AU2020103649A4

AU2020103649A4 - IPIT- Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Waste Management: Intelligent Process Management for Industrial Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Unused Wastes Using IoT-Based Technology

Info

Publication number: AU2020103649A4
Application number: AU2020103649A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Nitin Balkrishna Chaphalkar; Mahesh Chand; Parul Gupta; Ram Karan Singh; Vrushsen Purushottam Pawar; Beg Raj; Satyendra Singh; Vineet Tirth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-11-25
Filing date: 2020-11-25
Publication date: 2021-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-25

Abstract

Our invention "IPIT- Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Waste Management" is a system and method for creating a municipal solid waste (MSW) system to address the multiple types of waste that are disposed by the public, and further, to provide a waste management solution that provides for the sustained economic development and growth of communities. The IPIT- hazardous & non-hazardous waste management is also providing effective screening and separation of hazardous components in the waste stream, and further provides recovery and reuse solutions as alternatives to disposal of hazardous waste and the present invention further provides communities with a system and method to more effectively capture and use disposed MSW and other waste streams to provide renewable energy sources. The IPIT- hazardous & non-hazardous waste management and also includes a method for establishing a municipal solid waste management system that makes sustainable development possible while preserving the economic interests of the parties involved. The IPIT- hazardous & non-hazardous waste management is a method of treating municipal solid waste by first segregating the recyclables, the non-recyclables, and the biodegradable waste and recyclables are sold to recycling firms. Non-recyclables are sealed airtight in barges that serve as platforms for vermi-composting and food production offshore. The IPIT- hazardous & non-hazardous waste management is a biodegradable waste is brought to an offshore facility where it is fed to earthworms, converting organic waste into castings and protein meal and Food production is conducted in tandem with vermi-composting to complete the recycling process. The IPIT hazardous & non-hazardous waste management is a Earthworms are fed to freshwater fish and Earthworm protein serves as feed ingredient for livestock. Castings serve as substrate for organic crops in greenhouses. Waste from livestock serves as activator for composting organic municipal waste and input to biogas digesters. The IPIT- hazardous & non-hazardous waste management is a freshwater fish serves as feed for saltwater fish in cages in-between the barges. Thus, the recycling cycle turns full circle with: zero waste, where the municipal waste is completely disposed of without polluting the environment. 24 FIG. 1: IS A FLOW CHART DEPICTING A METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING A MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. 112 Reinewable Energy 140 15 ,composting Municipal Recyclin Facility 1146 154 Gkass Sendificalatng Research 14 Landfill Elemenft 148 Electronics. 152Reyln Environmental Education Center 150 Wood Cleaninmg FIG. 2: IS A STATE DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATING A PLURALITY OF ELEMENTS FORMING A WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRESENT INVENTION.

Description

FIG. 1: IS A FLOW CHART DEPICTING A METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING A MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

112 Reinewable Energy 140 15 ,composting Municipal Recyclin Facility

1146 154 Gkass Sendificalatng Research 14 Landfill Elemenft

148 Electronics. 152Reyln Environmental Education Center 150 Wood Cleaninmg

FIG. 2: IS A STATE DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATING A PLURALITY OF ELEMENTS FORMING A WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRESENT INVENTION.

IPIT- Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Waste Management: Intelligent Process Management for Industrial Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Unused Wastes Using IoT-Based Technology

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Our invention "IPIT- Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Waste Management" is related to Intelligent Process Management for Industrial Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Unused Wastes Using IoT-Based Technology and also refining municipal solid waste (MSW) management system to maximizing renewable resources for the benefit of society.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As the population is growing day by day, the generation of waste is growing many folds due to inadequate MSW management requiring an immediate response. A wide variety of disposable waste of different shapes, sizes, states, including a few recyclable materials pose challenges and extreme pressure on the capacity of the waste management system in place. The continuous increase in the variety and quantity of the MSW and the lack of coordination and compliance of the public in utilizing the MSW management facilities in place result in a deficit of space for landfill, requiring a restructuring of the companies and personnel responsible. The fact of the matter is that the MSW management activities and landfill are viewed as an excessive liability on the public exchequer from the economic as well as the infrastructure development perspective. This invention gives a paradigm shift approach to deal with the MSW by changing the landfill from liability to an asset to promote sustainable development and improve the environmental health of the societies.

In a typical MSW management system, a private company is hired on contract to execute the landfill operation and oversee the entire process. The economics of the arrangement generally involve a landfill lease payment from the company to the community, and a waste removal and disposal payment made from the community to the company. As such, communities typically select the waste management company that offers the highest lease payments, and companies typically bid on contracts with sufficient waste volume to maintain their profitability. While this business model has proved reliable in the past, the current pace of waste production requires that both communities and companies take an innovative approach to waste management.

A great deal of the current research and innovation related to MSW management is focused on extending the life and performance of existing landfills. However, these types of innovations are generally shortsighted as they merely show how to extend the life of landfills and rather than solve the underlying need to have sustained economic development in our communities. Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for MSW operation to address the multiple types of waste that are disposed of by the public, and further, to provide a waste management solution that more effectively addresses the issue of sustainable economic development. Additionally, there is a need for a system and method that effectively reduce the total volume of waste through increasing the reuse of products as well as the use of beneficial by-products of the waste management process.

A further substantial challenge is the management of solid waste (municipal or not) that can contain hazardous components that threaten public health, safety, and the environment. Hazardous waste poses additional public fears and handling/disposal issues for waste management personnel. Therefore, what is needed is a system that provides effective screening and separation of hazardous components in the waste stream, and further provides recovery and reuse solutions as alternatives to disposal of hazardous waste.

An accompanying issue with waste management in general, and specifically in MSW management, is the loss of resources that occurs. The energy required to create products, sustain them throughout use and ultimately dispose them of are generally lost in the current waste management system. A certain percent can currently be captured through recycling efforts, but on the whole, most "used" products are disposed into a MSW landfill with few options for recovery and use of the energy and/or benefit contained in the disposed of MSW. What is needed therefore is a system and method to more effectively capture and use disposed MSW and other waste streams to provide renewable energy sources.

The concept of "sustainable development" and a "sustainable community" has been in existence for years. According to Webster's New Millennium' Dictionary of English, the term "sustainable development" means "any construction that can be maintained over time without damaging the environment; development balancing near-term interests with the protection of the interests of future generations". A sustainable community provides a better quality of life for current and future residents by optimizing nature's ability to effectively and efficiently function over time. An ideal sustainable community has systems in place to minimize waste, prevent pollution and promote efficiency, and further develops resources to revitalize local economies.

The waste management system is a central component of the infrastructure of a sustainable community. This critical component must be managed by technologies, systems and methods that support and drive sustainable physical environments and communities. Caring for the air, land, water, other natural resources and the public's health is fundamental in attaining the long-term objectives of sustainability and solid waste management. However, the reality of the "sustainable community" concept is that this is very difficult to achieve and to date has existed more in theory than in practice. The necessary technologies, systems and methods either do not exist or have not been operated in a synergistic manner to derive the desired economic and environmental benefits and outputs.

While the goals of sustainable development are universally lauded by both private and public entities, the simple economics of the waste management industry often belie any noble intentions. As previously noted, the public views waste management systems primarily as a liability rather than as an asset. This mindset is based largely upon the emissions that are generated by landfills, including leachate and methane gas, which produce a number of unfortunate side effects. The state of the art has not developed a zero-emissions landfill system that is capable of generating assets such as heat and combustible gas.

Accordingly, what is needed is an improvement in the art of landfill design and waste management that will accomplish the twin goals of a zero-emissions facility and the development of usable, renewable resources for the community. In short, what is needed is an approach to MSW management that better supports the concept of "sustainable community" and further can be implemented and operated successfully, as opposed to being a theoretical concept. In addition, what is needed is a system that organizes the necessary technologies, systems and methods and operates them in a synergistic manner to provide the desired economic and environmental benefits and outputs. In sum, there is a need in the art for a system and method for waste management that provides the environmental benefits of sustained development while simultaneously providing the economic basis for public and private cooperation.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for a MSW system that is both zero-emissions and asset producing and therefore more appealing and beneficial to communities. The present invention addresses the multiple types of waste that are disposed by the public, and further, provides a waste management solution that more effectively addresses the issue of waning landfill capacity, i.e. the present invention increases the size of each landfill through more effective systems configuration and management. It is a further object of the invention to provide effective screening and separation of hazardous components in the waste stream, and further provides recovery and reuse solutions as alternatives to disposal of hazardous waste. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide communities with a system and method to more effectively capture and use disposed MSW and other waste streams to provide renewable energy sources. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to present these and other goals in a methodology that makes sustainable development possible by benefiting the economic and environmental interests of the parties involved.

There are two principal methods of municipal solid waste disposal used in the world today: incineration and sanitary landfill. These popular methods of disposing and managing waste, however, come with serious environmental hazards.

Incinerators bum municipal waste to convert the waste into energy. The big problem with incinerators is that they also convert waste into hazardous air emissions and toxic ashes. In burning waste, Incinerators spew carcinogenic and toxic elements from their smoke stacks; including dioxin compounds, lead, mercury, cadmium, nitrous oxide, arsenic, fluorides, and particulates that can be inhaled and lodge permanently in the lungs. Dioxin was identified by the World Health Organization as a known human carcinogen in 1997. Dioxin has been found to rapidly build up in the food chain. From Incinerator smoke stacks, tiny dioxin particles attach to dust particles and travel long distances. It lands on grass and animal feed wherein it bio-accumulates as it moves up in the food chain. When people eat or drink the contaminated animal product, the dioxin in the animal body is transferred to humans. Dioxin is known to contaminate human breast milk; and these, in turn, are transferred to their babies. It is also linked to birth defects, immune system dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, male infertility and other health problems. People around incinerators can be affected by dioxin either indirectly through the food chain; or directly, through inhalation of polluted air or drinking water contaminated by this hazardous pollutant.

Some incinerators may be equipped with expensive filters in their smoke stacks (a luxury which most developing countries cannot afford or care to install), but despite such precautions, air pollution from incinerators remain a serious problem. Filtering the hazardous emissions only makes the residual ashes even more toxic. About 10-30% of the burned waste materials are converted into ash. The problem again is where to dispose of these toxic residues laden with heavy metals, dioxins and: furans. Disposing them in landfills only endanger underground water reservoirs and aquifers even more.

Another serious issue raised on the use of incinerators for waste disposal is the permanent loss of resources that can be recovered from garbage. Aside from non biodegradable materials that can be recovered for reuse or recycling, the biodegradable portion of the waste can be turned into compost and plowed back into the ecosystem. Incinerators burn them all, and in the process, create more environmental problems than they intended to solve.

Sanitary landfills, on the other hand, bury the mixed municipal waste in the ground. The most serious drawback of this method of waste disposal is the contamination of water ways and aquifers. There are more than 2,000 landfills in the U.S. today, and more than % of these have no lining to protect the nearby aquifers from being contaminated by the leachates emanating from landfills. Leachates are the liquid mixtures produced by rainwater passing through a landfill. When rainwater percolates through the waste material, traces of lead, mercury, cadmium and other toxic contaminants are mixed with the liquid. Leachates from landfills that seep into aquifers or find their way into waterways pollute and render water supplies unfit for human use. To realize the gravity of this problem, let us take the case of the Fresh Kills Landfill in New York, considered as the largest manmade object in the world covering some 3,000 acres and about 200 feet high. This famous landfill leaks an estimated 1 million gallons of leachate into the surrounding water table every day (Miller).

Although about 70% of the earth's surface is covered with water, only less than 1% of water in the planet is available for sustaining life; and most of these can be found in underground water reservoirs or aquifers. About 50% of Americans use groundwater for drinking while almost all who live in the rural areas of the U.S. depend on groundwater. Water being the source of life and the most important natural resource is seriously threatened by contamination coming from hundreds of landfill sites dotting the U.S.

Although legislation was passed in the U.S. requiring landfills to install linings to prevent leachates from landfills to contaminate aquifers in 1992, such a solution will only delay eventual pollution of underground water. All linings have finite existence. They will eventually degrade through the years, and in the end the pestering problem remains.

Another problem with sanitary landfills is the hazardous gases they emit to the atmosphere. The landfill Gas Testing Program of the State of California has demonstrated that landfill gases typically contain toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) regardless of the type of waste they are designated to accept and that off-site migration of landfill gas is a fairly common occurrence (Hodgson et al. 1992). Landfills produce methane, an explosive gas which, when released to the atmosphere, is one of the worst contributors to global warming.

Landfills are also rejected by most communities because of the attendant foul odor that usually goes with its operation. And land for use in landfills is becoming more difficult to find because of landfill special requirements. Most landfills in the East Coast of the U.S. are due to close in 5 to 10 years. By then, no community in the area would want the waste dumped in their "backyard" to be another Staten Island. The big problem is where to dump the waste.

It is also known in the art to use offshore biogas digesters or septic tanks. This process involves depositing the mixed municipal waste into barges. As the barges are filled up, they are sealed and brought offshore. The waste is allowed to decompose under anaerobic conditions for eighteen (18) months. The barges are envisioned to be equipped with facilities to collect the methane gas produced by the decaying organic matter in the encased waste materials. In short, the barges serve as floating biogas digesters or "septic tanks". After 18 months, the barges will be reopened and "mined" for whatever can be recovered and recycled.

The aforesaid process has been observed to have some drawbacks in that the collected waste is merely dumped into barges without prior segregation, thus making recycling difficult. The waste is dumped into the barge still wrapped inside plastic waste bags. This precludes the entry of oxygen needed to decompose organic matter. Still wrapped in plastic inside the sealed barges, the methane will not be able to escape from the plastic containers, precluding the efficient collection and use of the methane gas produced in anaerobic decomposition. Instead of being collected, methane gas, C02and hydrogen sulfide will accumulate inside the waste bags, such that opening the barges poses the risk of explosion coming from the gases trapped in the waste bags. An explosion in one bag can trigger the explosion of the rest, since all of the bags contain trapped methane in them.

Another problem of the said method is that the process involves anaerobic decomposition. Studies have shown that anaerobic decomposition, i.e., decomposition in the absence or lack of oxygen, is inefficient and ineffective in decomposing organic waste. In some reported cases in the United States, bananas, hotdogs, chicken with bones, etc. that were thrown in landfills more than a decade ago and underwent the process of anaerobic decomposition remained intact to this day.

PRIOR ART SEARCH

US4245731A1977-09-231981-01-2Herbst Richard J Apparatus for beverage container recovery and deposit refund system US4425070A1979-06-141984-01-1Recycling & Conservation, Inc. Separated discards carrier US4573641A1983-11-171986-03-04Environmental Products Corporation Glass bottle collection and crushing apparatus

US4597487A1983-07-281986-07-01Creative Technology, Inc .Method and apparatus for selective scrap metal collections US4642470A1983-02-071987-02-10A/S Tomra Systems Method and an apparatus for the identification of metal cans US4995765A1986-12-221991-02-26Shimizu Construction Co., Ltd. Method of collecting wastes and system therefor

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

1. The objective of the invention is a method for developing a municipal solid waste (MSW) system to cater waste of multiple types, which are disposed by the comminity, and, to offer a waste management solution providing sustained economic development and growth of communities. 2. The other objective of the invention is to provide an effective method for separation and screening of hazardous materials in the waste stream, and to further provide alternative reuse and recovery solutions for hazardous waste disposal. The present invention also provides more effective method to capture and reuse of disposed MSW and other waste streams to be used in the renewable energy sources. 3. The other objective of the invention is a process for creating a MSW management system for sustainable development while preserving the economic interests of the stakeholders involved. The IPIT- hazardous & non-hazardous waste management is a method of treating MSW by first segregating the non-recyclables, the recyclables, and the biodegradable waste and to deliver the recyclables to recycling firms at a reasonable price. 4. The other objective of the invention is the the Non-recyclable wastes are packed in airtight barges to serve as platforms for vermi-composting and food production offshore. The IPIT- hazardous & non-hazardous waste management includes bringing the biodegradable waste to an offshore facility where it is fed to earthworms, converting organic waste into castings and protein meal and Food production is conducted in tandem with vermi-composting to complete the recycling process. 5. The other objective of the invention is to feed the Earthworms to the freshwater fishes so that their protein serves as feed ingredient for livestock. Castings serve as substrate for organic crops in greenhouses. Waste from livestock serves as activator for composting organic municipal waste as an input to biogas digesters. 6. The other objective of the invention is a management system in which a freshwater fish serves as feed for saltwater fish in cages in-between the barges. Thus, the recycling cycle turns full circle with: zero waste, where the municipal waste is completely disposed of without polluting the environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a system for and method of designing and operating a synergistically connected, sustainable environmental and economic development program to manage solid waste. The present invention is specifically adapted to operate in a zero-emissions state while simultaneously providing numerous assets that will aid in community development and economic growth. Utilization of the system and method of the present invention yields larger landfill space through novel use of recycling, degradation, containment and energy extraction subsystems, described in detail below.

In part, the present invention includes a synergistic system comprised of various landfill elements such as a municipal recycling facility, an electronic recycling facility, an environmental education center, a landfill gas energy production plant, a waste to energy biomass production plant, a beneficiating facility for glass, plastics and pulp, and means for composting and renewable energy production. The landfill gas energy production plant stores and distributes gas removed from the landfill that can be used for energy. The system may utilize its own conversion means to harness the landfill gas energy for operating the various landfill elements, including the vacuum or other means that remove the gas in the first place. Moreover, the landfill gas can be distributed to the community for use by other industries that consume methane and other chemicals for energy use, including heating uses. Each of these elements is selected and synergistically utilized to meet the unique needs of each community.

In order to properly implement the sustained development system of the present invention, a method for establishing a community-company venture is also included herein. The method includes the steps of identifying the objectives of both the community and the company and computing an economic value for each of these objectives. The respective economic values are then reconciled in such a manner that a community company venture can be established that provides ample economic incentives for each party while also improving the general health of the community environment. In particular, the community objectives include a plurality of elements adapted for sustainable development.

For example, the community may have certain waste management priorities such as renewable energy, recycling facilities, composting of organic and green waste, electronics recycling and environmental and agricultural education. According to the present invention, each of these facilities and programs is provided and operated by the company on behalf of the community. Each of these facilities and programs is assigned an economic value, which in turn is used to offset a portion of the lease payment paid by the company to the community. As such, the company remains in a profitable position with respect to its waste management business and the community is the beneficiary of an improved waste management system with numerous economic and environmental benefits to its population and stakeholders.

As shown below, the design and implementation of the present invention protects the environment and public health and conserves natural resources more effectively than present municipal waste management services. In particular, the system and method of the present invention creates a symbiotic relationship between the waste management company and the community whereby each party contributes to both the economic vitality and the overall health and welfare of the community. These and numerous other benefits and advantages of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following figures.

A municipal solid waste management system comprising: a plurality of landfill elements that are selected in response to at least one source input and adapted to generate at least one value output, the plurality of landfill elements located near a landfill mass, which includes municipal solid waste products, wherein the at least one value output includes community objectives; a plurality of landfill liners with a channel for directing the flow and volume of leachate to selected portions of the landfill mass such that the leachate is directed from the surface of the landfill mass to an interior segment of the landfill mass, wherein the leachate has been produced naturally or artificially; a combination of recirculation system and at least one of natural or artificial means for increasing the rate of decomposition of the landfill mass producing a greater volume of gaseous byproducts; gas removal means for removing the gaseous byproducts of the landfill mass; an energy conversion system for converting the gas removed by the gas removal means into reusable energy, wherein the at least one source input is added in accordance with a decrease of the overall volume of the landfill mass by at least one of the gas removal system and the leachate;

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of this invention are as follows: a) solve a previously insoluble environmental problem by providing a safe place for disposing and recycling municipal waste; b) solve a long-felt public need for a waste disposal method without the attendant environmental hazards of dioxins, furans, heavy metals, explosive gases, toxic ashes and leachates polluting air, land and water resources which are attendant to incinerators and sanitary landfills; c) reduce waste volume by recovering and reusing recyclables; d) recycle biodegradable waste back into the ecosystem; e) integrate waste recycling with food production offshore for the very first time; and f dispose non recyclable waste safely that leads to two important, significant, and unexpected new results, i.e., food produced in a unique way and a never-ending, ever-expanding, valuable floating real estate.

The method of treating municipal solid waste envisioned in this invention starts with segregation of the mixed municipal solid waste into recyclable, non-recyclable, and biodegradable. The segregation process can be done inland or offshore.

The recyclable items are sorted out and sold direct to recycling firms: The non-recyclable waste is compacted and sealed in flat-top floating vessels such as ferro-cement barges that are towed to an offshore recycling and food production facility where they serve as platforms for vermi-composting and food production, with a double purpose of also serving as breakwater for the entire offshore complex. In the latter phase of operation, excess waste depository barges start forming a constantly expanding floating real estate. This floating real estate can be towed to where the value of real estate is most favorable. The latter is one of the significant, valuable, unexpected new results of this invention. The biodegradable portion of the waste is recycled by means of vermi-composting in combination with food production on the floating vessels used as depositories for non recyclable waste. The end result of all these is solving a previously insoluble environmental problem of where to dump the municipal waste. It also solves the long-felt need to address the attendant air, land and water pollution that go with current waste treatment methods. In the process, new, unexpected, valuable results are derived, i.e., food produced in a unique way offshore and a never-ending, ever-expanding, floating real estate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAM

FIG. 3: is a state diagram illustrating the flow of benefits between parties according to the method of the present invention.

FIG. 4: is a flow chart illustrating the method of the present invention according to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 5: is a flow chart illustrating a method for computing the economic risks and benefits associated with the municipal solid waste management system established in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6: is a flow chart illustrating a method for determining the relative values of services and assets provided by parties according to the method of the present invention.

FIG. 7: is a flow chart illustrating a method for computing the economic values of the objectives of the parties according to the method of the present invention.

FIG. 8: is a flow chart illustrating a method for operating a municipal solid waste management system established in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9: is a state diagram of a municipal solid waste management system in a zero emissions configuration in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10: shows a schematic diagram of an offshore municipal waste treatment process flow chart.

FIG. 10-A shows an input-process-output diagram of the waste treatment process.

FIG. 11: shows a schematic diagram of a pier leading to an offshore segregation facility.

FIG. 12: shows a side view of a portion of an offshore municipal waste treatment facility.

FIG. 12-A shows a perspective view of a vermi-composting barge.

FIG. 12-B shows a perspective view of a food production barge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As described in detail below, the present invention includes a method for establishing a municipal solid waste management system 10 preferably composed of a municipality or community and a waste management company. Typically, the burdens of removal, handling, disposal and maintenance of waste falls upon a local government, such as a city or municipality. In the United States, these communities commonly enter into contracts with private companies that construct and maintain landfills and transport the waste from the communities to the landfills for disposal and storage. The companies typically obtain the contracts through a bidding process whereby the highest bidder undertakes the disposal duties in exchange for fees that depend on the volume and frequency of waste disposal.

While this model has proven economically effective over the years, the current landscape of urban and suburban life has sufficiently modernized so as to require new methods and approaches for dealing with the environmental, historical and economic impacts of waste disposal. As such, the present invention provides a method for establishing a municipal solid waste management system 10 that recognizes the complexity of contemporary waste disposal. As with any commercial arrangement, a waste disposal system contains certain economic externalities, some of which are positive and some of which are negative. Rather than focus on the simple economics of a typical contract, i.e. monetary consideration, the present invention provides a mechanism by which to monetize and value both the positive and negative externalities so as to more clearly reflect the desires and values of the parties to the contract.

For example: a community may have certain recycling or energy needs that can be met through the installation of selected landfill components. The present invention provides a method for reconciling the positive impacts of increased recycling and energy production with the potential increased capital costs associated with constructing the landfill. In sum, the present invention provides a methodology for creating a sustainable, economical and environmentally sound municipal waste disposal system 10.

FIG. 1: is a flow chart depicting a method for establishing a municipal solid waste management system 10 in accordance with the present invention. As shown, the system10 includes three principle components. A plurality of source inputs 12 are deposited into a plurality of landfill elements 14, which in turn are specifically adapted to produce a plurality of value outputs 16, as described further herein.

The source inputs 12 shown in FIG. 1 include, for purposes of example, municipal solid waste 120, construction and demolition waste 122, green waste 124 including agricultural waste and food waste, electronic waste 126, liquid waste 128 and recyclables 130. Likewise, example value outputs 16 include electricity and gas 160, thermal energy 162, recycled pulp 164, created products 166 such as mulch, fill and other agricultural products, and reusable products 168. The value outputs 16 can be further characterized and valued according to the present invention in order to optimize the performance of the system 10.

For example, the electricity and gas 160 that is generated by the landfill elements 14 can be routed to a community power grid and partially utilized by the landfill elements 14 to sustain its own operation. Similarly, the thermal energy 162 generated by the landfill elements 14 can be used for hydroponics and aquaculture in order to grow, maintain and potentially harvest plant products. If the landfill elements 14 include means for generating electricity and gas 160 as well as thermal energy 162, then the system 10 itself can be designed to include components or attributes the consume electricity and gas 160 and thermal energy 162. Thus, thermal energy 162 generated by the landfill elements 14 can be used to heat a greenhouse located on the landfill grounds, which in turn will also reduce emissions produced by other source inputs 12 and landfill elements 14. In sum, by properly matching the source inputs 12 to the landfill elements 14 and the desired value outputs 16, the system 10 of the present invention can become an integral part of a community's overall environmental health.

FIG. 2 is a state diagram illustrating a plurality of landfill elements 14 that partially form the waste management system 10 of the present invention. In addition to a landfill itself (not shown), typical landfill elements 14 of the system 10 include a municipal recycling facility 140 (MRF), a renewable energy element 142 and a composting element 144. Additionally, the system 10 would preferably include a beneficiating element 146 for glass, plastics and pulp, an electronic recycling element 148 and a wood cleaning element 150 for the cleaning and processing of wood products that may be used as pulp, mulch, fill or other agricultural outputs. Lastly, a preferred system10 includes an environmental education center 152 and a research facility 154 for use by employees and customers related to the system 10 as well as interested members of the community, i.e. the stakeholders in the operation and products of the system 10.

FIG. 3 is a state diagram illustrating the flow of economic and environmental benefits between parties according to the method of the present invention. The parties that share the risks and benefits of the method of the present invention are the venture stakeholders 20, the waste management company 22, and the community 24. The venture stakeholders 20 include primarily the citizens and taxpayers of the community 24, but also include the employees of both the waste management company 22 as well as other scientists, students, business leaders and conservationists that have a vested interest in the sustained economic development of the community 24.

In a typical cycle embodied by the present invention, the economic flow of risks and benefits begins with a payment of taxes or other public contributions by the value stakeholders 20 to the community 24, thereby generating a tax base 26. The community 24 typically will then solicit bids through which any waste manager may offer to pay a fee for the use of a publicly established landfill (not shown). According to the present invention, the waste management company 22 will proffer a bid 30 and as consideration the community24will use its tax base26to make a volume payment 28 back to the waste management company 22. In a typical contract, the volume payment 28 will set forth various schedules of payments that depend upon the type of waste managed, the volume of waste removed from the community, and the frequency of waste removal from the community 24.

As noted above, the foregoing analysis would completely describe the economics of waste management according to the state of the art. However, unlike the prior art, the present invention includes another economic transfer from the waste management company 22 to the venture stakeholders 20 that includes all of the tangible and intangible economic and environmental benefits associated with the establishment of the system 10, i.e. a plurality of positive externalities 32 that lead to environmental health and sustainable development. Accordingly, as the venture stakeholders 20 are receiving economic and environmental benefits directly from the waste management company 22, and the bid 30 can be customized to meet its unique economic and environmental needs while advancing the sustainability of the community.

The system 10 of the present invention is a novel means for shifting various service provisions and responsibilities from the community 24 to a private enterprise while growing its economic base and protecting the surrounding environment. Through the methodology of the present invention, the waste management company 22, in exchange for the customized bid 30 described above, takes responsibility for providing numerous other environmental and economic benefits to the community 24 at large, namely those services that the community 24has selected according to its own objectives that will increase the sustainability of the community.

The system 10 of the present invention is established according to the method of the present invention, set forth generally in the flow chart of FIG. 4. In its preferred embodiments, the method of the present invention is practiced through computer software or other computational means. As the process of establishing a community company venture is largely interactive and negotiated, the method of the present invention is preferably adapted for receiving input values and computing output values over a range of selected pre-conditions. The present invention is preferably adapted for optimizing the negotiation and contracting processes of entering into a waste management agreement.

The method of the present invention can be described by reference to an algorithm or series of steps. In step S102, the method recites the step of identifying the community objectives; or rather identifying those services and benefits the community would like to receive as value outputs 16 of the waste management system 10. As previously detailed, sample community objectives could include the production of electricity and gas 160, the production of thermal energy 162, recycled pulp 164 and the like.

Other community objectives may not be derived from the operation of the system 10, but rather may be negotiated during the formation of the system 10. For example, the community may have a need for increased education related to the environmental or agricultural sciences, a need for increased research and development related to land use and zoning or otherwise require an investment into the community infrastructure. These types of community objectives are not necessarily met by the recycling of glass or composting of green waste, but they nevertheless constitute a distinct and negotiable value that the community may regard as essential to its sustained development. According to the present invention therefore, the term community objectives does not merely relate to tangible commodities or byproducts of waste management, but in addition it includes the further investment required to maintain and grow an ecologically conscious populace that recognizes the importance of sustainable development.

Step S102 recites valuing the community objectives, which as noted above, requires the monetization of both the tangible byproducts of sound landfill management as well as the capital and investment costs of meeting the rest of the community objectives. Thus the step of valuing the community objectives will preferably include the monetary values of the byproducts of the waste management system 10, i.e. the value of the gas, electricity, and thermal energy generated by the landfill elements 14 as well as the savings generated through improved recycling of glass and electronics. Step S102 further includes monetizing the value of the remaining community objectives, such as for example the value of educational scholarships, research fellowships, as well as both research and educational facilities. Accordingly, step S102 will constitute the full value of the positive externalities 32 described above with respect to FIG. 3. Additionally, step S102 will include the value of the bid or lease payments promised by the company as party to the waste management contract.

Step S104 requires identifying the company objectives and step S106 requires valuing the company objectives. The company objectives are typically entry into the waste management contract, and the value of the company objectives will be the projected value of the waste management contract to the company. As previously noted, the company is generally compensated under the contract for waste removal, transport, processing and storage on a volume basis. Thus the value of the company objectives can be computed as the projected revenues derived from these services over the life of the contract.

In step S108, the method recites the step of establishing a community-company venture in response to the relative values of the community objectives and the company objectives. As previously noted, the economics of the contract are determined by the value of the company bid, the value of the positive externalities offered to the community in accordance with the community objectives, and the value of the waste management services provided by the company. In contrast to the prior art, however, any contract or venture established according to the present invention will inevitably shift some of the initial cash burden on the company into other tangible and intangible benefits desired by the community, thus reducing the cash value of the waste management contract and promoting the overall health and economy of the community.

As noted above, the community receives numerous economic and environmental benefits through the system 10, including both tangible services and facilities as well as savings from improved recycling, energy conservation and public health. As shown in step S102, the method requires that the community determine an economic impact, or value, of its objectives. This valuation process is described in detail in FIG. 5, a flowchart that depicts the process by which the community values its objectives.

In step S1020, the community data is inputted into the method of the present invention. The community data includes the size and demographics of the community, the types source inputs 12 produced, the location of any sensitive environmental or historical sites and the like. In step S1022, the method recites evaluating the impact of the system 10 on the local agriculture. Landfill elements 14 produce a number of byproducts, some of which may impact the soil, water quality and overall health of the agricultural system. A municipal waste system operated according to the present invention however should minimize or eliminate any harmful byproducts of waste disposal following the zero emissions model described in detail below. In step S1024, the method recites assessing the landscape and biodiversity of the community in order to properly optimize the location and functionality of the landfill elements 14. Again, in a zero-emissions preferred embodiment, the system 10 of the present invention becomes an asset as opposed to a liability, and therefore it is anticipated that the installation and operation of the system 10 in a community may increase the landscape and environmental health of the community.

In step S1026, the method calls for estimating the impact of the system 10 on the local heritage and environmental character of the community, i.e. whether the system 10 will cause or accelerate any degradation of the environment or landmarks or whether the system will preserve or increase the environmental health of the community. Optimal operation of the system 10 of the present invention according to the methods described herein should result in minimal environmental damage. Moreover, following the zero emissions embodiment described below, the system 10 of the present invention can actually contribute significantly to the environmental health of a community while simultaneously proving to be an economic asset for that same community.

In step S1028, the method recites assessing the impact of the system 10 on the community, including at least any increase in employment and increase in standard of living within the population. In step S1030, the method calls for assessing the impact of the system 10 on the climate and environment, which includes projections as to any benefits that may be derived from implementation of the system 10. As noted above, proper implementation of the methods of the present invention will cause an increase in environmental health by minimizing or eliminating landfill emissions while increasing the size and efficiency of the landfill itself. Other economic and environmental benefits of the system are projected in step S1032, in which the method recites calculating the reduction in waste and pollution affected by introduction of the system 10 of the present invention, which according to the zero-emissions embodiment would result in a substantial or total elimination of landfill emissions.

In step S1034, the method requires calculating the economic impact of the community objectives, i.e. whether implementation of the system 10 to meet the community objectives results in a net positive or net negative economic effect. This is preferably accomplished by weighing each of the separate values derived in the preceding steps together and determining a net effect. As one purpose of the present invention is to create and operate a system 10 that is an asset as opposed to a liability, it is the case that the net economic value of the system 10 to the community will be positive.

Implementation of the system may result in job creation, which in turn may result in higher population, which inevitably will lead to more waste products which in turn will lead to more energy production and recycling. Accordingly, in weighing the separate values in accordance with step S1034, the community is providing a cost-benefit analysis of the system 10. This analysis results in a final estimated economic effect that can be inputted directly into the method of the present invention via step S1036, which provides that the results of step S1034 are inputted into step S102. In summary, the method of the present invention factors in the estimated costs and benefits to be had by the community should it choose to establish the system 10 of the present invention.

The valuation process if further illustrated in FIG. 6, which is a flow chart illustrating a method for determining the relative values of services and assets provided by parties according to the method of the present invention. In step S110, the source inputs 12 of the system 10 are identified. The identification of the source inputs 12 invariably determines to some extent the types of value outputs 16 that can be generated by the landfill elements 14.

As shown in FIG. 6, once the source inputs have been identified, the value of their removal is determined in step S112. This value is essentially the value of the waste management contract to the company, described above with reference to FIG. 4. The output of step S112 is then monetized over the term of the waste management contract in step S114, i.e. the total value is spread out over the life of the contract and discounted to its present value. This monetized value is then fed forward into step S106, described with reference to FIG. 4, and thereafter fed forward into step S108 in which the community-company venture is established.

Once the source outputs 12 are identified in step S110, the potential byproducts or value outputs 16 are determined in step S118. As previously noted, the value outputs 16 include for example the recycled products and energy generated by the landfill elements 14. In step S120, the total volume of the value outputs 16 over the life of the waste management contract is determined, which corresponds to the total expected energy production and savings generated through recycling and reuse of source inputs 12. In step S122, the value of the value outputs 16 is monetized over the term of the waste management contract and discounted to its present value.

For example, the landfill elements 14 may be expected to produce 100 Megawatts of energy per year for 15 years, which corresponds to a gross value of 1.5 Gigawatts of energy over the life of the contract. This total energy production is valued and discounted such that the community can readily identify its current savings in energy production over the life of the contract. Step S122 feeds into step S102, in which the value of the value outputs 16 is combined with the cash value of the waste management contract to determine the gross value of the community objectives. As noted above, the value of the community objectives is fed forward into step S108, in which the community-company venture is established according to the present invention.

The economics of the community-company venture may also be affected through third party incentives. For example, there may be tax credits relating to landfill operation available at the local, state and federal levels, all of which operate to effectively increase the profitability of the enterprise to the company. Similarly, there may be preservation, conservation or remediation funds available from local, state or federal environmental agencies that the community can receive through the system 10 of the present invention. A method for valuing these potential incentives is presented in FIG. 7.

In step S130, the method requires inputting the value of the community objectives as determined according to the processes described above. Similarly, step S132 requires inputting the value of the company objectives, preferably as expected over the term of the contract according to the tax or accounting year of the company. In step S134, value of any third party incentives to the community are valued over the life of the contract. For example, if there is a conservation grant available to the community for its establishment of a municipal recycling facility according to the present invention, then the value of this grant should be monetized as discounted over the life of the contract. In step S136, the value of any third party incentives to the company is determined, including any tax rebates or incentives that may be available for the production or distribution of energy through the landfill elements 14. These incentives would be assigned to the company according to proper accounting methods, and discounted to their present values over the life of the contract. Once the values of any third party incentives are properly valued, step S138 returns to step S108 in order to establish the community-company venture.

The initial conditions for the community-company venture are established as described above. Thereafter, the present invention also includes a method for monitoring and optimizing the status and parameters of the venture. A method for operating municipal solid waste management system established in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 8. In step S200, the landfill operations are initiated. Namely, the landfill elements 14 are brought on-line, source inputs 12 are provided and the value outputs 16 are generated according to the waste management contract. In step S202, the initial program begins according to the venture established according to the present invention, thereby generating value outputs in step S204. In step S206, the method of operation recites that the value outputs 16 are distributed to the community. For example, in step S206 any electrical energy generated is used for operation of the landfill elements 14 or distributed to the community at large. Similarly, any recycled or created products are distributed to processors for recirculation into the commercial chain as new glass or electronic equipment.

Step S208 is an assessment as to whether the objectives of both the community and the company are being met, i.e. whether the value outputs 16 correspond to the community's economic plan and are the source inputs 12 sufficient in volume for the company to remain profitable. If the objectives of both parties are met, then the venture continues as is in the generation and distribution of value outputs 16 according to steps S204 and S206. If the objectives of the parties are not being met, then the method feeds back to step S102, at which time the community will re-identify or re-state its objectives and the method for establishing the venture will begin anew. In short, the method of operating the municipal solid waste management system measures the performance of the venture against the expectations of the parties and provides remedial action when necessary.

As previously noted, the method of the present invention is preferably embodied in a software or other suitable algorithm that can identify the economic terms of the venture and make the necessary computations in order to ensure the venture continues to operate as intended. In its most preferred embodiments, the source inputs 12 and the value outputs 16 are themselves monetary values that can be entered into a program for optimizing the configuration of the landfill elements. For example, the source inputs 12 can be measured in terms of volume and revenue to the company, while the value outputs 16 can be measured in terms of energy savings, capital formation (in the case of newly constructed landfill elements 14), and revenue from recycled and reused products of the system 10.

FIG. 9 is a state diagram of the system 10 of the present invention according to its preferred embodiment as a zero-emissions asset operating on behalf of a community. The system 10 is primarily composed of landfill elements 14, which have been described above in great detail. As previously noted, the landfill elements 14 of the system 10 are selected and operated according to the methods described above, with a primary focus on maximizing the economic and environmental gains to the municipality 24, the waste management company 24 and the venture stakeholders 20.

The landfill elements 14, in their normal course of operation, will produce a number of byproducts, the most important of which are gas 40 and leachate 44. The gas 40 is typically methane, which is combustible and noxious; and the leachate 44 may have toxic or otherwise unfriendly chemicals or compounds therein. While the prior art has attempted to deal with these byproducts through dilution, the system 10 of the present invention is configured to harness these would-be liabilities and convert them into assets for the benefit of the municipality 24.

In particular, the gas 40 that builds up inside the landfill can be extracted and used for combustion and heating given the proper equipment. For example, a vacuum 41 can remove the gas 40 from beneath the surface and direct along piping to storage and combustion means where the gas 40 can be safely converted to energy 42. To ensure complete removal of the gas 40 from the landfill elements 14, it is preferred to utilize a vacuum 41 having a very large diameter. More particularly, a seventy-inch vacuum provides the necessary pressure drop to ensure complete removal of the gas 40 from the landfill itself. As the gas 40 is removed by the vacuum 41, the overall volume of the waste within the landfill is decreased, thus allowing for even more usage of the system 10.

The natural flow of water 46 through the landfill mass produces leachate 44, which has typically been treated as a substance to be contained using advanced landfill liners and the like. However, the present invention utilizes the leachate 44 to accelerate the decomposition of a compost 48 mass. Thus the leachate 44, produced by natural or artificial means including the addition of water 46, is used by the system 10 to increase the rate at which the compost 48 decomposes. The decomposition of the landfill mass will in turn produce a greater volume of gas 40, which can be extracted as described above. Specially designed landfill liners, known in the art, fitted with channeling means are preferred for directing the leachate flow from the surface into the denser segments of the landfill mass in order to decompose the waste. More preferably, the landfill elements 14 include means for recirculating the leachate through the landfill mass to ensure consistent and accelerated decomposition. As the landfill mass decomposes, its volume decreases thereby permitting still more usage from the original site.

The gas 40 that comes about through composting, as accelerated through the targeted use of leachate 44, can be converted into energy 42 in the form of heat or electricity. The energy 42 can be distributed to the municipality 24 at large through a power grid, or alternatively at least a portion of the energy 42 can be returned to the landfill elements 14 to improve the performance and efficiency of the system 10. Various industries that utilize gas 40 extracted from landfills will directly obtain the gas 40 out of the system 10 and consume it for their own purposes, such as heating for example. As before, the extraction of the gas 40 and the usage of the leachate 44 both decrease the volume of the landfill mass, which in turn permits the system 10 to accept still more source inputs 12 through the method described above.

The complete integration and use of the byproducts of the landfill mass, primarily the gas 40 and the leachate 44, allow the system 10 of the present invention to operate at or near zero-emissions. By recirculating the leachate 44 through the landfill mass, the system creates a steady volume of gas 40 that can be extracted and used for renewable energy. Thus by utilizing each and every resource available within the system 10, the byproducts of waste management are consumed for the production of new and usable assets, e.g. energy. The zero-emissions operations of the system10 also vastly increase the environmental health of the community, while providing numerous other economic and environmental benefits including the production of reusable energy.

FIG. 10. Urban waste 110 comprising of mixed municipal waste 111; special waste 128 such as construction and demolition waste, white goods, tires, and bulky furniture; and hazardous waste 126 are brought separately to the segregation facility. Dump trucks deposit the mixed municipal waste 111 on a tapering ramp 112 where the waste materials are removed from their plastic containers at a debagging section 114. Said waste materials are brought by conveyor belt 119 to a segregation section 116 where sorters 118 in rubber gloves, masks with filters, protective clothing, and using various manual tools segregate the biodegradable 120 from the non-biodegradable and non recyclable materials 124. Sorters also separate the recyclable materials 122 to be sold to recycling firms. There will be a series of modular tapering rumps 112 leading to conveyor belts 119 with corresponding grinders, shredders, or compactors to accommodate the daily volume of waste as required in a particular area. Tipping fees 123 are preferably collected to defray the operational expenses. Leachates are collected and treated in a leachate pond or barge 127.

The segregated biodegradable materials go to a grinder 121 where the said materials are grinded, seeded with enzyme, lime and zeolite, and loaded by conveyor to transfer bins 131. The filled-up bins, in turn, are covered and loaded by tower crane 262 to a shuttle barge 132 which will bring the waste materials to an offshore municipal waste treatment facility 138.

The non-recyclable materials 124, on the other hand, are reduced by appropriate grinders, shredders, or crushing machines 121, and/or compacted by compactors 125 and also loaded in transfer bins 131. The non-recyclable materials 124 are transferred by tower crane 262, deposited and sealed airtight in flattop floating vessels 130 such as barges preferably made of ferro-cement. It should be appreciated that the floating vessels may also be comprised of either metal or other laminated cementitious composite materials which are sealed airtight when full. The sealed vessels 130 are towed to an offshore waste treatment facility 138 where the sealed barges serve as vermi-composting platforms, food production platforms, breakwater, and as building blocks for a floating real estate.

Special kinds of waste 128 such as white goods (discarded refrigerators, freezers, and the like), bulky furniture, construction and demolition debris, tires, etc. are collected and brought to the segregation facility separately and treated by means of shredding, crushing, grinding or compacting 136 as appropriate; wherein the ferrous and non ferrous metals as well as other recyclable materials 122 are recovered, while the residual non-recyclables are further reduced by grinding machines or compactors 136 before being deposited and sealed in the depository barges 130. Hazardous waste 126 are decontaminated, grinded, shredded, crushed or compacted when applicable 136 and deposited in separate ferro-cement barges 130c that will be towed to the offshore facility where they will be kept safe behind a double breakwater.

The biodegradable waste brought by the shuttle barge 132 are unloaded at an offshore waste treatment facility 138 where the materials are piled in concrete bins, composted and fed to earthworms. The waste materials are then converted into earthworm castings 140. In the process of vermi-composting, earthworms are produced that can be harvested, dried and used as earthworm protein meal144, an important protein ingredient for livestock and fish feed.

The earthworm castings, on the other hand, are mixed with soil and rice hulls to serve as substrate for raising organic products in greenhouses 146 c on the top deck of the vermi compost and food barges resulting in organically-grown crop food output 147 a. Part of the output of earthworm castings 140 may be packaged and sold to retailers as soil conditioner. This is one of the important outputs and income sources of the process. The worm protein meal144serve as protein feed ingredient for fish and livestock 146 resulting in livestock food output 147 b. Manure waste from livestock, livestock casualties, and waste cuttings from the greenhouses serve as activator 152 for composting of the biodegradable waste and as inputs to biogas digesters 378. Residues from biogas digesters, in turn, are also fed to earthworms. Hence, the recycling process turns full circle resulting in zero waste. Excess depository barges 130 g may be connected end-to-end and side-by-side serve as building block in an ever-expanding floating real estate 130 h or a form of floating land reclamation offshore. Thus the end result of the whole process is the disappearance of the municipal waste with no concomitant pollution, with food production and valuable floating real estate as unexpected results.

FIG. 10-A shows an Input-Process-Output diagram of the invention. The inputs are urban waste 110 which include municipal solid waste 111; special waste 128, such as white goods, tires, bulky furniture, construction and demolition debris; and some forms of hazardous waste 126, such as hospital waste, electronic waste, etc., with the exception of radioactive waste. The inputs undergo three basic processes: the segregating/reducing process 113; the sealing process 129; and the recycling process 139.

The segregating/reducing process 113 involves the segregation of mixed municipal solid waste into recyclable, non-recyclable, and biodegradable materials, wherein two outputs are derived: recyclable materials 122; and, tipping fees 123. Segregation is combined with reduction of waste by subjecting them to crushing, shredding, grinding, or compacting 121, 125, and 136 as the case may be. The segregating/reducing process is followed by the sealing process 129, wherein the non-recyclable as well as the hazardous waste are disposed of by sealing the compacted or shredded waste materials airtight in fibrocement barges 130 and 130 c respectively. The excess barges containing non recyclable and non-hazardous waste 130g form part of a constantly expanding and floating real estate 130 h-one of the valuable outputs of this method. Alternatively, the non-biodegradable or non-recyclable waste materials that are not hazardous or non-toxic may be grinded and mixed with sand and cement to produce aggregates or hollow blocks for construction materials. This will further reduce the amount and volume of waste that ultimately end up sealed in the barges.

The third and final process is the recycling process 139 wherein the segregated biodegradable waste is recycled by means of a combination of vermi-composting and food production. What comes out of the final process are outputs that include: a) earthworm castings 140; c) organic food crops 147 a; d) earthworm protein 144, and, e) fish and livestock 147 b.

FIG. 11: shows a schematic diagram of a pier leading to an offshore waste segregation facility. Ferro-cement barges are aligned in a single row to form the connecting access road 130 d from the pier 260 to an offshore platform serving as an offshore waste segregation facility 130 e. The recyclable materials 122 are separated and stored in a warehouse. The segregated biodegradable waste goes to a shuttle barge 132 which will bring the material to an offshore vermi-composting facility. The non-recyclable waste is deposited and sealed in a depository barge 130. The hazardous waste is sealed in a separate barge for hazardous waste 130 c. The transfer of the segregated waste materials to their respective barges is facilitated by the use of tower cranes 262.

FIG. 12: shows a side view of an offshore municipal waste treatment facility. FIG. 12-A is a perspective view of the vermi-composting barge while FIG. 12-B is a perspective view of the food production barge. The waste depository barge that serves as platform for vermi composting is the compost barge on the left 130 a. The waste depository barge that serves as platform for food production is the food barge on the right 130 b. The compost barge contains concrete vermi-composting bins 366 on the flat-top barge surface for vermi-composting of biodegradable waste. The roof deck is used as greenhouse for raising organically-grown food crops 146 c. The roof is provided with solar panels372and water catchment device374to collect rainwater in built-in water reservoirs 376 on the left and right hulls of each barge.

The food barge 130 b is lined parallel to the compost barge 130 a to create a controlled sea condition between the two barges, thus allowing fish farming in floating cages 1 4 6 g, seaweed farming 146 e, and pearl farming 146f The food barge 130 b has cattle and dairy 146 a on the barge surface, poultry 146 b on the second floor, and raising of organic crops in a greenhouse 146 c.

Vermi-composting of biodegradable waste in concrete bins 366 produces two valuable products: earthworm castings140 and earthworm protein meal144. The earthworm castings produced in the process serve as substrate for greenhouse organic crop raising 146 c. Live earthworms serve as feed for freshwater fish raised in concrete tanks 146 d. Earthworm protein meal, on the other hand, serves as feed ingredient for cattle/dairy 146 a and poultry 146 b.

Manure from cattle and poultry serve as activator 152 to hasten the composting and vermi-composting 366 of organic municipal waste. Part of the waste from livestock, to include dead animals and cuttings from the greenhouses shall serve as inputs to generate energy through biogas digesters 378 built into the barge interior. This will complement the energy derived from windmill 370 and solar panel 372 that go with each barge. Rainwater is collected by catchments on the roof of each barge 374 and deposited in water reservoirs 376 built into the left and right hull compartments of each barge. Biogas digesters 378 are built-in at the front and rear hull compartments of each barge.

Freshwater fish in 146 d, in turn, serve as feed for saltwater fish in floating fish cages 146g, supplemented by earthworms produced from vermi-composting366. In addition to floating fish cages for saltwater fish farming, seaweed farming 146 e and pearl culture 146fare also made possible by the controlled sea condition created between the rows of compost barges 130 a and food barges 130 b. Personnel living space is provided in 368.

Claims

WE CLAIM

1. Our invention "IPIT- Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Waste Management" is a system and process for creating a municipal solid waste (MSW) system to address the multiple types of waste that are disposed by the public, and further, to provide a waste management solution that provides for the sustained economic development and growth of communities. The IPIT- hazardous & non-hazardous waste management is also providing effective screening and separation of hazardous components in the waste stream, and further provides recovery and reuse solutions as alternatives to disposal of hazardous waste and the present invention further provides communities with a system and method to more effectively capture and use disposed MSW and other waste streams to provide renewable energy sources. The IPIT- hazardous & non-hazardous waste management and also includes a method for establishing a municipal solid waste management system that makes sustainable development possible while preserving the economic interests of the parties involved. The IPIT- hazardous

& non-hazardous waste management is a method of treating municipal solid waste by first segregating the recyclables, the non-recyclables, and the biodegradable waste and recyclables are sold to recycling firms. Non-recyclables are sealed airtight in barges that serve as platforms for vermi-composting and food production offshore. The IPIT- hazardous & non-hazardous waste management is a biodegradable waste is brought to an offshore facility where it is fed to earthworms, converting organic waste into castings and protein meal and Food production is conducted in tandem with vermi-composting to complete the recycling process. The IPIT- hazardous & non-hazardous waste management is a Earthworms are fed to freshwater fish and Earthworm protein serves as feed ingredient for livestock. Castings serve as substrate for organic crops in greenhouses. Waste from livestock serves as activator for composting organic municipal waste and input to biogas digesters. The IPIT- hazardous & non hazardous waste management is a freshwater fish serves as feed for saltwater fish in cages in-between the barges. Thus, the recycling cycle turns full circle with: zero waste, where the municipal waste is completely disposed of without polluting the environment.

2. According to claim# the invention is a system and method for creating a municipal solid waste (MSW) system to address the multiple types of waste that are disposed by the public, and further, to provide a waste management solution that provides for the sustained economic development and growth of communities.

3. According to claim,2# the invention is also providing effective screening and separation of hazardous components in the waste stream, and further provides recovery and reuse solutions as alternatives to disposal of hazardous waste and the present invention further provides communities with a system and method to more effectively capture and use disposed MSW and other waste streams to provide renewable energy sources.

4. According to claim,2,3# the invention is a method for establishing a municipal solid waste management system that makes sustainable development possible while preserving the economic interests of the parties involved. The IPIT hazardous & non-hazardous waste management is a method of treating municipal solid waste by first segregating the recyclables, the non-recyclables, and the biodegradable waste and recyclables are sold to recycling firms.

5. According to claim,2,4# the invention is a Non-recyclable are sealed airtight in barges that serve as platforms for vermi-composting and food production offshore. The IPIT- hazardous & non-hazardous waste management is a biodegradable waste is brought to an offshore facility where it is fed to earthworms, converting organic waste into castings and protein meal and Food production is conducted in tandem with vermi-composting to complete the recycling process.

6. According to claim,2,3,5# the invention is a a Earthworms are fed to freshwater fish and Earthworm protein serves as feed ingredient for livestock. Castings serve as substrate for organic crops in greenhouses. Waste from livestock serves as activator for composting organic municipal waste and input to biogas digesters.

7. According to claim,2,6# the invention is a management is a freshwater fish serves as feed for saltwater fish in cages in-between the barges. Thus, the recycling cycle turns full circle with: zero waste, where the municipal waste is completely disposed of without polluting the environment.

FIG. 9: IS A STATE DIAGRAM OF A MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN A ZERO-EMISSIONS CONFIGURATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRESENT INVENTION.

FIG. 10-A SHOWS AN INPUT-PROCESS-OUTPUT DIAGRAM OF THE WASTE TREATMENT PROCESS.

FIG. 12-A SHOWS A PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF A VERMI-COMPOSTING BARGE.

FIG. 12-B SHOWS A PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF A FOOD PRODUCTION BARGE.