Abstract: A bag breaking apparatus has an apron feeder type conveyor with an apron constructed of over-lapping pans. Thin upstanding triangular teeth are mounted to each pan parallel to the direction of motion of the conveyor. Bags of trash are supplied to the conveyor and progress to an outfeed end. A roll is positioned over the conveyor near the outfeed end. The roll is driven about the axis of the roll. Triangular teeth mounted to the roll interdigitate with the teeth on the conveyor thus rending the bags which pass between the roll and the conveyor. The roll can be raised and lowered to accommodate bags of different sizes and is pivotable to swing upwardly when faced with oversize or excessive amounts of trash and thereby allow the material causing the jam to pass under the roll and off the outfeed end of the conveyor.

Abstract: A resin material is recovered for recycling from industrial waste of plastic film, unlike conventional methods, without requiring washing and drying the steps for removing foreign objects adhering thereto such as agricultural chemicals. A method for recovering a resin material from industrial waste film according to the invention comprises the steps of crushing waste film into crushed small pieces to be treated, applying a scraping impact force to the crushed small pieces to remove any adherent foreign objects and separate them from each other. Then, the separated crushed small pieces are size-regulated and for regeneration.

Abstract: A method for producing solid fertilizer from liquid manure or from sludge includes mixing the same with harvest leftovers. The liquid substance (manure, sludge) is intimately mixed with the harvest leftovers during grinding. The solids are ground to a particle size of a few microns. The particles adsorb and absorb the liquid substance fully, so that a solid fertilizer product results which neither smells nor endangers the ground water. All of the valuable materials from the liquid substance and from the harvest leftovers are retained in the finished product, which is a high potency fertilizer. The fertilizer can be applied with methods and devices which are conventionally used in agriculture. An apparatus for performing the method includes a grinder/blender which is supplied independently from a harvest leftover storage and from a liquid substance storage. The materials are measured for exact mixture and the pH value may be adjusted.

Abstract: A process for separating and recovering waste carpet material components, especially face fiber material, includes removing adhesive material from the waste carpet material feedstock to obtain a mixture containing face fiber material which is passed with a liquid medium to a hydrocyclone, where the solids in the mixture are separated on the basis of specific gravity, and recovered. The recovered components can then be processed into desired products.

Abstract: A garbage handling system (10) including a plurality of garbage collector bins (12) each provided with a reciprocating floor conveyor (50) and a movable, suspended chain assembly (30) at an outlet end (16) of a garbage collector bin for the purpose of breaking up accumulated garbage as the garbage is transferred out of the collector bin to a subsequent processing station, such as an incinerator. The size of each collector bin is large enough to hold several loads of garbage. The chain assembly is movable up and down, as well as laterally, to assist in breaking up garbage that has bound together while in the collector bin. The sidewalls (36) of collector bins (12) are angled inwardly to prevent garbage from becoming lodged between the sidewalls, preventing the reciprocating floor conveyor from moving the garbage.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovery of constituent materials from lead acid batteries is shown in which the battery is dismantled in a stepwise procedure under which the materials are separated, not mixed and in particular in which the grid groups are removed from the battery case and processed in a liquid, preferably water, by hydrodynamic and mechanical agitation to cause the paste material to be freed from the grids and enter the water as a mixture of fine particles while the lead grid pieces drop to the bottom. The process does not require burning or chemical reaction and can selectively recover all constituent materials including, without limitation, high quality marketable lead dioxide from the paste material.

Abstract: A method and system for reclaiming aggregate from concrete waste material includes crushing step and means of compression-crushing lumps of concrete waste material into a crushed mixture, and sorting the crushed mixture by size thereof, grinding step and means of rotating the crushed mixture sorted to grind it with a grinding member which rotates in an opposite direction to the rotating direction of the crushed mixture sorted, thereby peeling mortar from gravel, crushed stones and sand of the crushed mixture to obtain a mixture of gravel, crushed stones, sand, cement and mortar, and product separating step and means of separating the mixture of gravel, crushed stones, sand, cement and mortar into gravel and crushed stones, sand, cement and mortar.

Abstract: There are a number of devices for washing/recycling thermoplastic. However, the devices tend to be designed on a scale for use at a central site. Additionally, the devices currently available do not have a positive feed travel mechanism. Rather the devices permit the thermoplastic to be "pushed" through at a rate dependent on the feed rate. The present invention provides a compact washer/recycler having a positive feed travel which is designed to shred, wash, dry and compact plastic at the location of its use.

Abstract: A garbage disposal for decomposing garbage with microorganisms. The garbage disposal has a tank containing a mixture of garbage, a medium having microorganisms, stirring means for stirring the mixture in the tank in order to supply air into the mixture, and control means for controlling water content percentage of the mixture. The control means controls a stirring of the mixture and/or a temperature of the mixture and/or an air volume blown on the mixture in order to keep water content percentage in a proper value at which the microorganisms are active and a lifetime of the medium is extended.

Abstract: An inspection system for sampling and determining the presence of residues of contaminants within plastic materials to be recycled from used plastic materials such as plastic beverage bottles or plastic food containers includes a chemical sniffing apparatus, or alternatively an optical scanner, for detecting the contaminants as the plastic materials are rapidly moved along a conveyor past a series of stations. Recycled food or beverage bottles are fed through a shredder in-line with the conveyor and the shredded plastic material from the bottles is fed to a washer. The bottles and shredded material may be tested for contaminants at any location in an in-line process. In one exemplary system first the bottles are tested prior to entry into the shredder in order to remove bottles containing gross contaminants.

Abstract: A recycled wood product is formed from wood products originally made from first cut wood. The recycled wood product is formed by removing external fittings, if any, projecting from the original, wood product and thereafter chipping the original wood product into platelets which are thereafter assembled in layers, glued together and then pressed together. Any excess formaldehyde in the original wood product is removed by the addition of urea. Machinery to practice the process includes a chipping tool which chips the original product into platelets as the original wood product is advanced against the chipping tool on a movable support structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recycling electronic waste in the form of disassembled printed circuit boards from electronic devices, from which the components have not been removed, known as printed circuit boards. After removal of the batteries, mercury switches and PCB-containing capacitors, the printed circuit boards are mechanically precomminuted and the particles are cryogenically embrittled with liquid nitrogen and comminuted in a hammermill.

Abstract: To provide a high-efficient apparatus for minimizing the volume of dust to be buried in the ground or processed in incineration process by crushing a waste article such as wasted electric appliances, separating an individual material component, and discriminating and extracting valuable resources. Motor and other waste articles separated at a metallic lump separation station are cooled down by a cooling apparatus, and put into a soft crushing apparatus where articles are crushed at low temperature. After the residual articles, including housing and so on are crushed primarily by the coarse crushing apparatus, they are forwarded to the soft crushing apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus separates a substantially metallic portion from a substantially non-metallic portion of constituent components of at least one electrical product, comprising a plurality of crushing machines, such as a first crushing machine, a second crushing machine, and a third crushing machine and a separating machine. The first crushing machine crushes the at least one electrical product to create at least one crushed electrical product. The first crushing machine has a first screen affixed thereto to regulate a first flow of the at least one first crushed electrical product from the first crushing machine. The second crushing machine crushes the at least one first crushed electrical product to create at least one second crushed electrical product. The second crushing machine has a second screen affixed thereto to regulate a second flow of the at least one second crushed electrical product from the second crushing machine.

Abstract: A device for extinguishing and disposing of cigarettes, cigars, or other similar smoking materials is provided. The device employs cutter bars which draw in and grind up the cigarette, cigar, or other similar smoking material into a coarse residue. Further, an extinguishing material is utilized to extinguish the cigarette, cigar or other smoking material. The extinguishing material may also act as a deodorizer or an additional deodorizing element may be incorporated. In addition, a fan to draw smoke emanating from the smoking material and through a deodorizing filter may be employed to deodorized the smoke produced and thus provide for discharge of deodorized air from the device. In this way, the inventive device serves to extinguish, deodorize, and grind the cigarette, cigar, or other similar smoking material into a substantially odorless residue which is more easily assimilated back into the environment.

Abstract: A motor truck for use in collecting and processing solid waste material such as scrap tires. The truck includes a chassis including a cab; a body structure positioned on the chassis behind the cab and defining a storage chamber; a shredder mounted on top of the body structure forwardly of the storage chamber; a compactor positioned within the body structure beneath the shredder and forwardly of the storage chamber; and a conveyor system for conveying tires from a curbside location upwardly for discharge downwardly into the open upper end of the shredder. The shredded tires are discharged downwardly into the body structure rearwardly of the compactor, whereafter the compactor is actuated to stroke rearwardly and compress the tire shreds into the storage chamber.

Abstract: Preferred processes to separate metallic and non-metallic constituent components of at least one electronic product are generally comprised of the following steps: (a) repeatedly crushing the at least one electronic product to create a plurality of crushed electronic components; (b) repeatedly screening the plurality of crushed electronic components to ensure that the plurality of crushed electronic components substantially conform to a specific size; and (c) separating the plurality of crushed electronic components after steps (a) and (b) into non-metallic constituent components and metallic constituent components by weight. In addition, before step (a), the at least one electronic product must be provided or otherwise transported to crushing machines to perform step (a). Likewise, the crushed electronic components must be transported from one crushing machine to another crushing machine and to the separating apparatus to perform step (c).

Abstract: A process for collecting waste plastics as separated comprises the steps of presorting out waste plastics from separated municipal refuse, crushing the waste plastics, reducing the volume of expanded polystyrene included in the waste plastics by heating the waste plastics at a predetermined temperature, finely dividing the waste plastics, washing the waste plastics to remove salt, etc. therefrom, separating the finely divided waste plastics in a liquid utilizing the difference between the plastics in specific gravity and collecting the separated fractions, and drying the useful one of the separated fractions.

Abstract: A three phase method of treating solid waste to eliminate hazards and preserve the resource value of the constituent materials, separating and recovering the constituent materials, and productively using those constituent materials, includes, in the first phase, steps to separate ferrous metal constituents from the waste stream, shred and grind the solid wastes to generally uniform small particles, dry the waste material to remove essentially all free moisture and render the wastes biologically inert, compact the dried waste materials into uniform high density blocks, and encapsulate the compacted blocks; includes, in the second phase, steps to return the compacted blocks to uniform particles and separate the combined constituent materials on the basis of density, with primary processing utilizing a series of fluidized bed and cyclonic separator assemblies and with secondary processing utilizing combinations of vibratory conveyors, melt separation assemblies, and the like; and includes, in the third phase, st

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the single type recovery of plastic materials from starting pieces of a multiple composite material is disclosed. The starting pieces are firstly comminuted mechanically into particles of a size compatible with the process. These composite materials particularly are separated and a mixture of different materials is produced and, from this material mixture, the individual materials are isolated. For the recovery of starting pieces of prepreg fabric from flexible cutting residues, lined with films on both sides, the following steps are performed in sequence. First, the starting pieces are comminuted by cutting them up into shreds of composite material. Then the shreds of composite material are cooled down to temperatures below room temperature and, in a cold state, are subjected to a mechanical alternating bending stress and/or a shearing stress, the films becoming detached from the prepreg pieces in a scale-like manner to form a mixture.

Abstract: A system including a method and an apparatus is disclosed for effectively separating a foamed heat-insulating material, such as insulated wall sections from used refrigeration equipment, into a foaming gas and a heat-insulating resin without any alteration and recovering them. A peeling portion for peeling a foamed heat-insulating material from a composite material containing the foamed heat-insulating material is included in a crusher provided with a high speed rotor having a plurality of hammers and a casing surrounding the rotor. A sorting portion is provided for sorting the foamed heat-insulating material with a tilting type wind force sorter having a limited tilting angle and a limited height of a wind tunnel. A pulverizing portion is provided for pulverizing the sorted foamed heat-insulating material and for separating a foaming gas therefrom. A condensing portion is provided for cooling and liquefying the separated foaming gas.

Abstract: A sharps disposal apparatus is provided for reducing contaminated medical sharps into unrecognizable, ordinary waste. The disposal apparatus comprises a disposal unit including a disposer, disposable waste receptacle, and sterilant recycling system. During the destruction and sterilization operation, the sterilant recycling system introduces sterilant into the disposer to sterilize the contaminated medical sharps while the disposer is grinding the sharps into small fragments. Once the medical waste is reduced to small fragments and is sterilized, the reduced waste is deposited in the disposable waste receptacle. Excess disinfectant flows through the waste receptacle and is recovered by a reservoir to be recycled. After the waste receptacle is full, the waste receptacle is easily removed from disposal unit, without the reduced medical waste coming into contact with human hands, and is disposed as ordinary waste.

Abstract: A bag opening machine includes a trough and a feed screw that is rotatably mounted in the trough to advance bags that at least partially fit between the flight of the feed screw along the length of the trough. There are a pair of restrictions that the bags encounter that cause the bags to be ripped open as the part of a bag caught between the flight continues to advance while the part that is not within the flight is blocked from further advancement. The machine has a shear plate running the length of the trough which not only enhances longevity, but also provides a surface against which bags between the flight rub to be opened. Each of the restrictions is lined with another shear plate, and the leading faces of the restrictions are also reinforced against wear. An expansion chamber is located between the two restrictions. The restrictions completely surround the feed screw, which is mounted eccentrically in the opening defined by the feed screw.

Abstract: A process is described in which hospital refuse is comminuted to a powder-like consistency or at least so as to be capable of being pumped and subsequently subjected to heat sterilisation treatment in a highly turbulent dynamic thin layer.

Abstract: The refuse processing machine of the invention reduces the bulk of the waste by heating and drying the waste in the waste container by heating means. The grinding and stirring means is operated while heating and drying, and the waste is ground and stirred. The waste is ground into small pieces by the grinding and stirring means, and heat of the heating means is hence smoothly transmitted to the inside of the waste, so that the moisture in the waste may be removed efficiently.

Abstract: In a method for recycling heterogeneous mixtures of materials resulting from size-reduction processes the heterogeneous mixture of materials is comminuted to form a comminuted intermediate product from which in a subsequent step comminuted particles of a preset size are separated. The selected comminuted particles are subjected to an agglomeration treatment for producing agglomerate particle product of a preset degree of agglomeration having an upper limit with respect to agglomerate particle size.

Abstract: A bag opener for opening bags containing recyclable materials includes a source of heat sufficient to melt the bags and an assembly that brings the bags into the vicinity of the source of heat to open the bags. In a preferred embodiment the source of heat includes a heated member and the assembly brings the bags into contact with the heated member to open the bags.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for disinfection and reclamation of materials contained in contaminated disposable products worn by infants and adults containing human feces and/or urine. The process and apparatus disinfect, mechanically and biologically break down and separates these materials by the use of a pressurized steam digester, mechanical chopper and a screening process. The steam digester process is carried on in a sealed system utilizing a fume scrubber for controlling disposition of ammonia and methane gasses. Effluent and waste are controlled to maintain safe discharges and all recyclable materials are disinfected and reduced to a form suitable for remanufacture of like products or as raw materials for other manufactured products. Polymer particles are exposed to ultraviolet light for molecular breakdown and ion exchange between polymer chains, resulting in further reduction in mass of each particle.

Abstract: A waste disposal system includes a stock yard for storing waste articles, a pre-treatment apparatus for separating a metal bulk from each waste article fed from the stock yard, a cryogenic crushing apparatus for crushing the separated metal bulk, and a crushing apparatus for crushing the portion of the waste article other than the metal bulk. The system further includes a light-weight article separating apparatus for separating the crushed waste from said crushing apparatus into foamed material and other wastes, and a foaming agent collecting apparatus which separates the foamed material into solid plastics and gaseous foaming agent and then cools and liquefies the gaseous foaming agent.

Abstract: Process for separating valuable solid materials from a mixture of waste scrap materials by adding water and sand to a volume of scrap, such as chopped insulated wire, to obtain a feed of about 70-80% solids by weight; subjecting the feed mixture to vigorous agitation; screening out large foreign materials; subjecting the screened mixture to a dense medium separation with the introduction of water to produce a fluidized bed in the separation zone; removing light stream from the separation zone and screening to recover insulation material particles; and removing a heavy stream from the separation zone and screening to recover metallic particles.

Abstract: A home recycling center comprised of a hollow rectangular compartment having an opening formed through a top wall thereof. A vertical compartment is secured to the top wall about the opening formed therethrough. The rectangular compartment has a plurality of longitudinal tracks secured therein. Each of the tracks is secured to a front wall with a corresponding track secured to a rear wall. A crushing mechanism is secured within the vertical compartment of the hollow rectangular compartment. A plurality of storage containers have wheels adapted for slidable coupling with the plurality of longitudinal tracks of the hollow rectangular compartment.

Abstract: A motor truck for use in collecting and processing solid waste material such as scrap tires. The truck includes a chassis including a cab; a body structure positioned on the chassis behind the cab and defining a storage chamber; a shredder mounted on top of the body structure forwardly of the storage chamber; a compactor positioned within the body structure beneath the shredder and forwardly of the storage chamber; and a conveyor system for conveying tires from a curbside location upwardly for discharge downwardly into the open upper end of the shredder. The shredded tires are discharged downwardly into the body structure rearwardly of the compactor, whereafter the compactor is actuated to stroke rearwardly and compress the tire shreds into the storage chamber.

Abstract: A procures for reducing waste material and recycling for use with household and other landfill waste material at a landfill waste management site. The process reduces the volume of waste material in the landfill site, allows for the natural breakdown of the organic components of the waste material, and allows for the recycling of some or all of the waste material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine for triturating composite materials, particularly for triturating solid urban waste, which comprises a shredding apparatus that is in turn composed of a cutting element provided with multiple blades arranged side by side along an axis, of elements for actuating the blades with a rotary motion about the axis, and of a complementary cutting element which is laterally adjacent to the cutting element. The complementary cutting element cooperates with the cutting element in shredding the material conveyed between the cutting element and the complementary cutting element, and is movable away from the cutting element to allow material that withstands the action of the blades of the cutting element to pass between the cutting element and the complementary cutting element.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of using an apparatus is provided for the accelerated bioremediation of treated contaminated material. The material is treated with chemical and/or biological amendments for facilitating accelerated bioremediation thereof. The apparatus comprises a system for for generating a treated contaminated material entraining air stream at a predetermined velocity for entraining the treated contaminate material therein for microenfractionating the treated contaminated material. In this way, accelerated bioremediation is facilitated. In another form of the invention, a method of accelerated bioremediation of treated contaminated material is provided.

Abstract: Pulping of waste paper is accomplished by the apparatus of this invention which includes a water supply and twin tube cylinder tanks mounted horizontally, and a shaft extending inside of the tanks, and flinger arms attached to the shafts, and the shafts rotate, being driven by electric motors, to pulp the waste paper in a water suspension, and the pulp slurry screened through a bank or plurality of perforated troughs and a perforated screw conveyor mounted in the perforated trough.

Abstract: A method for producing solid fertilizer from liquid manure or from sludge includes mixing the same with harvest leftovers. The liquid substance (manure, sludge) is intimately mixed with the harvest leftovers during grinding. The solids are ground to a particle size of a few microns. The particles adsorb and absorb the liquid substance fully, so that a solid fertilizer product results which neither smells nor endangers the ground water. All of the valuable materials from the liquid substance and from the harvest leftovers are retained in the finished product, which is a high potency fertilizer. The fertilizer can be applied with methods and devices which are conventionally used in agriculture. An apparatus for performing the method includes a grinder/blender which is supplied independently from a harvest leftover storage and from a liquid substance storage. The materials are measured for exact mixture and the pH value may be adjusted.

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of medical waste, including solid and non-solid materials, permits the collection of such medical waste at the point and at the time of its generation in a solid container. The contained medical waste can be subsequently transported for pulverization, decontamination and safe disposal. A separate portable processing chamber, with an integral means to treat medical waste, can be used at locations remote from its power unit for the collection of medical waste and then moved to the location of the power unit to drive the waste-treatment means within the chamber.

Abstract: A system for producing a suitable fuel from waste material including a dispersion tank in which is located a rotary dispersion and agitation system comprising external vanes, rotary and stationary plates having opposing faces fitted with intermeshing shear blocks, forming an attrition zone therebetween for grinding and dispersing solids in a liquid blend stock. A method is provided for varying the displacement between the shear blocks to control the fineness of the grinding of the waste material. A method is provided for discharging metal from the dispersion tank and a pump is provided for circulating liquid from the dispersion tank to an accumulation tank and for recirculating the liquid from the accumulation tank to the dispersion tank. Feeding systems are provided for delivering solid waste material to the dispersion tank and include systems for grinding drums containing waste material, expressing waste material from the drums and auguring waste material from the drums.

Abstract: Sheets of defectively manufactured wallboard are loaded in a stack on a conveyor and are advanced intermittently to a shearing station where a shear periodically cuts through the stack to sever successive leading end sections from the stack. Each cut-off leading end section drops into a shredder which reduces the wallboard into small particles and chunks capable of being recycled.

Abstract: A compactor assembly comprises a ground supported housing having an open top through which waste material is deposited. An auger is rotatable on an axis positioned within the housing for breaking waste material received therein through the open top, and for transporting the waste material therethrough. A drop area is downstream of the receiving chamber of the housing and has a remote open portion. A compactor ram is reciprocal on an axis parallel to the auger axis for transferring waste material through the open portion. A first drive is operably associated with the auger for rotating the auger, and a second drive is operably associated with the compactor ram for causing reciprocation thereof.

Abstract: Aggregate is separated from sludge consisting of, what is called, "the residual raw concrete" remaining in a raw concrete mixing truck from which raw concrete has been discharged, and waste water resulting from washing the mixing truck. Then, the air is forced into the sludge to form bubbles. A chemical admixture in the sludge is allowed to adhere to the bubbles, and an admixture coating within the sludge is destroyed, thereby promoting the hydration of the cement. Subsequently, the resultant sludge is dehydrated to obtain a dehydrated cake of high hardness. Powder formed of the same quality of the cake is spread over the cake, which is then cured for a few hours. The resultant cake is then crushed so that granular aggregate can be formed.

Abstract: Organic wastes are made suitable for disposal by sequential treatment with an oxidizing solution and an alkaline earth oxide or hydroxide. The treated waste is then mixed with an absorbent material to absorb excess liquid, and optionally with a binding material. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a feed hopper, a shredder, mixer and appropriate metering means.

Abstract: A coated or plated resin component is roughly ground to prepare a roughly-ground form. The roughly-ground form is heated and extruded to prepare an extruded strand or film composed of a base resin and coating film pieces or deposit pieces therein. The extruded form is rolled and drawn to prepare a rolled film. The rolled film is pulverized to prepare pulverized form which is separated into a base resin component and a coating film or deposit piece component. Instead of extruding step, the roughly-ground form is blown by an inflation method to prepare a blown tube composed of a base resin and coating film piece or deposit pieces therein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of a recycled plastic product from varnished plastic parts by multistagedly grinding but not pulverizing while at the same time subjecting same to a stretching treatment during the pulverizing step to loosen substantially completely all of the varnish sticking thereto. The resulting plastic and varnish particles are separated and thereafter packaged, typically, in the form of granulate. The resulting thermoplastic plastic recycled material does not contain any visible inclusions of more than 0.25 mm.sup.2 of varnished particles in the sheet test.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging a trash sorting device with the contents of trash bags has a feed apparatus of the trash bags connected to an inclined conveyor belt suitable for bearing and transporting trash bags, the upper end of which is located above the charging point of a conveyor which traverses the sorting area. Located above and near the upper end of the conveyor belt is a deflector rake which can be swiveled around an axle which traverses the conveyor belt, the tines of which rake when in the pick up position approach the conveyor belt at a downward angle in the direction opposite the direction of transport of the belt and can be moved from this pick up position opposite the direction of transport to a reject position above the conveyor belt. The deflector rake can be driven in a back-and-forth motion between the pick up position and the reject position.

Abstract: Feed stock is made from an assortment of post-consumer polymer articles by assembling those articles of the assortment which are suitable for recycling into feed stock. The assemblage is granulated into particles of a size suitable for feed stock. A detergent solution of predetermined concentration is formed for cleaning the granulated particles. The solution is added to the particles during the granulating step to mix the detergent solution with the articles to facilitate cleaning during granulating.

Abstract: A grinder pump station capable of having its height adjusted in the field during installation has a longitudinal tank having a substantially cylindrical non-corrugated inner wall secured to a substantially cylindrical corrugated outer wall, a separate transition section for mounting a grinder pump unit within the longitudinal tank, a removable lid assembly attached to the top of the longitudinal tank, and a base attached to the bottom of the tank. A grinder pump unit may be mounted inside of the tank. The removable lid assembly includes an electrical and ventilation interface for the grinder pump unit mounted in the tank, thereby facilitating adjustment of the height of the tank through variation in its longitudinal extent without interference with the electrical and ventilation interface. The transition section separates an upper tank portion from a lower tank portion, preferably has a non-corrugated side wall, and includes a sewage inlet opening and a sewage outlet opening through its side wall.

Abstract: A method and system for re-using and recycling garment hangers which is applicable to localized or world wide geographic areas and which (a) eliminates sorting at the collecting point for used hangers, usually a retail store, (b) handles re-usable, recyclable and scrap hangers without restriction on mix components of a given batch, (c) renovates and returns the re-used hangers and recycled hanger material to points of need, and (d) can be physically located at a location dictated solely by convenience considerations without mandatory reliance on the physical proximity of hanger manufacturing facilities.

Abstract: A plurality of parallel chain loops have outwardly extending blades and travel in plastic channels over an inclined deck. The chains extend between shafts which rotate in opposite directions and are mounted to the shafts so that alternating chains move up the incline and the others move down. Refuse bags deposited on the deck are torn open by the blades. Small refuse objects fall between the chains and slide down the deck to be discharged, while larger objects are carried by the upwardly moving chains to the top of the deck. Refuse objects are thereby initially segregated by size.