Abstract: A container closed by a lid for receiving and compacting waste paper includes a volume-occupying lid (3, 14) which fits inside the container (1, 13). The container (1, 13) defines a chamber large enough to accomodate individual pieces of waste to be deposited and compacted. The lid (3, 14) is retained in the container-closing position.

Abstract: A dispenser for sheets of web material, such as paper towels, from a supply roll, including a housing, means for holding a supply roll of the web material, and means for separating a sheet of the web from the supply roll operable in response to a user pulling the sheet from the housing and arranged to present at least a portion of the leading edge of the web ready for a user to seize for the dispensing of a further sheet as a direct result of the user pulling the previous sheet from the dispenser.

Abstract: A dispenser for sheets of web material, such as paper towels, from a supply roll, including a housing, means for holding a supply roll of the web material, and means for separating a sheet of the web from the supply roll operable in response to a user pulling the sheet from the housing and arranged to present at least a portion of the leading edge of the web ready for a user to seize for the dispensing of a further sheet as a direct result of the user pulling the previous sheet from the dispenser.

Abstract: The invention provides a container for waste materia, particularly but not exclusively for paper waste, comprising, a casing forming a container for waste material having structure defining an opening for entry to the container, a lid movably mounted on the casing adjacent the opening for movement between an open position allowing waste to be put into the container opening, and a closed position closing the opening of the container, the lid being formed so that in its closed position it extends into the container beyond the extremity of said container structure to occupy a volume within the container at least equal to that of an item of waste for which the container is intended, and means for releasably retaining the lid in its closed position, whereby each time waste is inserted through the opening and the lid closed, the waste in the container is progressively compressed and a space is created for the reception of further waste when the lid is next opened.

Abstract: A device for dispensing web material, particularly paper towel material, in a series of sheets has means for carrying first and second rolls of the material. A pivotally mounted lever is retained against resilient bias by the presence of the web from the first roll and released after consumption of the web from the first roll to carry the tail end of the web from the first roll into frictional engagement with the leading end of the web from the second roll in a nip formed between a backing roller and a roller carried on the lever.