Abstract: A composter for composting organic yard and household debris, has an enclosure, a feed opening, a discharge opening, an internal breaking and mixing assembly. The enclosure is made of durable red cedar and a bottom member can be a perforated fiberglass with moisture collection valleys and perforations to drain excess moisture.

Abstract: A segregated waste disposal device is disclosed which includes a plurality of waste receptacles provided in a main housing, each of the plurality of waste receptacles receiving one of a plurality of distinct waste products, respectively, including glass and metal. An opening within the main housing receives at least one of the glass and metal waste, and the weighted lid connected to the main housing crushes waste deposited into the opening. The lid may be opened either by hydraulic or mechanical spring mechanisms and a grate member provided within the opening and beneath the weighted lid allows crushed glass to free-fall therethrough into a predetermined receptacle. A sweep arm sweeps remaining crushed waste off of the grate into a waste receptacle other than a waste receptacle containing crushed glass.

Abstract: A pretreating plastic waste device including a tank containing a liquid to which the plastic waste is introduced, a washing pump, a dripping drum, and a dewatering device comprising a press-screw adapted for separating the washed waste from the washing liquid and a drying drum fed by a hot air blower, and a filtration vat. A programmable controller receiving signals from various level and temperature sensors and various working parameters allows total control, at all stages, of the waste pretreatment cycle. The programmable controller is associated with a screen for displaying error messages and a control desk for allowing direct selective intervention at the level of the concerned elements.

Abstract: An apparatus shreds hazardous waste drums and their contents in an oxygen-limited environment, transports the shredded material to a dispenser that dispenses metered amounts of the material into fire pails. The apparatus has two vertically separated shredders that are located in an enclosed shell that has an inert gas fed into it in a controlled manner by a purge system. A lift in an enclosed shaft raises the drums, two at a time, and deposits them into an airlock from which they are released one at a time into the upper shredder. A control system automatically processes the material through the apparatus from when the containers are placed into the lift until the material reaches the dispenser and insures that no stage of the process will commence until the proceeding and following stages are completed. The control system also provides safety checks at each stage to prevent handling or processing accidents.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing compostable materials from plastic bags. The apparatus includes a conveyor having retaining members which engage and assist the conveyor in transporting the bags of compostable materials to a discharge bin. A cutting element cooperates with the first conveyor to open the bags allowing the compostable material to be emptied from the bags at one end of the conveyor into the bin where the compostable materials are subsequently discharged onto compost piles. The bags are then removed from the retaining members and transferred into a mechanism where they are bundled for disposal or recycle.

Abstract: A novel process has been found in which the two types of plastic particles having similar specific gravities in a mixture are safely, efficiently, effectively and economically separated after being soaked in a plasticizer for a predetermined amount of time. The recovered and reclaimed particles can be reprocessed without any additional steps other than washing and drying. This novel process is useful in recycling waste plastic materials especially those materials containing polyvinyl chloride.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for recycling foamed polystyrene from municipal solid waste and more particularly, from fast food restaurant waste. A steady stream of waste is delivered to a flail mill for reducing particle size, a rotary trommel for eliminating undersized waste and a rotary air classifier for removing "heavy" waste from the stream. At this point, the waste stream comprises mostly paper and foamed polystyrene. The paper and foamed polystyrene are delivered to a water pulper which fiberizes the paper so that it can then be separated from the foamed polystyrene by passing it through a screen of selected mesh size to allow the water and paper pulp to pass through while retaining the foamed polystyrene.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for separation, recovery, and recycling municipal solid waste and the like by introducing solid waste materials into a rotatable pressure vessel, rotating, pressurizing, and heating the pressure vessel and thus the waste material while simultaneously applying an extruding action to the solid waste material. The extruding action is achieved by a rotatable extruder mechanism carried in the pressure vessel which forces the processed solid waste material through a constricted area adjacent the exit of the pressure vessel.

Abstract: An infectious waste, a solid chlorite salt, a solid acid and a preheated aqueous solvent are mixed in a treatment volume. At least a portion of the chlorite salt and acid is dissolved in the preheated aqueous solvent incident to mixing and is reacted to form a treatment solution containing a chlorine dioxide disinfectant and a byproduct acid salt. The infectious waste is contacted with the chlorine dioxide in the treatment solution which attacks and destroys the infectious constituents of the waste, thereby decontaminating the waste. Upon dewatering, the decontaminated waste is suitable for landfilling. Process control is exercised by controlling the temperature of the aqueous solvent. A solvent temperature is selected which optimizes both the chlorine dioxide concentration in the treatment solution and the reactivity of the chlorine dioxide with the infectious constituents.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for recycling a polyolefin material end product. This apparatus comprises a housing and a curvilinear recycling area disposed within the housing and having an inner curvilinear surface. A mechanism, adjacent one end of the recycling area, is provided for feeding the polyolefin material end product into the recycling area. The apparatus further comprises a blade, horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted within the recycling area at an end opposed to the one end, for cutting the polyolefin material end product. A mechanism is provided for introducing liquid into the recycling area. Moisture is exhausted from the recycling area. The process of the present invention comprises several steps. Polyolefin material end product is fed into a curvilinear recycling area for an interval of time sufficient to fill the recycling area to a predetermined capacity.

Abstract: A system and a process for treating solid waste are disclosed. The system includes a facility having one or more treatment lines for processing the solid waste to recover recyclable and useful materials such as corrugated paper, ferrous metals, plastic products, paper, and glass and to form various fractions which can be converted to a compost material. The facility is a substantially zero discharge facility having a minimal environmental impact.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recycling wallboard employs a tumbling barrel for receiving wallboard pieces and metal weights. The tumbling barrel is sealed and the barrel is rotated so as to drop the weights against the wallboard. Once the materials are separated into gypsum and relatively large pieces of paper, the barrel doors are opened and the materials are transferred to a vibrating conveyor including a number of filtering screens for segregating the gypsum into consistently sized particles. A screen across the conveyor prevents the paper from continuing beyond a trap point. A chute transfers the paper particles to a paper collection bin while various sized gypsum particles are collected at the end of the conveyor in several bins according to size.

Abstract: A novel process has been found wherein multilayer plastic materials are efficiently and effectively separated. The multilayer plastic materials are divided into smaller particles, the particles are agglomerated and then like particles are separated from the other particles. This novel method is useful for recycling multilayer extruded plastic materials.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for treating an incinerated waste material feedstock to obtain a "free-from-ash" ferrous metal product are disclosed which provide for early separation of the initial feedstock into a predominately ash stream and predominately ferrous metal stream by a two step separation based on size of the material and use of dual trommels or special bar screens and dual magnet arrangements.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuously treating infectious waste, which comprises: (a) introducing bulk unseparated infectious waste material into a receiving container means, the receiving container means adapted to receive a flow of disinfectant such that the receiving container means remains substantially free of infectious contaminants; (b) shredding the waste material by a primary shredding means; (c) separating the shredded waste material from waste residue in a separation tank means having a predetermined fluid level thereby producing a waste slurry; (d) pumping the waste slurry into a reactor vessel means; (e) contacting the waste slurry with a disinfecting fluid in the reactor vessel means for a sufficient amount of time to disinfect the waste slurry; and (f) dewatering the disinfected waste slurry to recover solid disinfected waste material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating and recovering copper wires, lead grains coming and rubber grains coming from waste cables, through washing, gravimetric separation, screening and by flattening the lead grains thereby facilitating their ready recovery.

Abstract: A solvent based plastics recycling process directly reduces large volumes of post consumer plastic waste materials by up to 500% by volume. Minimal sorting and no cleaning is required, and large percentages of contaminants are tolerated. The process yields a highly adhesive resin which cures to a hard wood or masonry type material. The reduced end product, an epoxy sludge, may be formed to provide a lumber or brick substitute. Large percentages of shredded paper and other waste materials, including metals, may be added to the plastic waste materials, if desired.

Abstract: A refuse recycling system includes untreated refuse directed into a collection bin, whereafter the refuse is directed by a first conveyor into a pulverizing hopper utilizing parallel rollers to effect crushing and pulverizing of the refuse, whereupon the pulverized refuse is directed into a dryer utilizing super-heated steam to effect drying of the refuse. Liquid fertilizer is then directed into the refuse that is directed through a tumbling mechanism to effect coating of the liquid fertilizer about the refuse for subsequent use in agricultural situations.

Abstract: A machine to reduce the volume of a bundle of rubbish includes a pair of crushing rollers, a grinding plate, a container to enclose the grinding plate and a water tank to supply water into the crushing rollers and the grinding plate, a driving shaft connected to the grinding plate and a device for rotating the driving shaft and the crushing rollers.

Abstract: A method for recycling treatment of refuse of plastic molded articles, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate bottles comprises immersing the refuse into hot water of 70.degree.-100.degree. C. while agitating to detach and remove bottom coverings of dissimilar plastics, detaching paper labels on the plastic articles by steam injection, breaking the detached labels and the plastic articles into fragments, separating the mixture by wind-force sorting to remove most of the labels, further separating the fragments of plastic articles and residual labels by flying sorting to obtain the fragments only of the plastic articles, cleaning the fragments of the plastic articles by ultrasonic energy to remove all impurities, and preparing the purified plastic articles as chip or pellet plastic material.

Abstract: The slag that is formed in garbage and waste incinerators is cleaned of coarse material and iron directly after the slag outlet (1) from the incinerator. Separation into two fractions takes place after coarse cleaning, in a fractionating unit (6). One of the fractions contains all the particles that are smaller than 2 mm. At the same time, the dust is separated by a suction system (14). Dust and particles smaller than 2 mm contain practically all the soluble harmful substances and have to be processed and stored observing special precautions, or dumped. The remaining, cleaned slag is dry, and can be used as construction material. The process and the apparatus avoid the use of a water bath, so that no energy is needed for drying.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for recycling post-consumer plastic containers supplied as compressed bales thereof to recover at least uncolored and colored PET uncolored and colored HDPE in flake form is provided. The apparatus and process includes debaling, sortation of the desired containers from the bale, granulation of these containers into flakes, wet processing to dissolve glue and the residue of contents of the containers and to provide separation of contaminants from the desired flake by specific gravity difference, and recovery of the purified flakes.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for removing waste material from a container and for separating the waste material into a pumpable slurry fraction and a solids fraction, the apparatus comprising a mechanical means for removing waste material from the container, and a waste pulper for receiving the waste material and for grinding and separating the waste material into at least a pumpable slurry fraction and a solids fraction.

Abstract: Scrap goods (S), for example, electronic and electrical apparatus, components, cables and the like are intermittently and alternately mechanically crushed (1,3), magnetically separated (2) and mechanically-physically separated, for example, by means of electrostatic separators (5, 10-12). With the crushing, the dust produced is pneumatically gathered and filtered out (22,9). A non-metal fraction (A) as well as a magnetic (B) and non-magnetic fraction (C) are produced separately as granules and dust. The metal fractions (B, C) are suitable for further pyrolysis-free, wet chemistry and/or electrolytic separation. The non-metallic fraction is capable of being precipitated. The method is noted for its minimal energy consumption and high environmental compatibility.

Abstract: The invention is a method of making STYROFOAM fluff from STYROFOAM. The fluff particles are torn away from the STYROFOAM by a rapidly rotating router blade. The pulling away of small pieces from the STYROFOAM provides an increased volume to the fluff.

Abstract: A process for sterilizing biological waste such as medical waste and a biomass fuel product from sterilized waste are disclosed. The biological waste preferably includes waste capable of sorbing substantial amounts of a liquid fuel having a boiling temperature higher than about 240.degree. F. The waste is shredded and then introduced into a container holding the liquid fuel, which is maintained at atmospheric pressure at a temperature between about 240.degree. F. and the boiling temperature of the liquid fuel. The shredded waste is immersed in the liquid fuel for a time sufficient to effect sterilization of the shredded waste. Thereafter, the sterilized shredded waste is removed from the container, and ground to either make it pumpable or increase its pumpability, and to further destroy the physical shape of the waste as to make it unrecognizable. The ground waste is then pumped to a desired location. The waste with sorbed liquid fuel is atomizable and usable as a fuel for many applications.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a controlled deposition region constituted by a pit lined with an impermeable lining of heat-weldable polymeric material. Partitioning sheets made of polymeric material which are perimetrically welded to the lining, separate, in the pit, a plurality of superimposed sealed compartments in which the shredded waste is fed by means of a feed hose which can be switched to a vacuum source in order to compact the shredded waste fed into the compartment.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuously treating infectious waste, which comprises: (a) introducing bulk unseparated infectious waste material into a receiving container, the receiving container adapted to receive a flow of disinfectant such that the receiving container remains substantially free of infectious contaminants; (b) shredding the waste material by a primary shredder; (c) separating the shredded waste material from waste residue in a separation tank having a predetermined fluid level thereby producing a waste slurry; (d) pumping the waste slurry into a reactor vessel; (e) contacting the waste slurry with a disinfecting fluid in the reactor vessel for a sufficient amount of time to disinfect the waste slurry; and (f) dewatering the disinfected waste slurry to recover solid disinfected waste material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wet process recovery system for solid waste. The waste is fed into a hydrokinetic separation step wherein it is immersed in a body of water which is subjected to rising and lateral flows. These flows establish a synthetic gravitational environment to effect separation of solids above and below a predetermined density greater than the density of water. The solids having the higher densities are collected by gravity and transported from the water for recycling. A modified hammermill is connected to the body of water and the rising and lateral fluid flows cooperate to carry waste into a cutting and ejecting mechanism which both shears friable waste and dynamically ejects non-friable waste back into the liquid. The output of the hammermill is a slurry of comminuted waste in the liquid. This is pumped to a centrifuge separator where solid waste is separated from liquid and the liquid recirculated to the body of water to create the flows in that body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing domestic, industrial and other like waste with the production of a cellulose material in which the waste material is subjected to pre-comminution, magnetic separation, air-classification and fractionating. It is primarily characterized in that the light fraction consisting of paper, textiles and plastics material separated in the air-classification is passed to a washing station and the washed air-floatable materials passed into a pulper, the ballast substances are removed following the treatment in the pulper by means of screening and the cellulose particles distributed in the water that pass the screen are introduced, directly or after pressing out the water, to a paper mill that may be associated with the plant, or the pressed cellulose particles are dried and recovered as powder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing waste plasterboard consisting of sheets of paper or similar material adhered to a core of plaster of paris or the like, for recovering and separating the cover material from the gypsum of the core and for collecting each in a conveniently reusable form. A pair of rollers have parallel axes of rotation and are held to a variably close spacing under pressure while being counterrotated to grasp and crush pieces of plasterboard, delivering the paper and crushed gypsum core material to a vibrating screen which separates the two for separate collection and subsequent reuse as raw materials or for other purposes. A second crusher and screen may be used for additional separation of the materials.

Abstract: A process for recycling an asphalt-containing waste product, that comprises breaking up an asphalt-containing waste product in a liquid to produce a wet waste product mixture having particles no greater in size than 10 mesh and at least some of which are asphalt-containing particles. Thereafter the wet waste product mixture is directly used to produce a new asphalt product. New asphalt products are produced entirely or partly from the wet waste product mixture.

Abstract: Manipulating and selecting unit for recycling pressed or unpressed bodies obtained from plastic material containers as well as others, having a hopper for receiving containers to be processed and for conveying the containers to a cleanser for cleaning the containers and separating pressed from unpressed containers and conveying the pressed containers to a receiver and the unpressed containers to a squeezer or flattener for pressing the unpressed containers and applying to the receiver; a separation is coupled with the hopper for receiving pressed containers and separating them according to color and type of material; and then selecting and determining the type of recovered pressed containers, and forwarding the pressed containers to a processor in accordance with the type of material, whether plastic or not, and the color.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing infectious waste includes placing the waste in a disposal apparatus which has an isolated volume for holding the waste. A dry granulated medium which has a disinfectant constituent is also placed within the isolated volume along with the waste. When the disposal apparatus is activated, an atomized mist is introduced into the volume and the waste, the medium, and the moisture in the mist are thoroughly blended together. The resulting destroyed waste is thoroughly moistened with the disinfectant solution which is formed by the mist and the disinfectant constituents of the medium. Then, the moistened, destroyed waste is heated to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to ensure efficacious sterilization of the waste.

Abstract: A method of recycling automobile waste residue after major metal scrap has been separated therefrom. The residue includes such material as ferrous and non-ferrous metals, glass and fluff material including plastics. This residue is granulated and the ferrous and non-ferrous metals and glass are separated from the fluff material. The fluff material is fed to a mixing station whereat an amount of plastic material is added to the fluff material such that, when combined with the plastic material already in the fluff material, the resulting composition is on the order of a 50:50 ratio of plastic and non-plastic materials. This composition then is mixed and can be further processed to form a usable recycled product.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the batch treatment of infectious waste material in a fluidized bed reactor utilizing gas oxidation, preferably ozone gas diluted in air. The process and apparatus provide for the disinfecting of infectious waste in a rapid, cost efficient manner allowing for disposal of such infectious waste material in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the batch treatment of infectious waste material in a fluidized bed reactor utilizing gas oxidation, preferably ozone gas diluted in air. The process and apparatus provide for the disinfecting of infectious waste in a rapid, cost efficient manner allowing for disposal of such infectious waste material in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Abstract: A system for discriminating radiation-contaminated fragments on the basis of a predetermined radioactive concentration includes a detection device for detecting the radiation of the fragments, the detection device having a generally vertically-extending path of transfer of the fragments, at least one radiation detector disposed at one of the inside and outside of asid transfer path, and a transfer device for sequentially transferring the fragments in the transfer path; a convey device for conveying the fragments to said detection device; and a controller for determining the radioactive concentration of the fragments in accordance with the radiation detected by the detection device and for judging whether or not the radioactive concentration of the fragments is the predetermined radioactive concentration. The controller is also operable to control the transfer device so as to adjust the speed of transfer of the fragments in the transfer path.

Abstract: Useless refrigerators or other commodities which contain or consist of polyurethane foam wherein the cells confine fluorochlorohydrocarbon gas are relieved of refrigerant and lubricant prior to being comminuted into 1 cm.sup.3 cubes or similar particles. The particles are classified in a suction chamber to segregate comminuted foam from metallic and/or plastic materials, and the particles of foam are thereupon ground and/or otherwise pulverized to a size in the range of 0.1 mm. This destroys the cells and releases the gas which is filtered, condensed and mixed with water prior to confinement in vessels.

Abstract: A system and a process for treating solid waste are disclosed. The system includes a facility having one or more treatment lines for processing the solid waste to recover recyclable and useful materials such as corrugated paper, ferrous metals, plastic products, paper, and glass and to form various fractions which can be converted to a compost material. The facility is a substantially zero discharge facility having a minimal environmental impact.

Abstract: A mill (10) according to the preferred teachings for grinding garbage is disclosed including an octagonal shaped grinding chamber (26) formed by side plates (14-17) interconnected to have a square cross section with its corners closed by corner plates (20-23). Planar shelves (32, 34, 36) having centrally located apertures (38) divide the grinding chamber (26). Grinding rotors (48-50) are rotatably fixed to a rotatable shaft (44) and are located complementary to, parallel, and above the shelves (32, 34, 36). The grinding rotors (48-50) include planar arms (64) which radially extend from and are circumferentially spaced on a planar disc (54) fixed to the shaft (44). An impeller rotor (51) is also rotatably fixed to the shaft (44) below the grinding rotors (48-50) and includes angle iron arms (76) which radially extend from and are circumferentially spaced on a planar disc (54) fixed to the shaft (44).

Abstract: Refuse scrap from incinerated refuse or nonincinerated refuse is dried and precleaned to a metal content in excess of 70% and is then comminuted and abraded in a hammer shredder with the comminuted material being subjected to air separation and magnetic separation to yield a metal product containing at least 90% metal and with a density of at least 1 ton per m.sup.3 for direct use as any other iron scrap in a steel-making plant.

Abstract: The compacting breaker press breaks and compacts waste into small-sized nearly parallelepiped-shaped pieces, which can pass through small-sized pipes for collection. The press includes fixed guides and twin opposing pairs of parallel plates spaced from each other and slidably mounted on the guides. The external plate and internal plate of each pair are movable relative to each other, the internal plate being connected by springs with the external plate. Substantially equal, parallelepiped-shaped pistons are mounted on both external plates and extend through holes in the internal plates. These pistons have flat interior-facing surfaces which lie in two common substantially parallel planes depending on which exterior plate the piston is attached to. Interiorly-directed extractors are attached to both interior plates.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for recycling foamed polystyrene from municipal solid waste and more particularly, from fast food restaurant waste. A steady stream of waste is delivered to a flail mill for reducing particle size, a rotary trommel for eliminating undersized waste and a rotary air classifier for removing "heavy" waste from the stream. At this point, the waste stream comprises mostly paper and foamed polystyrene. The paper and foamed polystyrene are delivered to a water pulper which fiberizes the paper so that it can then be separated from the foamed polystyrene by passing it through a screen of selected mesh size to allow the water and paper pulp to pass through while retaining the foamed polystyrene.

Abstract: A medical waste disposal system is provided for disposing of biologically contaminated waste material situated inside a rigid, form-stable container. The disposal system includes a processing unit for shredding the waste material into a shredded mass and for transporting the shredded mass into a disintegrator. The disintegrator mixes the shredded mass with a liquid disinfectant solution to disinfect the shredded mass and disintegrates the shredded mass into an unrecognizable particulate waste material.

Abstract: Apparatus for crushing, grinding and shredding solid waste material in which two interacting stacks of cutting and shredding elements are positioned on two substantially parallel shafts and mounted transversely with respect to the directions of waste material fed into the apparatus. Cutting members on one stack interact with cutting members on the other stack. In each stack adjacent cutting members are spaced from each other by a spacer. The spacers in the apparatus differ from those used in prior comminutors of this type in that they also have cutter elements on their periphery and thereby serve as cutters or shredders as well as spacers. This double function of the spacers increases the efficiency of the comminuting apparatus. Most importantly there are cutting edges from the bottom to the top of each stack so that there are no intermediate elements on which strings or wires can be wrapped without encountering a cutting edge.

Abstract: Infectious medical waste is rendered non-infectious by an apparatus that includes a hopper into which the infectious waste is charged, a pair of grinders or other destruction devices that reduce the waste materials to small particles, a first heating station where harmful life forms are destroyed and a cooling station where the ground and heated materials are cooled to a level safe for handling by conventional trash removal personnel. Sharps containers are cut apart by an externally mounted sharps container cutter that cuts the containers apart before they reach the grinders.

Abstract: A syringe disposal apparatus has a portable collection unit (1) and a processing unit (2'). The collection unit (1) has an in-feed mechanism (11) to allow syringes to be introduced into the collection unit (1); and an interlock mechanism (12) suitable for removably securing the collection unit (1) to the processing unit (2') and emptying the syringes from the collection unit (1) into the processing unit (2').

Abstract: A method for recovering vinyl and urethane foam from composite plastic articles for recycling by granulating the article to form separated mixed components destaticizing the separate mixed components to prevent static during cling between foam particles and vinyl shell particles; and directing the destaticized particles through a vibrating fluidized bed to separate the vinyl shell particles and the foam particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for disposing of medical industrial waste by crushing comprises an opening for use in putting the industrial waste therethrough, a door for use in opening and closing the opening, a waste conveyor unit, a crushing unit for crushing the medical industrial waste conveyed by the conveyor unit, a discharging unit for discharging the waste crushed by the crushing unit, a container for storing the crushed waste discharged from the conveyor unit, and a sterilizing unit. The crushing unit includes fixed blades and rotary blades and the crushed material discharged from the crushing unit is stored in the container as the rotary blades rotates.