didn’t go to waste. The crew gained time for site projects and training they simply hadn’t had room for before.
see if the Road rake is a good fit for your landfill
Frequently asked questions
Questions about whether this approach could work at your landfill? Here are answers to the most common operational questions we receive.
The Road Rake is designed to work well on packed soil, gravel, and paved surfaces, making it a solid litter control solution for removing spill from hall roads, the top of the landfill, and surrounding parking lots and roads.
If you need litter control on grass-covered surfaces like slopes, perimeter fences, and other more varied terrain, the Litter Picker is a better option.
The Road Rake is effective at collecting common windblown landfill debris, including plastic bags, film, Styrofoam, cardboard, paper, wood and other light & mid-weight materials that escape the active face or fall from trucks.
The unit is mounted to a truck and is either powered by the truck’s hydraulic system (Model 200T) or independently using a 20HP engine that is mounted on the machine (Model 200). Both units are controlled by a simple box from the cab of the truck, where the driver can activate the conveyor belt & brushes and control the dump mechanism. For more information on how to set up and operate the Road Rake, you can view our Road Rake training videos.
The Road Rake requires minimal training. If your operator can drive a truck, they can operate the Road Rake. Please see our Road Rake training guides to get a specific idea of how to install, operate, and maintain the unit.
Dumping is quick and straightforward. The 4-cubic-yard hopper allows operators to collect a large volume of litter before dumping, reducing trips back to the active area and keeping cleanup efficient. The actual dump cycle takes around 30 seconds.
Absolutely. Rentals are a common starting point. They allow your team to evaluate performance on your specific terrain, litter conditions, and workflow before deciding whether to continue renting or purchase. In many cases, the rental fees can be contributed towards to purchase of a machine.
The Road Rake only requires a truck to tow the unit.
Delivery timelines vary by location and if we have units currently in stock, but rentals are typically arranged quickly, as all our operations are in one location at our factory in Connecticut. Contacting us early allows us to confirm availability and logistics for your site.
Routine maintenance is minimal and consists mainly of standard inspections and basic upkeep. We recommend greasing several easy-to-access grease points every couple weeks. Other than that, the only other real up-keep we’ve found landfill teams need to do on occasion is to pick plastic bags off the tines or brushes, which only takes a couple minutes after a cleaning is complete, if needed at all.
Yes. Our team is available to answer questions, provide operational guidance, and help ensure you’re getting the most out of the rental during your evaluation period.
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Discover if our equipment could be a good fit for your cleaning program.
Call us directly at +1 (203) 729-9000.
