With the amount of waste processed expected to more than triple when the existing landfill closes and county services are transferred to what had been an industrial landfill, Cowlitz County, Washington, officials decided a larger track-type tractor would be necessary to keep pace with the increased tonnage.

The Cowlitz County Landfill processes approximately 120,000 tons of waste annually, and will be retired in November. At that time, county waste services will be moved to what had been an industrial landfill. Waste processed at the new site is estimated at 400,000 tons per year.

Loads delivered to the landfill will range from 28 to 30 tons. “We need a machine that can push 50 loads of that size per day,” explained Don Olson, solid waste superintendent.

The Public Works Department’s decision to purchase a Cat^® D8T Track-Type Tractor was an easy one — the machine has the reliability and dozing power necessary for the job. “That was the only unit that met our specs,” Olson said.

But to meet the November move to the new landfill, the county’s usual acquisition process of writing specs and soliciting bids needed to be expedited.

The Sourcewell Option

Olson opted to purchase the machine by piggybacking onto an existing contract through Sourcewell. The decision resulted in the quickest purchase of heavy equipment in Olson’s 27-year career.

Sourcewell provides a multitude of contracted products, equipment, and services to schools, governmental agencies, and other non-profit entities. Sourcewell creates a business and service partnership between buyers and suppliers that enables the purchase of goods and services quickly and at a great savings through nationally leveraged, competitively bid contracts.

Cowlitz County’s purchase of a Cat D8T Track-Type Tractor was made through an existing Caterpillar contract. Through the Cat dealer network, Sourcewell members are able to select from contracts for more than 120 models spanning 14 product families.

During Caterpillar’s partnership with Sourcewell, 407 units (128 specific models) have been sold to 186 governmental agencies. This has resulted in an estimated $25 million in savings.