Gaeta Recycling, a family-owned business in Paterson, NJ, has been a cornerstone of the community since 1935. Now led by fifth-generation owner and president Michael Portannese, the company specializes in solid waste and recycling. They manage 30 municipal contracts and handle up to 720 tons of material daily at their transfer station. At the heart of this operation is a commitment to community and efficiency, supported by SENNEBOGEN material handlers.
The Evolution of Gaeta Recycling
Gaeta Recycling has continuously evolved to meet the growing demands of the industry. They operate a public and private transfer station that handles a mix of construction debris, municipal solid waste, and recyclable materials. Every day, from Monday to Saturday, around 100 garbage trucks bring material to the transfer station. Once there, the waste is sourced, separated, packaged, and shipped out.
Their fleet of SENNEBOGEN material handlers has allowed Gaeta Recycling to efficiently manage their operation. “We’ve had seven SENNEBOGEN machines over the years, starting with the 818 track machine and working our way up to the 825. At one point, we had six operating simultaneously. Currently, we use five SENNEBOGEN machines, three 821s and two 825s purpose-built for the facility, with one more on the way.”
Investment in Infrastructure and Equipment
Three years ago, Gaeta Recycling made a game-changing investment in rail infrastructure and a Harris 1545 trash baler. This upgrade enabled the company to bale solid waste and package it in seal-proof bags. These bales are then transferred from the facility to an intermodal container yard, loaded onto rail cars using SENNEBOGEN 825s, and shipped to Ohio.
“Historically, New Jersey’s transfer stations would load loose solid waste into walking floor trailers and tipper trailers, which would then be delivered to landfills in Pennsylvania and Ohio. We were making roughly 50 trips a day using this method. However, the rising costs of fuel, insurance, and equipment wear and tear prompted us to make the switch.”
“The baler and rail infrastructure investment has drastically reduced our carbon footprint, saved fuel, and minimized liability. We’ve also been able to remove a significant number of trucks from the road.”
Why SENNEBOGEN?
For Gaeta Recycling, the choice to rely on SENNEBOGEN material handlers was simple for two reasons; reliability and performance. “We’ve used almost every manufacturer of material handlers in the past, and nothing has compared to the luck we’ve had with SENNEBOGEN.”
“I find myself operating the machines once or twice a week just because I enjoy it. They’re easy to use and make the process of loading materials incredibly efficient. We have very little downtime thanks to our servicing schedule, so there are no major breakdowns or issues. They go to work in the morning and shut off at 6 PM with no issues. If something does go wrong, SENNEBOGEN’s same-day service has us back up and running in no time.”
“We went from one SENNEBOGEN to seven because we realized how beneficial they are to our operation. They’ve allowed us to grow both our transfer station and our rail facility. To be honest with you, we don’t see any other equipment in sight that we’d like to utilize”
Operator Satisfaction and Enhanced Safety
Gaeta Recycling’s operators are equally enthusiastic about SENNEBOGEN machines. “Our operators love them. They know the machine they left the night before is going to start the next day, and they’ll be able to work their full shift. In the past, with other brands, we had machines breaking down, leaving our operators with no equipment to work with. Now, thanks to SENNEBOGEN, we don’t have those issues.”
One standout feature that Portannese praises is the hydraulic lifting Maxcab on SENNEBOGEN machines. “It’s a huge safety improvement from the equipment we have used in the past. Instead of climbing up a ladder to achieve the overall height to see the material, you get in at a very manageable height and the cab raises hydraulically.”
Uptime Kits Set SENNEBOGEN Apart
Additionally, SENNEBOGEN’s uptime kits have made maintenance a breeze. “From time to time, you’ll blow a hose or need a fitting. The uptime kits provide all the necessary parts, taking the guesswork out of maintenance so you can continue to run.
We’ve had other material handlers where we’d be down for days because we couldn’t get a part, but SENNEBOGEN has always ensured we’re fully stocked. That’s something that separates SENNEBOGEN from its competitors. I think every manufacturer out there should really take note of what SENNEBOGEN does because they are a leader in the industry.”
Unmatched Reliability
With over 85 years in business, Gaeta Recycling continues to lead the way in waste management as SENNEBOGEN continues to provide them the reliability and support they need. “We’ve used SENNEBOGEN machines in all kinds of scenarios—from our hot, dusty transfer station to our outdoor rail facility in the elements—and they’ve never failed us. Whether it’s hot or cold, they start up and go to work every day,” says Portannese.
For Gaeta Recycling, SENNEBOGEN isn’t just a machine—it’s a key element in their commitment to sustainability, reliability, and efficiency. “You have to be able to depend on your equipment. We have multiple contracts which stipulate that we have to service them every day. If a machine breaks down, we feel that, which is why we have so many SENNEBOGENS and have believed in them, because they have not failed us. There’s no other equipment out there we’d trust as much as SENNEBOGEN.”