Abstract: Process for recycle and reuse of soil, sludge, sand, or rock containing: (a) at least about 16 wt % calcium oxide, about 5 wt % silica, about 1 wt % alumina, about 0.5 wt % Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, or about 0.76 wt % magnesia; and (b) at least about 5 ppm arsenic, about 100 ppm barium, about 1 ppm cadmium, about 5 ppm chromium, about 5 ppm lead, about 0.2 ppm mercury, about 1 ppm selenium, or about 5 ppm silver. The process comprising mixing the soil, sludge, sand, or rock with an amount of inorganic constituents to form a raw material mix having a chemical composition suitable for the manufacture of Portland cement, charging the slurry to a cement kiln, heating the slurry in the kiln to a temperature sufficient to form a cement clinker, and removing the cement clinker from the rotary kiln.

Abstract: A method for economically separating organic contaminants such as volatile organic chemicals (VOC's) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), even if the contaminants are present at low concentrations, from inert materials such as soils or sludges, comprising subjecting inert materials contaminated with organic compounds to a temperature effective to volatilize the organic contaminants but below incineration temperature, with continuous removal and condensation of evolved vapors, for a period of time sufficient to effect the desired degree of separation of contaminants.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a mercury-containing waste comprising adding elemental sulfur and cement kiln dust to the waste in amounts effective to reduce the amount of leachable mercury to an environmentally acceptable level.

Abstract: A vehicle for collecting and dewatering the contents of sanitary sewer traps. The vehicle includes a frame and an elongated tank mounted on the frame with the tank having a rearward end and a forward end. The frame includes a mechanism for elevating the forward end and the tank is pivotally connected to the frame adjacent the rearward end of the tank. A divider separates the tank into a rearward compartment for receiving the contents of the traps and a forward compartment, while a crossover pipe for conveying supernatant liquid from the rearward compartment to the forward compartment has a first leg extending generally parallel to the divider wall from a location adjacent the floor of the rearward compartment. An inlet conduit extends into the rearward compartment for conveying the contents of the traps into the rearward compartment. The vehicle also includes a pump for selectively establishing a subatmospheric pressure in either the rearward compartment or in the forward compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating waste material contained in drums comprises a conveyor for moving said drums to a purging chamber having an inlet door and outlet door, a conveyer in said purging chamber for moving said drums through said outlet door, a conveyer outside said purging chamber for moving said drums to a shear station where the bottom lids of the drums are sheared off, a compactor chamber for receiving and compacting said drums and extruding said waste materials therein, and a sorter for sorting the waste materials into liquid and solid components and conveying said sorted liquids and solids to respective storage facilities.

Abstract: A waste material compression tester is provided and having a reservoir or chamber for holding a sample of waste material containing liquid, a pressure source to apply pressure to the waste material under a pre-set pressure and a predetermined time period and a detector to indicate whether liquid was exuded from the waste material after the pressure is removed.

Abstract: Process for detoxifying liquid and perverulant solid material by the application of ultrasonic energy to the material in the presence of an alkaline agent and preferably in the additional presence of a wetting agent.

Abstract: A solid waste disposal system employs solid waste transport trailers adapted to be towed by a tractor. The trailers each comprise a closed body of a generally rectangular cross-section having a bottom, side and top walls, a forward end wall and a rear end wall. The top wall proximal to the forward end wall is provided with a loading neck through which solid waste can be loaded. The rear end wall is a door hinged at the rear edge of the top wall and is adapted to be closed during the loading operation and transport of the solid waste and opened for the unloading of the solid waste. A conveyor is located adjacent the bottom wall of the trailer and extends substantially over the entire length of the bottom wall. The conveyor is operable during loading and unloading to move the solid waste in a direction from the forward end wall toward the rear end wall. The trailer is supported by ground wheels with tires, the wheels being low pressure flotation tires to facilitate the use of the trailer on landfill sites.

Abstract: A lagoon containing aqueous waste to be volume reduced is provided with a cover having one or more segments, each of which is mounted upon a frame and is movable from a covering position to a position adjacent the lagoon. During fair weather, the cover is positioned adjacent the lagoon and liquid waste is pumped from the lagoon and dispersed over the surface of the cover. When inclement weather approaches, the pumping of the waste is ceased, the surface of the cover cleaned by flushing with clean water, and the cover moved into position over the lagoon to prevent precipitation from diluting the waste liquid. The invention is particularly useful in areas of low net evaporation rate.

Abstract: A refuse shredder, which includes a rotor assembly and a housing, has removable shredder hammers which are adapted for replacement without disassembly of the rotor. The hammers have compound slots formed in the hammer bodies and have entry openings leading to the slots, whereby they are mounted on vertical hammer shafts of the rotor assembly.