Side-loading refuse vehicle

A side loading refuse vehicle, comprising:

• an elongated refuse storage tank divided into a plurality of longitudinally extending tank sections;
• a loading mechanism adjacent a side of the refuse vehicle;
• and
• a refuse transfer mechanism for delivering refuse emptied into the vehicle by the loading mechanism to the respective tank sections, wherein the refuse transfer mechanism comprises a hopper and an oscillating blade disposed in the hopper for sweeping through the hopper and alternately sweeping refuse delivered into the hopper by the loading mechanism to a first side and then to a second side of the hopper as the blade oscillates back and forth within the hopper, the refuse transfer mechanism further comprising moveable hopper closure means to partially close the hopper behind the blade so as to selectively prevent refuse from being delivered to the first side of the hopper or the second side of the hopper as the blade travels through the hopper.