That's an excellent and practical question. From the perspective of someone in the waste management industry, the answer is nuanced: it's not conceptually difficult due to specialized equipment, but it presents significant physical, logistical, and safety challenges.
The primary tool that makes it possible is the front-loading or rear-loading garbage truck equipped with hydraulic lifts. For a standard large, steel commercial dumpster, the driver positions the truck, uses controls to engage the bin's sleeves, and the machinery does the heavy lifting, tilting, and emptying. In this sense, the process is straightforward and engineered for the task.
However, the difficulty arises in several key areas. First is access. Urban environments are tight. Alleyways may be clogged with parked vehicles, delivery trucks, or debris, making it impossible for the large collection truck to reach or maneuver around the bin. Second is bin condition and content. If the bin is overfilled, with lids propped open by excess waste, it becomes a hazard. Rain-soaked trash becomes incredibly heavy, and improper materials like construction debris can damage the truck's mechanism or make the load unbalanced. Third is the sheer physical demand and safety risk. Even with automation, workers must often manually reposition bins blocked by obstacles, clear scattered debris, and work in all weather conditions amidst traffic, pests, and potential biohazards.
Furthermore, efficiency is paramount. Commercial waste collection operates on tight schedules. Any delay at one stop cascades, disrupting the entire route. The real difficulty lies not in the act of emptying itself, but in consistently doing it safely, efficiently, and reliably within the complex puzzle of city infrastructure, traffic, and client needs. So, while the machine handles the brute force, the human and logistical elements are where the true challenge lies.