The main reasons for using a transfer station are:

• To improve the viability of resource recovery; and
• To reduce the cost of transporting waste and recyclables to disposal and reprocessing facilities.

Consolidating smaller loads from collection and self-haul vehicles into larger waste transfer vehicles reduces haulage costs by enabling collection crews to spend less time travelling to and from more distant disposal sites and more time collecting waste. This also reduces the associated vehicle maintenance costs, as well as overall traffic, air emissions and road wear and tear.

Waste Transfer stations service the needs of a specific local community, but also play an important role in the overall infrastructure network for waste and recyclables management.

• Compared to landfill facilities, waste transfer stations also provide:
• A safer facility for small vehicles to access and use;
• A cleaner and more pleasant facility for customers to use;
• A chance for waste to be screened prior to disposal so that;
  • Increased recyclables can be separated from the waste stream; and
  • Identification of wastes that are inappropriate for direct landfill disposal (including hazardous wastes, batteries, whole tyres, etc);
• Flexibility in selecting waste disposal options; and
• Increased convenience for customers since waste transfer stations can be located closer to town than the traditional landfill disposal facilities.