Abstract: To aid in the spontaneous opening of closed garbage bags deposited in landfills, a biodegradable bag tie made from plant sources is described. The preparation of the tie material includes hydrolysis with an enzymatic aqueous solution to make the strip amenable to rapid digestion by microorganisms indigenous to landfill environments. The strips may then be tied by knotting around the open end of the polyethylene garbage bag or by joining the two ends of the strip with double-sided adhesive tape. In this way, the closed tie is digested soon after deposition of the bag in a landfill, thereby also exposing its contents to local aerobic bacteria and fungi.

Abstract: To aid in the spontaneous opening of closed garbage bags deposited in landfills, a biodegradable bag tie made from plant sources is described. The preparation of the tie material includes hydrolysis with an acidic, enzymatic, or basic aqueous solution, combined with microwave exposure, to make the strip amenable to rapid digestion by microorganisms indigenous to landfill environments. The strips may then be tied by knotting around the open end of the polyethylene garbage bag or by joining the two ends of the strip with double-sided adhesive tape. In this way, the closed tie is digested soon after deposition of the bag in a landfill, thereby also exposing its contents to local aerobic bacteria and fungi.

Abstract: A pool access apparatus for moving a disabled person between a pool deck and a pool includes an arm supported for pivotal motion about a base axle and a seat supported for pivotal motion about a seat axle carried by the arm. A driver pivots the arm between a deployed position suspending the seat at least partially within the pool, and a stowed position suspending the seat in a position displaced laterally from the pool. The apparatus may include a chain-driven seat attitude maintenance linkage, an anchoring system comprising a sub-plate embedded in or disposed below the deck to which a base plate of the apparatus is removably connectable, and/or a wheeled portability kit that is removably connectable to the base plate.

Abstract: A pool access apparatus for moving a disabled person between a pool deck and a pool includes an arm supported for pivotal motion about a base axle and a seat supported for pivotal motion about a seat axle carried by the arm. A driver pivots the arm between a deployed position suspending the seat at least partially within the pool, and a stowed position suspending the seat in a position displaced laterally from the pool. The apparatus may include a chain-driven seat attitude maintenance linkage, an anchoring system comprising a sub-plate embedded in or disposed below the deck to which a base plate of the apparatus is removably connectable, and/or a wheeled portability kit that is removably connectable to the base plate.