WASTE RECYCLING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a waste recycling system and in particular to a domestic waste recycling system which facilitates the separation of different classes of waste.

Currently, many local councils offer domestic waste recycling facilities, by delivering to households separate receptacles, eg. bags or boxes, for receiving different classes of waste. The different classes of waste might include, for example, glass, paper and cardboard, tin cans, plastic containers, organic matter (eg. food waste) and waste clothes or shoes. The householder, then deposits the different classes of waste within the different receptacles. The local council will generally collect the recycled waste once every week or every fortnight and so between collections each householder has to provide space for storage of the receptacles for each class of waste as they are gradually filled. Where there is insufficient storage space in the householder's kitchen, then the receptacles may be stored in a garage or outhouse, which requires the householder to make repeated trips to the location of the receptacles in order to recycle their waste. The filled receptacles are collected and empty ones redistributed each time the council makes a recycled waste collection. Some of the receptacles may be re-used, for example waste paper boxes, whereas others, for example, plastic bags for receiving tin cans, may become soiled and so cannot be re-used, which leads to additional cost in the disposal and provision of receptacles.

It is also known, for example in GB2,260,689, US6, 047,843, US5,244,270, US5,048,903 and US5, 826,789 to provide multi compartment bins, in which each compartment receives a different class of waste. Each compartment has a separate insert or bin bag and the bin is emptied by emptying each compartment separately and transferring the waste from a compartment into a next stage of waste collection for that class of waste, separate from the next stage of waste collection for the other classes of waste.

Thus, recycling can be a costly process, which is time consuming, inconvenient for the householder, and may itself generate waste, such as plastic bin liners, which is not good for the environment.

The present invention aims to overcome at least some of these problems by providing a waste recycling system comprising a plurality of waste collection modules distributed around a neighbourhood, for example, one per household, each formed with a plurality of compartments for different classes of separated waste; and at least one waste collection vehicle, comprising a waste collection chamber larger than each of the modules, which chamber is formed with a plurality of corresponding compartments, wherein the or each vehicle comprises at least one module holder for holding one of the modules at a time with the compartments of the module aligned with at least some of the corresponding compartments of the vehicle and for manipulating the module so as to transfer separated waste directly from the compartments of the module into the corresponding compartments of the chamber on the waste collection vehicle.

The waste collection vehicle may collect waste periodically from each waste collection module within the neightbourhood, for example, weekly on a designated day, on a waste collection round. The waste collection vehicle may then deposits the waste at a correspondingly compartmentalised waste recycling plant.

The modules may be reuseable bin modules and can be conveniently located for day to day waste disposal, for example in a domestic kitchen, and enables easy and convenient separation of different classes of waste. When the module is full, or on a designated waste collection day, the module can be emptied into a compatible larger waste collection module, ie. having a larger capacity for holding waste, for example, the chamber of the waste collection vehicle, while keeping the different classes of waste separated.

The waste collection modules preferably comprise a plurality of adjacent compartments. The compartments may be arrayed side by side in a line, extending in a first direction, for example from left to right, in which case, the compartments of the modules and the chamber of the waste collection vehicle have corresponding dimensions in this first direction, although it is not essential that they have corresponding dimensions in other directions.

The system according to the present invention can be used by installing the waste collection module in a first location, for example a domestic location, such as a kitchen, then filling the module by placing different classes of waste,

generated by day to day domestic life, in designated compartments. Then the waste collection module can be removed to a second location remote from the first and the waste transferred from the compartments of the module to the corresponding compartments of the chamber of the waste collection vehicle while keeping different categories of waste separate by aligning the compartments of the or each module and the or each chamber.

The module might be a domestic bin module and may have a removeable lid arrangement. This enables the content of the bin module to be covered, for reasons of hygiene, while it is storing waste. Then when waste is required to be deposited within the bin module, the lid may be lifted and the waste deposited within the designated compartment. The removeable lid arrangement may comprises a removeable rim and a lid hingedly fixed to the rim. The rim may be removeably fitted to the bin module.

The bin module may be adapted to fit within a kitchen base unit, underneath a correspondingly sized hole in a work surface. This keeps the bin module hidden from view. In this case the rim of the removeable lid arrangement may be removeably fitted to the hole in the work surface, so that the lid arrangement, when closed can form a part of the work surface.

The module holder means for manipulating the module may comprise means for upending the module. For example, the module holder may be rotatably or pivotably mounted on the waste collection vehicle. The module may fit within the module holder via a releasable sliding connection, for example a sliding

rail and groove connection, which connection aligns the compartments of the module and the chamber.

The waste collection vehicle may comprise an abutment, which abutment may comprise a plurality of compartments corresponding to the plurality of compartments of the chamber. The abutment may be spring biased so that it abuts an upended module within the module holder and provides a partitioned channel between each compartment of an upended module mounted in the module holder and the corresponding compartments of the chamber. The abutment may be rotationally mounted on the waste collection vehicle. The abutment may be biased in a direction opposing the direction of rotation of the module holder when moving the module into an upended position.

The first module may be a mini bin module, suitable for fitment within a kitchen base unit or it may be a mobile bin module comprising a set of wheels. In the latter case, the mobile bin can be sized to fit within a recess in a fitted kitchen with a removeable lid of the mobile bin on a level with the worksurfaces of a typical kitchen. The mobile bin module may have a hinged lid, which in an open position, lies flush with a side wall of the mobile bin, so that the hinged lid is stowed away while the mobile bin module is installed in a domestic location.

At least some of the mobile bin modules may have a releaseable connecting means on a left hand side surface thereof and at least some of the mobile bin modules may have a releaseable connecting means on a right hand side

surface thereof. In addition, at least some of the modules may include a secondary bin unit, each having a single compartment, wherein each secondary bin unit comprises a cooperating connecting means on at least one side surface thereof for releaseably connecting to the releaseable connecting means of the mobile bin modules. In this case the waste collection module may comprises an array of two mobile bin modules and two secondary bin units, wherein the array is releaseably connected to each other in a line, with their compartments aligned and with the mobile bin modules on the outside of secondary bin units. This enables two mobile bin modules and two secondary bin units to be emptied at the same time, which improves the time efficiency of the system according to the present invention.

To increase versatility of the system according to the present invention each of the bin modules of the system may be adapted to be left or right handed.

The secondary bin units may be designated the same class of waste and, in this case, the compartments of the two connected secondary bin units may correspond to a single compartment of the chamber of the waste collection vehicle.

In this arrangement a mobile bin module with the connecting means on the left hand side surface may comprises a series of compartments running from the left hand side to the right hand side of the module and a mobile module with the connecting means on the right hand side may comprises the same series of compartments running from the right hand side to the left hand side of the

module. That is, the left hand and right hand mobile bin modules may be mirror images of each other in terms of the positioning of the connecting means and the arrangement of the series of compartments. In this case, the corresponding compartments of the chamber of the waste collection vehicle may run in a series, from left to right, and may be arranged so that: the farthest left compartment and the farthest right compartment are designated the same class of separated waste; and the next farthest left compartment and the next farthest right compartment are designated the same class of separated waste; and so on. Thus, the compartments of the waste collection chamber may mirror each other from the outermost compartment of the chamber to a centre of the chamber.

Around half of the first modules may be configured so that the secondary bin module can fit only to a left side wall of the first bin module and the other half of the bin modules may be configured so that the secondary bin module can fit only to a right side wall of the first bin module. The so called left hand and right hand first bin modules are distributed evenly to users of the system, for example in a row of houses alternate houses might be allocated right hand first bin modules and the remainder allocated left hand bin modules. Then on waste collection day, a left and right hand first bin module each with secondary bin modules attached are arrayed in a line, with secondary bin modules adjacent and optionally connected. The compartments of the chamber of the waste collection vehicle correspond to the compartments of the array of bin modules. The adjacent secondary bin modules may collect the same type of waste, for example waste paper, in which case one waste

paper compartment in the second waste collection module might correspond to the two adjacent compartments of the secondary bin modules. This ensures that the compartments of the waste collection vehicle are likely to be evenly filled.

Some of the modules may comprise communal waste collection modules. For example, several houses or flats might share such a communal waste collection module. The system may additionally comprise a plurality of domestic bin units, each formed with a plurality of compartments corresponding to the compartments of the communal waste collection modules. The domestic bin units may be housed in individual flats or houses and then when full may be emptied into a local communal waste collection module. To facilitate this, each communal waste collection module may comprise a bin unit holder for releaseably holding a bin unit with the compartments of the bin unit aligned with compartments of the module for manipulating the bin unit within the module, so as to transfer waste between the corresponding compartments of the bin unit and the module. For example, a multi storey building might be provided with a stacked array of communal waste collection modules connected by correspondingly compartmentalised waste disposal chutes. In this case one communal waste collection module can be provided on each floor of a multi-storey building.

The bin unit holder may hold the bin unit via a releaseable sliding connection which aligns the compartments of the bin unit and the communal module. The bin unit holder may be rotatably mounted within the communal module

and the bin unit holder may comprise means for releaseably holding a bin unit with the compartments of the bin unit aligned with the compartments of the module and for upending the bin unit within the module so as to transfer waste between the corresponding compartments of the bin unit and the module. The communal waste collection module may comprise an abutment, which abutment may comprise a plurality of partitions corresponding to the plurality of compartments and which may be spring biased so that it abuts an upended bin unit mounted within the bin unit holder and provides a partitioned channel between each compartment of an upended bin unit mounted in the module holder and the corresponding compartments of the communal module. The abutment may be rotationally mounted within the communal module and the abutment may be biased in a direction opposing the direction of rotation of the module holder to upend the bin unit.

Then periodically, the communal waste collection module may be emptied, for example, by a waste collection vehicle or by removing the communal collection module for emptying to a waste recycling plant and replacing it. The waste collection vehicle would have corresponding compartments to the communal collection module so as to ensure separation of the separate classes of waste and would take the waste to a waste recycling plant.

The communal waste collection module of the type described above may be adaptable by the addition of a panel formed with a plurality of holes for receiving different classes of waste, wherein partitions extend from the panel between adjacent holes for forming a channel between each hole and a

corresponding compartment of the communal waste collection module. In this way such a communal waste collection module may be converted into a bottle bank and may be compatible with the waste collection vehicle.

The chamber of the waste collection vehicle may be removeable from the waste collection vehicle, so as to facilitate easy emptying of the chamber. For example, the chamber may be slideably mounted on the waste collection vehicle. In particular, the chamber may be slideably removeable from the waste collection vehicle sideways with respect to the direction of travel of the waste collection vehicle. Also, a latch arrangement may releaseably latch the chamber to the waste connection vehicle. The compartments of the waste collection chamber may have open upper ends for receiving waste from the modules. In addition, the waste collection chamber may comprise a removeable base, such that when the base is removed from the chamber, lower ends of the compartments of the chamber are opened for the release of waste therefrom.

The waste collection vehicle may comprise a hydraulic scoop arm arrangement for spreading waste deposited in each compartment of the chamber evenly in the compartment.

The system may include a waste recycling depot or plant formed with a plurality of compartments corresponding to the compartments of the waste collection vehicle, wherein the waste collection vehicle can be emptied while keeping different categories of waste separate by aligning the compartments

of the waste collection vehicle and recycling depot. The recycling depot preferably comprises a plurality of adjacent compartments. The compartments may be arrayed side by side in a line, extending in a first direction, in which case, the compartments of the recycling depot and of the waste collection vehicle have corresponding dimensions in this first direction, although it is not essential that they have corresponding dimensions in other directions. The compartments of the waste collection depot may have open upper ends for receiving waste from the waste collection chamber and may be formed as chutes for transporting waste to a terminal of each chute, which terminal is at a lower level than the upper ends.

There is also provided a method of using the system described above, comprising the steps of: filling at least one of the waste collection modules by placing different classes of waste in designated compartments; releaseably mounting the filled waste collection module on the module holder of the waste collection vehicle with the compartments of the module and the chamber aligned; and manipulating, for example upending, the module within the module holder so as to transfer the waste from the compartments of the module to the corresponding compartments of the waste collection chamber while keeping different categories of waste separate.

Where the waste collection module is a communal waste collection module as described above, the method may comprise the additional steps of: filling at least one of the bin units; releaseably holding the filled bin unit in the bin unit holder of the communal module with the compartments of the bin unit aligned

with the compartments of the module; and manipulating, for example upending, the bin unit within the module so as to transfer waste between the corresponding compartments of the bin unit and the module.

Where the waste collection system also comprises a waste recycling depot, as described above, the method may additionally comprise the steps of: driving the waste collection vehicle to a waste recycling depot and transferring the waste from the waste collection chamber of the vehicle to corresponding compartments of the waste recycling depot while keeping different categories of waste separate by aligning the compartments of the chamber and the depot. The method may also comprise the additional step of removing the base of the waste collection chamber so as to transfer waste from the waste collection chamber to the depot.

For a waste collection system including left handed and right handed waste collection modules to which secondary bin units may be releaseably attached, as described above, the method may comprise the step of arraying and connecting the two mobile bin modules and the two secondary bin units in a line with the mobile bin modules on the outside of secondary bin units so as to form the module.

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows perspective views of some components of a waste recycling system according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a hinged lid of a bin module of the waste recycling system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a plan of a kitchen (A) and adjacent outdoor area in which is installed a bin module of the waste recycling system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a mobile bin module of the waste recycling system of Figure 1 , a mini bin module or domestic bin unit of the system being emptied into the mobile bin module and a secondary bin unit which can be releaseably fitted to the mobile bin module;

Figure 5 show perspective views of the mobile bin module of Figure 4 with a secondary bin unit fitted, which secondary bin unit can be fitted to a fixing plate, shown in Figure 5, which fixing plate can be mounted on a wall;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a kitchen sink module housing a bin module of the system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 shows a rear view of a kitchen base module for housing a mini bin module or domestic bin unit of Figures 8 or alternatively the mobile bin module of Figures 4 and 5 and an adjacent kitchen base module for housing the secondary bin unit of Figures 4 and 5;

Figures 8 and 10 show a perspective views of details of a mini bin module or domestic bin unit of the waste recycling system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a pair of half thickness mini-bin modules or domestic bin units, which together will fit into a bin unit holder of a communal waste collecting module;

Figure 11a shows a perspective view of a communal waste collection module of the waste recycling system of Figure 1 , also showing an insert forming the compartments of the waste collection module;

Figure 11b shows a similar view to Figure 11a with a mini bin module or domestic bin unit of Figures 8 to 10 and a secondary bin unit of Figures 4 and

5 mounted in it for the transfer of waste;

Figure 12 shows a releaseable locking arrangement for the communal waste collection module of Figures 11a and 11b for locking a rotatable bin unit holder of the communal waste collection module against rotation when the communal waste collection module is emptied;

Figure 13 shows waste compartments of the waste collection vehicle shown in

Figure 45;

Figures 14 and 15 are perspective views showing components of the communal waste collection module of Figures 11a and 11b;

Figure 16 shows a vertical groove formed in a housing portion shown in

Figure 35 of the communal waste collection module of Figures 11a and 11b, which groove receives a corresponding Hp formed on the insert forming the compartments of the waste collection module and which is shown in Figure

11a;

Figure 17 shows a bolt arrangement for releaseably securing a rear leg of the communal waste collection module of Figure 15 at an appropriate height, which rear leg can be extended and fixed to the ground as a security feature and which can be retracted during emptying of the communal waste collection module;

Figures 18 and 19 are perspective views showing details of the communal waste collection module of Figure 35;

Figure 20 shows a plan view of the communal waste collection modules of

Figures 11a and 11b showing details of a spring arrangement and a waste collection vehicle holding bar;

Figure 21 shows a cut away perspective view of a communal waste collection module similar to that shown in Figure 11a showing the rotatable bin unit holder, hand bars for operating the rotatable bin unit holder and the axle on which the rotatable bin unit holder is mounted and to the left is shown a spring biased compartmentalised abutment which is mounted for rotation on the axle and held in position by the return spring arrangement;

Figure 22 shows the return spring arrangement of Figure 20;

Figure 23 shows a perspective view of the waste collection module of Figures

11a and 11b with a side panel cut away and showing the rotatable bin unit holder, hand bars for operating the rotatable bin unit holder and the axle on which the rotatable bin unit holder is mounted;

Figure 24 is a perspective view of the cut away side panel from Figure 23;

Figure 25 shows a detail of the communal waste collection module of Figures

11a and 11b showing the axle and the fitment of the spring arrangement to the compartmentalised abutment;

Figure 26 shows an interface of a pair of roof panels of an embodiment of a communal waste collection module of Figures 28 and 29;

Figures 27 to 29 are perspective views showing adaptations to the communal waste collection module of Figures 11a and 11b to convert them into a waste recycling bank;

Figure 30 shows a rear perspective view of a communal waste collection module below a compartmentalised waste disposal chute in accordance with the waste recycling system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 31 shows an stacked array of communal waste collection modules in accordance with the waste recycling system of Figure 1 , connected by compartmentalised waste disposal chutes, as shown in Figure 30, suitable for use on different floors of a building;

Figure 32 shows a perspective view in more detail of the waste disposal chutes of Figures 30 and 31 ;

Figure 33 shows the communal waste collection module of Figure 30 in the process of being built into a building;

Figures 34 and 35 are perspective views of portions of the communal collection module of Figures 11a and 11b;

Figure 36 shows a plan view of the connection of the waste collection vehicle holding bar and the rear of a communal waste collection module as shown in

Figure 20;

Figure 37 shows a plan view of a mobile bin module with a secondary bin unit attached, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, showing the compartments;

Figure 38 shows a rear view of the combined mobile bin and secondary bin unit of Figure 37;

Figure 39 shows a plan view of the combined mobile bin module and secondary bin unit of Figures 37 and 38, with their lids closed;

Figure 40 shows a plan view of the rear of the combined mobile bin module and secondary bin unit of Figures 37 to 39, with their lids opened, showing the compartments of Figure 37;

Figures 41a and b show a front perspective view of the right handed combined mobile bin modules and secondary bin unit of Figures 37 to 40 adjacent to a left handed combined mobile bin modules and secondary bin unit, similar to that of Figures 37 to 40, except with the secondary bin unit fitted to the left hand side of the mobile bin module rather than the right hand side;

Figure 42 shows a side view of a mobile bin module according to Figures 4, 5 and 37 to 41 ;

Figures 43 and 44 show connection details of the mobile bin modules and secondary bin units of Figures 4, 5 and 37 to 41 ;

Figure 45 shows a perspective view of the rearward end of a waste collection vehicle of the waste recycling system according to the present invention having a set of compartments as shown in Figure 13, corresponding to the compartments of the array of mobile bin modules and secondary bin units of

Figure 41b;

Figure 46 shows a detail of the vehicle of Figure 45 showing the mounting of a removeable compartmentalised waste holding chamber on a wheeled base and a latch arrangement;

Figure 47 shows a perspective view from above of a waste recycling depot having a compartmentalised waste chute, corresponding to the compartments of the waste collection vehicle of Figure 45 onto which the waste holding chamber of the vehicle can be transferred so as to deposit separated waste from the chamber to the waste chute of the depot;

Figure 48 shows the waste chute of the recycling depot of Figure 47;

Figures 49 to 52 show details of the array of connected communal waste collection modules of Figure 31 ;

Figure 53 shows the compartments of the waste chute of Figure 48; and

Figure 54 shows a plan view of the right hand and a left hand combination of communal bin modules of Figure 11 b, side by side , which correspond to the compartments of the waste collection vehicle of Figure 45, as shown in Figure

13.

Figure 3 shows a plan of a kitchen area (A) and an adjoining outdoor area. Adjacent to a sink module of the kitchen is located an example of a waste collection module according to the present invention, which in this embodiment may comprise a mini bin module or domestic bin unit (08) or a mobile bin module (06).

The mini bin module (08) is shown in more detail in Figures 8 to 10 and comprises a container, open at the top, and divided into separate compartments, each for receiving a different category of waste. For example, compartment 1 might receive organic waste, compartment 2 might receive tin can waste, compartment 3 might receive plastic container waste and compartment 4 might receive glass container waste. The mini bin module (08) may be located in a kitchen base unit, as shown in Figure 6 underneath a section of worktop in which a hole is formed. The hole is substantially the same size as the mini bin module (08). A rim (9) is fitted into the hole and extends towards the mini bin module (08) so as to guide waste into the compartments of the mini bin module. A lid (18) (See Figure 2) is provided for

the mini bin module (08), which lid fits over the hole in the worktop. The lid is formed in two halves which are hingedly connected by a hinge. An axle (19) of the hinge is fitted at either end into receiving holes (20) formed in the rim (9). A user deposits waste items in the appropriate compartment, by lifting the appropriate half of the lid (18) and depositing the waste in the compartment. The compartments within the mini bin module (08) are sized to match the average relative volume of the different classes of waste in an average household.

When the mini bin module (08) is full it can be emptied into a compartmentalised mobile bin module (06), as is shown in Figure 4. The mobile bin module (06) is formed with compartments, which correspond to the compartments in the mini bin module (08). The compartments from the mini bin module (08) and mobile bin module are aligned as the mini bin module (08) is upended and the waste from the mini bin module (08) is emptied into the mobile bin module (06). In this embodiment the mobile bin module (06) might be kept in an outdoor area, such as a garden or yard, as shown in Figure 3. The mini bin module (08) would be emptied into the mobile bin module (06) when it becomes full. Then the mobile bin module (06) would be emptied periodically, for example, once a week, by a waste collection vehicle (See Figure 45), the mobile bin module, having compartments for different classes of waste corresponding to the compartments of the mobile bin module (06).

Alternatively, a domestic bin unit (08) can be emptied into a compartmentalised communal waste collection module, shown in Figures 1 , 11a and 11b. The communal waste collection module comprises a compartmentalised waste storage area, with compartments (see insert of Figure 11a) which correspond to the compartments in the domestic bin unit (08). The domestic bin unit (08) can be located within a rotatable bin unit holder of the communal collection module, as shown in Figure 11 b. When the domestic bin unit (08) is located in the rotatable bin unit holder, the compartments of the domestic bin unit are aligned with the compartments of the communal waste collection module in the first direction indicated by the double headed arrow of Figure 11b. The domestic bin unit (08) is formed at opposing sides with a pair of grooves (6) which correspond to a pair of rails (49, 50 - Figure 24) formed in the rotatable bin unit holder. When the domestic bin unit (08) requires emptying, it can be slideably located within the rotatable bin unit holder by engaging the pair of grooves (6) of the mini bin module (08) with the rails (45, 50 - Figure 24) of the rotatable bin unit holder. The domestic bin unit (08) is slid into the position shown in Figure 11b. As shown in Figure 21 , a frame including the rotatable bin unit holder of the communal waste collection module is rotatably mounted on an axle (52) of the communal collection module. Then with the domestic bin unit (08) fitted within the rotatable unit holder, the domestic bin unit (08) is rotated with the rotatable bin unit holder, in the direction of the single headed arrow of Figure 11 , until the domestic bin unit is upturned and waste is transferred from the compartments of the domestic bin unit (08) into the corresponding compartments (See Figure 35) of the communal waste collection module.

A pair of rails (53) are mounted on the rotatable frame, of the communal waste collection module of Figures 11a and 11b, so that they rotate along with the rotatable bin unit holder. In order to rotate the frame, and thus the bin unit holder, a user holds onto the upper one of the rails (53) and lifts it upwardly, then transferring their grip to the lower one of the rails (53) and lifts that upwardly, until the domestic bin unit (08) is substantially upended and the open periphery of the domestic bin unit abuts a peripheral rim (89) of a spring biased compartmentalised abutment (See figure 21). The compartments of the compartmentalised abutment (54) correspond to the compartments of the domestic bin unit (08) and correspond to and at least partially overlap the compartments of the communal waste collection module (See insert of Figure 11a) and act as a partitioned conduit between the compartments of the domestic bin unit (08) and the corresponding compartments of the communal waste collection module. The compartmentalised abutment is also rotatably mounted on the axle (52) and is suspended in the position shown in Figures 11a, 11b, 21 and 24 by a spring arrangement shown in Figures 20, 22 and 24.

Figure 20 is a plan view of the communal waste collection module and shows the spring arrangement with a first end of a helical spring (86) attached via a plate arrangement (46, 47) to the structure of the communal waste collection module. The second end of the helical spring (86) is attached to the compartmentalised abutment (54). Thus, when a domestic bin unit (08) is upended in the rotatable bin holder module, the open upper end of the domestic bin unit engages the forward face of the compartmentalised

abutment (54) so that the domestic bin unit (08) can be rotated quickly forward and backwards to shake its contents in order to completely empty the domestic bin unit. The spring arrangement ensures continued contact between the open upper end of the mini bin module (08) and the compartmentalised abutment (54) as the contents are shaken from the mini bin module. In this way the abutment (54) is biased in a direction opposing the direction of rotation of the bin unit holder when moving the domestic bin unit into the upended position.

According to an alternative embodiment, a mobile bin module (06), as shown in Figures 4 and 5 can be located in the kitchen (A), as is shown in Figures 3 and 7. The mobile bin module (06) comprises a container, open at the top and divided into separate compartments, each for receiving a different category of waste. For example, compartment 1 might receive organic waste, compartment 2 might receive tin can waste, compartment 3 might receive plastic container waste and compartment 4 might receive glass container waste. The mobile bin module (06) may be located in a kitchen base module, as shown from the rear in Figure 7. A removeable lid arrangement, comprising a hinged lid (18) and a rim (9) (See Figure 2), is provided for the mobile bin module (06), which lid arrangement forms a portion of the kitchen worktop, as described above in relation to the mini bin module or domestic bin unit (08). A user deposits waste items in the appropriate compartment, by lifting the appropriate half of the lid (18) and depositing the waste in the compartment. The compartments within the mobile bin module (06) are sized to match the average relative volume of the different classes of waste in an

average household. The mobile bin module (06) has a pair of rear wheels or rollers its base and a handle located towards the top of the mobile bin module at its rear so as to facilitate easy transport of the mobile bin module (06).

When the mobile bin module (06) is emptied, the rim (9) with the lid (18) are removed and a secondary lid (139), which is hingedly connected to a rear upper edge of the mobile bin module is moved to cover the opening at the top of the mobile bin module, as is shown in Figure 5. While the mobile bin module (06) is installed for use in the kitchen (A) the secondary lid (139) is pulled back from the opening so that it lies flush with a rearward surface of the mobile bin module, as is shown in Figure 4.

A secondary bin unit (07) shown attached at one side to a mobile bin module (06) in Figure 5, has connectors (133, 136) on its opposite side which can be used to fit the secondary bin unit (07) to corresponding connectors formed on a fixing plate (140). This fixing plate (140) can be fixed to a wall, for example in a house, by passing screw fixings through the holes (124) in the fixing plate and fixing them into the wall.

The mobile bin module (06) can be emptied into a compartmentalised waste collection vehicle (See Figure 45). The waste collection vehicle comprises a compartmentalised waste storage area or chamber, with compartments which correspond to the compartments in the mobile bin module (06). When the mobile bin module (06) requires emptying, it can be slideably located on a rotatable bin holder module (176) of the waste collection vehicle. The

rotatable bin module holder is positioned on the waste collection vehicle such that when the mobile bin module (06) is mounted on the rotatable bin holder module (176) the compartments of the mobile bin module are aligned with the corresponding compartments of the waste collection vehicle in the first direction shown by the double headed arrow in Figure 13. The mobile bin module (06) is lifted by an upward movement of the rotatable bin holder module and is then upended and waste is transferred from the compartments of the mobile bin module (06) into the corresponding compartments of the waste collection vehicle. The bin holder module comprises a hydraulic lifting arm for lifting the mobile bin module (8) and a hydraulic rotating arm for upending the mobile bin module (06). The rotatable bin module holder (153) of the waste collection vehicle is rotatably mounted on an axle. Then with the mobile bin module (06) fitted within the rotatable bin module holder (153), the mobile bin module (06) is rotated with the rotatable bin module holder, until the mobile bin module is upended and waste is transferred from the compartments of the mobile bin module (06) into the corresponding compartments (See Figure 13) of the waste collection vehicle.

The waste collection vehicle has a rotatable bin holder module mounted on an axle, similar to that described above with reference to the communal waste collection module. A pair of rails (176) are mounted on the rotatable bin holder module (153) of the waste collection vehicle of Figure 45, so that they rotate along with the rotatable bin holder module. In order to rotate the bin holder module (153), an hydraulic lifting arm (155) lifts the rail (176) upwardly and rearwardly, until the mobile bin module (06) and optionally an attached

secondary bin unit (07), are substantially upended and the open periphery of the mobile bin module abuts a peripheral rim of a spring biased compartmentalised abutment (145). The compartments of the compartmentalised abutment (145) correspond to the compartments of the mobile and secondary bin modules (06, 07) and correspond to and at least partially overlap with the compartments of the waste collection vehicle (See Figure 13) and act as a partitioned conduit between the compartments of the bin module (06, 07) and the corresponding compartments of the waste collection vehicle. The compartmentalised abutment is also rotatably mounted on an axle (146) and is suspended in the position shown in Figure 45 by a spring arrangement (150-152).

The spring arrangement comprises a helical spring with a first end of the helical spring (151) attached via a plate arrangement (152) to the structure of the waste collection vehicle. The second end of the helical spring (151) is attached to the compartmentalised abutment (145). Thus, when a mobile bin module (06) is upended in the rotatable bin module holder (153), the open upper end of the mobile bin module engages the forward face of the compartmentalised abutment (145) so that the bin module (06) can be rotated quickly forward and backwards to shake the contents in order to completely empty the mobile bin module. The spring arrangement ensures continued contact between the open upper end of the mobile bin module (06) and the compartmentalised abutment (145) as the contents are shaken from the mobile bin module. In this way, the abutment is biased in a direction opposing

the direction of rotation of the bin module holder when moving the module into an upended position.

The waste collection vehicle comprises a hydraulic scoop arm arrangement for spreading waste deposited in each compartment of the chamber evenly in the compartment. A scoop, for example, in the form of a brush is provided for each compartment on the scoop arm arrangement. As shown in Figure 45 a brush (158) is mounted at the entrance to each of the compartments of the waste collection vehicle. Each brush has a width which corresponds to the width of its associated compartment. The brushes (158) are mounted on the hydraulic scoop arm system (157). From the position of the brushes (158), the scoop arm system operates as follows. The brushes (158) are supported in a substantially vertical orientation and the scoop arm system (157) pulls the brushes rearwardly (to the right in Figure 45) so that the brushed spread any deposited waste rearwardly. Then the brushes (158) are rotated to a substantially horizontal orientation, above any deposited waste, and are moved forwardly and then rotated back to their vertical orientation.

An extra compartment in the form of a secondary bin unit (07), for example for containing paper based waste, can be stored in an adjacent kitchen module, as is shown in Figure 7 or can be latched onto the mobile bin module (06) as is shown in Figures 4 and 5. A separate compartment in a communal waste collection module (as shown in the Figures) or in a waste collection vehicle can be provided for receiving the waste from the secondary bin module (07). A combination of left handed and right handed mobile bin (06) and secondary

bin (07) modules can be supplied to different households in a neighbourhood, in which the secondary bin module (07) latches onto the left or right hand side of the mobile bin module (06), as is described in more detail below.

Figures 30 to 33 and 49 to 52 show an embodiment of the recycling system according to the present invention incorporated into a multi storey building. Figure 30 shows compartmentalised waste disposal chute located above a compartmentalised communal collection module. Figures 32 and 33 show the chute and a communal waste collection module respectively built into a wall of a building. The communal collection module stores waste in separate compartments. For example, compartment 1 might receive organic waste, compartment 2 might receive tin can waste, compartment 3 might receive plastic container waste and compartment 4 might receive glass container waste. An array of such communal collection modules interconnected by correspondingly compartmentalised chutes, is shown in Figure 31. For example, the array could be installed in a multi-story building, with one communal collection module on each floor, one above the other. The communal collection modules might be located on a part of a corridor on each floor, easily reached by the occupants of that floor.

Each occupant of the building would have at least one domestic bin unit (08) of the type described above, for example in their office, flat or apartment. Then when a domestic bin unit (08) is full an occupant would take the domestic bin unit (08) to the nearest communal collection module on their floor of the building. The domestic bin unit (08) can then be located within a

rotatable bin unit holder of the communal collection module. The domestic bin unit (08) is formed at opposing sides with a pair of grooves (6) which correspond to a pair of rails (45,50) formed in the rotatable bin unit holder. When the domestic bin unit (08) requires emptying, it can be slideably located within the rotatable bin unit holder by engaging the pair of grooves (6) of the domestic bin unit (08) with the rails (45,50) of the rotatable bin unit holder. The domestic bin unit (08) is slid into the position shown in Figure 11b. As shown in Figure 21 , the rotatable bin unit holder of the communal waste collection module is rotatably mounted on an axle (52) of the communal collection module. Then with the domestic bin unit (08) fitted within the rotatable bin unit holder, the domestic bin unit (08) is rotated with the rotatable bin unit holder, in the direction of the double headed arrow of Figure 11 b, until the domestic bin unit is upturned and waste is transferred from the compartments of the domestic bin unit (08) into the corresponding compartments of the communal collection module. The waste is then transferred via the compartmentalised chutes to the corresponding compartments of the lowest communal collection module in the array. This lowest communal collection module may be emptied periodically and the separated waste transferred to a recycling plant.

The communal collection modules, may also be left or right handed, as is shown in Figure 54, so that two communal collection modules may be emptied simultaneously into the chamber of a waste collection vehicle, in a similar way as is described for the left and right handed mobile bin modules (with secondary bin units attached) of Figures 41a and 41 b.

A left handed and a right handed mobile bin module (06) with associated secondary bin modules (07) fitted via the slideable latch arrangement shown in Figures 43 and 44, can be located in an array, as is shown in Figures 41a and b. The array of Figures 41a and b comprises a left handed mobile bin module (06) with secondary bin module (07) attached and a right handed mobile bin module (06) with secondary bin module (07) attached in which the two secondary bin modules (07) are located side by side and optionally attached to each other. Either neighbouring householders can leave their mobile bin modules in such an array or the mobile bin modules (06) can be arrayed in this way by waste collection operatives. With the modules arrayed in this way, the compartments of the modules correspond to the compartments of the waste collection vehicle shown in Figure 13. The two arrayed modules (See Figures 41a and 41b) can thus be emptied into the waste collection vehicle of Figure 41 in one operation.

As can be seen from Figures 41a and b, a mobile bin module with the connecting means on the left hand side surface comprises a series of compartments running from the left hand side to the right hand side of the module and a mobile module with the connecting means on the right hand side comprises the same series of compartments running from the right hand side to the left hand side of the module. That is, in Figures 41a and b, the compartments of the right handed and the left handed mobile bin modules are mirror images of each other.

As can be seen from Figure 53 the corresponding compartments of the chamber of the waste collection vehicle run in a series from left to right and are arranged so that: the farthest left compartment and the farthest right compartment are designated the same class of separated waste (in Figure 53, tin cans); the next farthest left compartment and the next farthest right compartment are designated the same class of separated waste; and so on.

The mini bin modules or domestic bin units (08), the mobile bin modules (06), with secondary bin unit optionally attached, the communal waste collection modules (Figures 11a and 11b), the waste collection vehicle (Figure 45) and the chute arrangement of the recycling depot (Figures 47 and 48) all have a plurality of adjacent compartments. These compartments are arrayed side by side in a line, extending in a first direction. For the mini bin module or domestic bin units (08), for example as shown in Figure 9 adjacent compartments are arrayed side by side in a line in the direction indicated by the double headed arrow. The mini bin module (08) may be emptied into a mobile bin module (06) and so the compartments of the mini bin module (08) and the mobile bin module (06) have corresponding dimensions in this first direction, as is shown by the arrow in Figure 4, where the emptying of the mini bin module into the larger volume mobile bin module (06) is shown. The mini bin module or domestic bin units (08) may alternatively be emptied into a communal waste collection module, as is shown, for example in Figure 11b and so the compartments of the domestic bin units (08) and the communal waste collection module have corresponding dimensions in this first direction, as is shown by the double headed arrow in Figure 11b, where the emptying of

the domestic bin unit into the larger volume communal waste collection module is shown.

Figure 9 shows a pair of half width domestic bin units (05), which together can be fitted into the bin unit holder of a communal waste collection module. The domestic bin units (05) have corresponding compartments to the domestic bin units (08) of Figure 8. These thinner bins are suitable for location in areas where less space is available for collection waste, for example in a corridor.

For the mobile bin module (06), optionally with the secondary bin unit (07) attached for example as shown in Figures 37 and 39 adjacent compartments are arrayed side by side in a line in the direction indicated by the double headed arrow. The mobile bin module (06) may be emptied into a waste collection vehice (Figure 45) and so the compartments of the mobile bin module (06) and the waste collection vehicle have corresponding dimensions in this first direction, as is shown by the arrow in Figures 37 and 13. Thus, by aligning the compartments of the mobile bin module (06) in said first direction with the corresponding compartments of the waste collection vehicle, the separated waste in the mobile bin module is transferred into the corresponding compartments of the waste collection vehicle, via the compartmentalised abutment (145). So long as the compartments are of the same dimensions in this first direction, their dimensions in other directions need not be the same, for example in the direction in the plane of the open end of the mobile bin module and perpendicular to the double headed arrow.

As shown in Figures 45, 46 and 47 the waste collection vehicle comprises a compartment for housing a removeable waste collection chamber (167). The waste collection chamber (167) comprises a plurality of adjacent compartments arranged side by side in a line in the direction of the double headed arrow. The compartments of the waste collection chamber (167) are open at their top end to receive waste and at their bottom end to deposit waste in a waste recycling depot. The bottom end of the waste collection chamber (167) is closed by mounting the waste collection chamber on a wheeled base (192). The base (192) with the chamber (167) mounted on it can be slideably removed from the side of the compartment in the waste collection vehicle so as to enable emptying of the chamber. A latch arrangement (161) formed at the base of an opening of the compartment in the side of the vehicle, can selectively latch the base (192) and thus the chamber (167) within the vehicle compartment.

The emptying of the compartments of the waste collection vehicle of Figure 41 will now be described with reference to Figures 41 , 46 and 47. The waste collection vehicle is driven into a bay (marked IN) of a compartmentalised recycling depot, as shown in Figure 47. The depot includes a conveyor belt arrangement (205, 206, 207), compartmentalised chute arrangement having compartments (214-216) and a lifting module (209-212). The latch arrangement (161) on the side of the waste collection vehicle is moved downwardly so as to release the wheeled base (192) carrying the compartmentalised waste chamber (167) of the vehicle. Then a similarly shaped latch arrangement (202) supported on a trolley is pushed underneath

an edge of the wheeled base (192) of the waste chamber (167) of the vehicle. The latch arrangement (202) is then moved upwardly to engage the wheeled base (192). Then the latch arrangement (202) and trolley are retracted by a hydraulic arm so as to pull the wheeled base (192) and waste chamber (167) off the vehicle onto and to the end of conveyor belt (205).

The trolley and latch arrangement (202) pull the waste chamber (167) until it is aligned with the chute arrangement (214-216) of the recycling depot. Then the lifting module (209-212) slides the waste chamber (167) off the base (192) and over the chute arrangement (214-216), causing the waste from open bottomed compartments (Figure 13) of the waste chamber to be deposited into the underlying corresponding compartments (Figure 53) of the waste chute arrangement (214-216) of the recycling depot. Meanwhile the base (192) is transferred along conveyor belts (205, 207, 206) to the opposite end of the waste chute arrangement. At said opposite end, the emptied waste chamber (161) is remounted on the base (192) by the lifting arrangement (209-212) and the remounted base and waste chamber are slideably located back into the compartment of the waste collection vehicle (positioned as shown in Figure 47). A latch and trolley arrangement (203) engage the edge of the base (192) and push the base and waste chamber onto the vehicle before disengaging the base. The latch arrangement (161) on the vehicle secures the base (192) and thus the waste collection chamber (161) onto the vehicle and then the vehicle is ready to collect more waste.

For the waste collection vehicle (Figure 45) adjacent compartments are arrayed side by side in a line in the direction indicated by the double headed arrow of Figure 13. The waste chamber (167) of the waste collection vehicle (Figure 47) are emptied into the compartments (214-216) of the waste recycling depot and so the waste chamber (167) and the compartments (214- 216) have corresponding dimensions in this first direction. Thus, by aligning the compartments of the waste chamber (167) in said first direction with the corresponding compartments of the waste recycling depot, the separated waste in the waste chamber is transferred into the corresponding compartments of the recycling depot. So long as the compartments are of the same dimensions in this first direction, their dimensions in other directions need not be the same. For example, in Figure 47, the compartments of the waste collection depot are longer than the compartments of the waste chamber in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Figure 48 shows the compartmentalised waste collection chutes of the recycling depot of Figure 47. Separated waste travels along the chutes and may be washed (228) before each class of waste is transferred into a different container for onwards processing.

The waste collection chutes of Figure 48 can direct waste to different waste collection levels. For example, chute (221) may direct waste to a higher level, for example, a different floor or storey of a waste collection depot. Each chute is formed with a curved transition surface between the vertical back surface of

the chute and the horizontal base of each chute, in order to smoothly direct deposited waste to its destination (210, 221).

Figure 28 shows a communal waste collection module of the type shown in Figures 11a and 11b, but which has been adapted to form a bottle bank. A panel (97) formed with three openings for different coloured glass is fitted to the front of the module, with partitions between the three openings forming channels leading from each opening to a corresponding one of the compartments of the module. The waste collection vehicle of Figures 45 and 47 can then do a glass collection round, collecting only glass from such adapted communal waste collection modules, while keeping the glass separate. The glass collected in the vehicle can then be deposited at a glass recycling depot, still keeping different coloured glass waste separate using the type of depot described above in relation to Figure 47. Alternatively, the same depot could be used as for normal waste, except that at certain times, the compartments of the depot shown in Figures 47 and 48 could used for different coloured glass waste only.