What Attachments Work Best for Waste Handling and Landfill Applications?

Quick Answer:

The best attachment depends on your machine and the material you handle. At Werk-Brau, we manufacture attachments in the U.S. for waste handling and landfill operations, and our engineering team can design a custom solution when a standard option isn't the right fit.

Many of our core products are designed for gathering material and sorting debris, and they are versatile enough to be used in other industries beyond waste rehandling.

Some of the attachments we recommend for waste and landfill applications include:

Trash Loader Bucket

Designed to push low-density material such as cardboard, solid waste, and trash to transfer station hoppers and processing equipment. It is available in a tall, narrow version that works like a plow to push material, or a lower, deeper version that lifts material to load into a hopper or pile.

• Best for: Transfer stations, recycling facilities, and landfills moving large volumes of light material

• Not ideal for: Dense or heavy material, or general-purpose digging and truck loading

• Options: Customizable rubber edge; pin-on or coupler-style configuration

• Pricing: Werk-Brau offering can range from $15,000-$50,000

FAQ: 

What capacities are available for these buckets?

Because trash is on the lighter side, capacities are generally rated towards a light material bucket shell with the engineering capability to review the machine specs, and application to potentially build a customized sizing/build to fit your needs. 

Tamping/Trash Loader Grapple Bucket

Scoops up the same low-density material as the Trash Loader Bucket and uses a hydraulically operated clamp to hold it in the bucket while it is moved around transfer stations, recycling facilities, and landfills.

• Best for: Transfer stations, recycling facilities, and landfills moving light material that needs to be held securely in the bucket during transport

• Not ideal for: Dense or heavy material, or general-purpose digging

• Options: Tamping style or standard trash grapple; open or closed sides; pin-on or coupler-style configuration

• Pricing: Werk-Brau offering can range from $10,000-$60,000 

FAQ:

What style grapple paddles are available? 

Standard configuration is dual independent cylinder operated paddles with openings to allow smaller debris to pass through. Closed style, full length style and other customizable options are available with an upcharge. 

Excavator Box Style Grapple

Specifically designed for handling and sorting irregular material and recycling scrap. Its wide-mouth design collects large volumes of bulky waste, brush, rocks, and demolition debris with fewer repositioning moves.

• Best for: Recycling facilities, scrap handling, demolition cleanup, land clearing, and storm debris removal

• Not ideal for: Digging or prying, which can damage the grapple and void the warranty

• Options: Single or dual grapple styles; multiple widths and tine configurations; severe duty wear packages available on request

• Pricing: Werk-Brau offering can range from $15,000-$56,000 for full-size excavators

FAQ:

Are there any hydraulic requirements to operate?

We offer a mechanical style box grapple only with no mechanical requirements. 

Excavator HydraGrip Bucket and Rake

An excavator bucket or rake with a built-in hydraulic thumb. It combines scooping and gripping in one attachment, allowing the operator to gather debris and clamp bulky material while using the machine's full reach.

• Best for: Demolition, land clearing, and picking and sorting heavy, awkward, or bulky material, as well as rental fleets and operations that move one attachment between machines

• Not ideal for: Operations that only need a standard bucket for scooping or digging and don't need gripping

• Options: Bucket, skeleton, or rake styles; widths from 30" to 72"; pin-on or coupler mounting

• Pricing: Werk-Brau offering can range from $20,000-$135,000 for full size excavators

FAQ:

What does installation look like? 

Unlike a thumb, there is no welding to the machine stick. The attachment is either pinned to the machine or picked up with a coupler. jumper hoses are connected to the 3rd function to operate. A true plug and play attachment. 

Excavator Thumbs

An excavator thumb works against the bucket, allowing an operator to hold waste and material that would otherwise be difficult to scoop up or balance.

• Best for: Handling or loading irregular objects, debris, logs, and rocks that can't be handled with a bucket alone

• Not ideal for: Prying, which is not recommended for a main-pin thumb

• Types offered:

  • Main-Pin Mount Thumb: 120° of rotation, retracts against the stick so it can stay on the machine during normal digging, and is our most popular option

  • Progressive Link Thumb: Up to 180° of rotation, which maintains grip through the full range of motion; our heaviest and highest-priced thumb

  • Stick Mount Thumb: Mounts to the stick, available in manual and hydraulic versions

• Pricing: 

  • Main Pin Mount Thumb: Werk-Brau offering can range from $2,500-$18,000 for compact and full-size excavators

  • Progressive Link Thumb: Werk-Brau offering can range from $5,000-$26,000 for compact and full-size excavators

  • Stick Mount Thumb: Werk-Brau offering can range from $2,500-$16,000

FAQ:

What is the difference between a main pin and progressive linkage thumb?

The main difference is a main pin thumb gets 120 degrees of rotation, while a progressive link thumb offers 180 degrees of rotation which in turn maintains a better relationship with the bucket. 

Custom Engineered Attachments

At Werk Brau we offer the engineering and fabrication resources to develop an attachment specific to your machine and waste application. Attachments are subject to a rigorous design failure analysis before decisions are made to move forward with build. 

Bottom Line 

As a recap, Werk-Brau offers a range of attachments for waste-handling and landfill applications, from loader buckets and grapples to integrated gripping solutions and excavator thumbs. Whether your operation involves moving loose refuse, sorting bulky debris, or handling irregular material, we can help identify an attachment suited to your machine and application. For needs beyond our standard offerings, our engineering team will evaluate if a custom solution could be utilized effectively. The best way to get started is to talk with us about your application. Tell us about your machine, the material you handle, and how you work, and our team will help match you with the right attachment for the job.

Ready to talk through your application? Talk to Us and our team will help you find the right attachment, or contact Werk-Brau sales at 1.800.537.9561.