CA2700861A1 - Cool compost recycling bin - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to both indoor and outdoor organic waste recycling bins and more specifically it relates to a refrigerated recycling bin for organic waste materials with the advantage of having a refrigerating system that will aid in facilitating the prevention of negative side effects of composting. Some of these unwanted issues include: Foul odors, mold and insect production such as fruit flies, house flies, ants and maggots. The present invention creates a temperature environment unsuitable for typical food decomposition and the development of insects.

Description

(e) Description - Indoor Corded Bin - (Figure 1) This refrigerated indoor compost bin will be built to promote recycling.
Currently a large percentage of people don't compost in their homes because the odors, molds and pests that come with composting. These bins will eliminate the problem of fruit flies, maggots, house flies and decomposition odors. By keeping the temperature at a constant 3 degree temperature the fruit flies, maggots, odors will be non-excitant because they can't and won't live or breed in this environment. The refrigerating unit will either circulate cooled liquid through tubing in the interior of the bin or by circulating cooled air into the interior of the bin to keep the 3 degree temperature constant. The indoor under counter units will be small form electric corded and battery banked for storing under counters.
There will be three roadside units, the first will be just powered by electric power cord, the power cord with battery banks, the main power source will be the charged bank, the power cord will be used to charge the bank when it gets low, the beeping system will send out an alert when this occurs. If the unit is already plugged into a receptacle it will not send out an alert it will automatically charge and will stay powered through the electrical connection. The third unit will have a solar panel(s), battery bank and power cord for redundant power. The larger commercial units will also be able to be equipped with fossil fueled generators and even wind power.

Confidential Page 8 4/20/2010 (f) Description - Outdoor Curbside Bin - (Figure 2) This refrigerated outdoor recycle compost bin will be built to promote recycling.
Currently people don't compost outdoors because the odors, molds and pests that come with recycling organic compost. These bins will eliminate the problem of fruit flies, maggots, house flies and decomposition odors. By keeping the temperature at a constant 3 degree temperature the fruit flies, maggots, odors will be non-excitant because they can't survive or breed in this environment. The refrigerating unit will either circulate cooled liquid through tubing in the interior of the bin or by circulating cooled air into the interior of the bin to keep the 3 degree temperature constant. The Plastic compost bin shell is the main structure; the refrigerating unit is molded into the unit on the back side, away from potential damage when lifted to dump during roadside, pickup. The solar panel or panel paper is secured on the top of the bin; it is then connected to the battery bank to charge the bank during peak sun hours. The electrical power cord is also connected to the battery bank for redundant power. The interior of the unit is either lined with cooling tubes or a central fan unit for constant circulation of cooled air to regulate temperature, the unit will also have a thermostat for self monitoring and regulating the temperature of the interior of the bin. The commercial grade units could also have a fossil fueled generator as a power source or redundant power source, the commercial grade will be larger scaled with the potential of having wind, solar, electric and generator based versions. The interior or exterior designed unit could also be fueled by fossil or organic based energy. This design of compost bin could also be molded from a different type of composite material. A similar type or newly developed refrigeration unit could be created to do the same or similar purpose as proposed in this document. These units could be made identically as describe above but using a different material or composite make-up such as but not limited too alloy metals, newly developed or different types of plastic.
The unit could also be designed in a different manner such as shape, size.

Confidential Page 9 4/20/2010

Claims

(d) Claims to the designed Cool Compost A Compost bin for recycling (food, leaves etc.) compost materials with the advantage of having a self-sustaining environmentally friendly refrigerating system that will prevent the odor, fruit flies and other insects from growing and inhabiting these compost bins due to a temperature environment where they can't inhabit. The Cool Compost generally includes a solid wheeled or non-wheeled plastic (polymer, polypropylene) compost bin for recycling organic compostables to prevent organic compost waste from going to landfills. It will be a green bin similar to those used currently for recycling programs around the world with the exception of having a redundant, self-sustaining power sourced energy star compliant refrigeration unit to keep the interior of the bin cold, where the compostables are stored at a constant 3 degrees Celsius or below to prevent deterrents to recycling like fruit flies, maggots, accelerated decomposition odors etc. They will include a solid shell, battery bank, low-cost energy star compliant refrigerator unit, power corded supply, solar panels to complete the finished, fully operational unit. There will be several types from totally green based energy to the conventional energy star compliant power corded model. There will also be several sizes from your conventional flip top garbage can type right up to the commercial grade model for malls and hotels etc.

The compost bin will consist of a solid wheeled or non-wheeled plastic (polymer, polypropylene) compost bin for recycling organic compostables to prevent organic compost waste from going to landfills. It will a green bin similar to those used currently for recycling programs around the world with the exception of having a redundant, self-sustaining power sourced energy star compliant refrigeration unit to keep the interior of the bin where the compostables are stored at a constant 3 degrees Celsius or below to prevent deterrents of recycling like fruit flies, maggots, accelerated decomposition odors etc. They will include a solid shell, battery bank, low-cost energy star compliant refrigerator unit, power corded supply, solar panels to complete the finished, fully operational unit. The existing recycling units in use now for composting can be refitted with our small refrigerating unit to perform the same task as our inclusive manufactured design. The plastic shell or metal shell (with removable plastic liner) of the compost bin for indoor and outdoor unit will come in 3 sizes for indoor and 3 sizes for outdoor use.
The bin shell will consist of one formed solid bottom piece containing 4 sides and the bottom. It will have a hinged top for opening and closing. The top will also have a slotted area on the top for the outdoor solar paneled version. The compost bin shell will be made of but not limited too; hardened polymer, polypropylene plastic or metal alloy (with removable plastic liner) to house organic compost for recycling purposes. Some units will be made to spec as required by municipal, provincial, federal, national and international standards and by-laws dictate. There will be several sizes from the small form fitted under counter type with a removable plastic liner, a garbage type with foot pedal for opening and closing with removable plastic liner. The standard roadside compost recycle bin, commercial grade built to specification per requirements in volume. The solar panel will be used as a self-sustaining green power source for charging the battery bank during daytime hours to run the refrigerating unit on the compost bins. The solar panels will be installed on the outdoor units. These solar panels will be off the shelf solar panels or the new solar panel paper which is a newly developed type of solar energy product.
The will be used for self-sustaining power requirements for each unit. There may only be one small panel or several large panels depending on the size of the bin and its power needs.
A newer type of solar energy panel could be created. It could also be more efficient and cheaper then what is utilized in the beginning. A battery bank will be used on most units as a back up power source during peak sunlight ours for the outdoor units that they are installed on. The indoor units will utilize a power cord but can be fitted with a battery bank as a back-up incase of power failure. The battery bank will consist of many types of battery such as a lithium ion battery, deep cycle battery bank, and marine grade battery bank to high quality lead acid batteries or potentially a newly developed battery cell or existing space age technologically advanced battery cells. These batteries will be deployed as a single battery, in series or in parallel depending on the power needs of the refrigeration unit and size of the compost bin (roadside, commercial etc). The units will be equipped with a beeping system which will send out an alert when the bank or battery is low or failing. This battery bank could be created using.

The compost bin unit's will have a corded power supply connected to either run the unit solely by electric power from an outlet or receptacle. The power cord will also be used to charge battery banks to full capacity while maintaining the unit's power needs for operation. This corded power supply will be used for charging existing battery banks to peak power. It will be used on models that don't have battery banks for a constant power source. It will also be used on the solar, battery powered bins as a backup source for recharging banks when solar charging is low or not available for several days.
A small form, low cost, energy efficient, off the shelf or newly developed and manufactured refrigeration unit will be installed on each indoor and outdoor compost bin.
It will consist of a thin unit which will keep the temperature of the interior of the compost bin where the organic material is adjusted to a constant 3 degrees Celsius or lower at all times. This temperature can be adjusted manually but typically will be set before shipping from the manufacturing plant. It will be of low cost, low power and a slender form fitting unit for integration into the latest roadside or older existing units in use. The commercial grade unit will be a custom built unit for our larger commercial units to be used by but not limited too; restaurants, shopping stores, centers and malls, government buildings, hospitals, hotels, office buildings, casinos etc. The unit will keep the interior of the bin at a constant 3 degrees Celsius by cooling the coolant that is sent through the alloy tubing that circulates the interior of the bin or by refrigeration cooled fans that blow the chilled air throughout the unit by an enclosed fan like some commercial grade refrigerating units do to keep the temperature at a constant 3 degrees Celsius or less.

The plastic compost bin shell is the main structure; the refrigerating unit is molded into the unit on the back side, away from potential damage when lifted to dump during roadside pickup. The solar panel or panel paper is secured on the top of the bin; it is then connected to the battery bank to charge the bank during peak sun hours. The electrical power cord is also connected to the battery bank for redundant power. The interior of the unit is either lined with cooling tubes or a central fan unit for constant circulation of cooled air to regulate temperature, the unit will also have a thermostat for self monitoring and regulating the temperature of the interior of the bin. The commercial grade units could also have a fossil fueled generator as a power source or redundant power source, the commercial grade will be larger scaled with the potential of having wind, solar, electric and generator based versions. The interior or exterior designed unit could also be fueled by fossil or organic based energy. This design of compost bin could also be molded from a different type of composite material. A similar type or newly developed refrigeration unit could be created to do the same or similar purpose as proposed in this document. These units could be made identically as describe above but using a different material or composite make-up such as but not limited too alloy metals, newly developed or different types of plastic. The unit could also be designed in a different manner such as shape, size.