Vendor

The Village of Ellsworth has a contract with GFL Environmental for the collection of refuse and recycling.

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday

7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

GFL recognizes the following holidays: If the holiday falls on collection day the collection will be the day following.

New Year's Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas

Split-Body Garbage and Recycling Truck:
The Village's collection truck is a split-body, automated side-load truck, which allows garbage and recycling to be collected at the same time without mixing the materials.

How It Works:
The truck has two separate compartments inside:
    • One compartment is designated for garbage.
    • The other compartment is designated for recycling.

Although both are collected during the same route, the materials remain completely separate inside the truck until they are unloaded at their respective facilities.
The driver controls which compartment receives the contents of each cart. Before emptying a cart, the driver simply selects either the garbage or recycling compartment using controls inside the cab. This directs the cart's contents into the correct side of the truck, ensuring that garbage and recycling remain separated throughout the collection process.

Automated Side-Arm Collection:
Our collection truck uses a mechanical side arm to lift and empty your carts. The driver remains safely inside the truck while the automated arm:
    1. Extends to grasp the cart.
    2. Lifts the cart over the truck.
    3. Empties the contents into the selected garbage or recycling compartment.
    4. Returns the cart to the ground.

Why a Split-Body Truck?
Using a split-body truck offers several benefits:
    • Garbage and recycling are collected in one trip, reducing fuel use and emissions.
    • The driver directs each cart into the correct compartment, so garbage and recycling are never mixed during collection.
    • Materials remain separated throughout the collection process and are delivered to their respective disposal and recycling facilities.
    • Fewer trucks travel through neighborhoods, reducing traffic, noise, and emissions.
    • Automated collection improves safety for drivers and provides consistent, efficient service.

If you ever see both garbage and recycling being collected by the same truck, rest assured—they are not being mixed together. The driver uses the truck's controls to switch between the garbage and recycling compartments before each cart is emptied, ensuring that each material goes exactly where it belongs.

There are multiple videos on YouTube demonstrating how a split-body truck works.

Garbage/Recycling Split Truck