DE4408642A1 - Waste product handling for recycling - Google Patents

Abstract

The reclamation process receives material in refuse containers that are identified by coded labels. The main collection unit is divided into different sections which each receive specific types of materials. The collection unit has sensing units to determine the type of material and to initiate commands for emptying into the appropriate section. Sensors systems are provided for paper, glass, plastics, etc..

Description

The invention relates to a method by means of which the quality and quantity the sorting of recyclables for each waste producer is recorded. Inadequate sorting of recyclable materials is assigned to residual waste.

Task / problem

The currently used waste disposal concepts have the disadvantage that by improper separation of valuable materials the possibilities of Recycling are severely restricted. Sorted recyclable materials can be commercially easy to recycle, while Household waste only through mechanical and manual re-sorting Circulation principle can be fed again. Due to insufficient Separation creates numerous recyclable materials Landfills or in waste incineration plants.

The aim of the invention is

• - to record the quality of the waste sorting at the waste generator and thus the decision "residual waste" already at the Meeting collection. (Task a)  
• - Improve the quality of waste sorting by the waste producer the quality of the garbage sorting is displayed and it thereby better sorting behavior is animated. (Task b)
• - the burdens for waste disposal and recycling are fair to distribute the polluters and their sorting behavior (task c)
• - The effort for waste transport by optimally adapting the To minimize the collection of valuable materials at regional disposal processes. (Task d).

The present invention is based on the new combination of known technologies.

Task a) is achieved with a method according to claim 1. The Task b) is the content of the secondary claim 5. Training the The inventive method are the subject of further Subsidiary claims.

Description of the procedure

The basis of the process is the coordinated one Interaction of all elements involved in waste collection, Garbage transport and recycling of materials are involved. The following A distinction is made between elements:

• - waste producers
• - Personal waste transport container PM of the waste generator
• - ZM central waste collection container
• - Garbage transportation organization
• - regional waste management
• - recovery

A) Regionally adapted definition of recyclable material / residual waste

The regional garbage control, e.g. B. municipalities, counties, define on the Based on their regional conditions, the types of waste for which Circular economy is possible. These are called recyclables declared. The necessary purity is defined for each material the recycling process available for the special recyclable material. All other substances are residual waste.

The following criteria are used as a minimum when defining recyclables Application:

• - regional recycling capacity (thus avoiding sorting Garbage is transported over long distances)
• - regional waste generation, d. H. Analysis of the types of materials and amounts
• - Characteristics of garbage consistency, for the optimal working point a waste incineration plant is required, if one Incinerator is operated. Improvement in emissions and energy generation
• - sensible combination of household waste with industrial / farmer waste or disposal resources.

The garbage control room will only arrange the collection of recyclables, for which there are also disposal capacities in the regional area. That is why the recycling properties are based on the regional Adapted to needs. This adaptation avoids both elaborate Long-distance waste transport to central waste disposal companies,  as well as the separate collection of substances due to inadequate disposal capacities again Waste incineration plants or landfills. In an advantageous embodiment, the regional waste management 5 select different substances from the waste categories and for which Declare region as a resource. All other substances end up in the Residual waste.

B) waste sorting

The waste producer is at the beginning of the chain. So it is on most efficient to set up waste sorting at the waste generator. At This is where the different types of waste are easiest distinguishable and therefore also separable. The waste producer separates the garbage accruing to him according to regional requirements, see paragraph A).

The waste generator is given a coded, personal one for sorting waste Multi-chamber bin PM provided, according to claim 2, with the help of the different recyclables and residual waste in be collected separately in a container.

The personal multi-chamber waste bin consists of a cylindrical one Pipe with several retracted parting levels. In an exemplary 5 levels can be distinguished. At each level, a personal, coded garbage container PM inserted. Each of these garbage containers carries a coded one Identification CI.  

The multi-chamber garbage can has an opening ÖF for the filling as well as a door for the removal of the filled garbage transport container for each waste transport container. An advantageous embodiment is shown in Fig. 1.

This multi-chamber waste bin allows you to separate several Recyclable materials even in tight spaces.

C) ZM central waste collection container

The personal, coded trash can is emptied by the waste producer. A central waste collection bin ZM is set up in the vicinity of the waste generator. In an exemplary embodiment, this waste collection container ZM should not be more than 150 meters away from the home of the waste generator. The waste generator empties its waste in this collection container. In order to empty the trash can of the waste generator, it must be locked to the central collecting bin ZM, see Fig. 2. By means of locking AR and an automatic emptying mechanism, the code of the waste transport bin is automatically recorded by the central trash can and assigned to the amount of waste / recyclable material now entering the bin. This means that each material / residual waste quantity can be assigned to exactly one waste generator.

In a preferred embodiment, the code is stored on a chip.

The definition of the category of recyclable material is made by the waste producer via the Human-machine interface MMI perceived. The waste producer gives  according to claim 3, the type of resource manually, whereby the process in the central collection container is controlled.

After filling in the recyclable material / waste, all others functional processes without the intervention of the waste generator.

The central waste collection container contains the following components:

• - Waste transport container for temporary storage ZL
• - Communication unit with MMI waste generator
• - SM measuring modules and WM weighing modules
• - Mechanical, thermal and electrical waste treatment stages
• - Central computer unit for data acquisition and data processing
• - Communication unit with waste management KA
• - EM power supply (not described further)
• - WB recycling bin
• - Residual waste container RB
• - FB conveyor belts

The functions of the individual elements of the central waste collection container are described below. The basic structure of the ZM is shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Garbage transport container for temporary storage ZL

To carry out the further process steps and the The container will not be blocked by further fillings Waste filled in waste / recyclable material in different Intermediate storage containers kept. Wear these intermediate storage containers the information on waste generator and waste / resource type in one Disk DT. The data is encoded while emptying the  Garbage transport container, on the data carrier of the intermediate storage container transfer. The data is from this data carrier during further process steps from the data processing of the central waste collection container available.

Due to the intermediate storage of the declared recyclables, a sequential processing of the recycling check possible, even if several recycling bins can be filled almost simultaneously. For one Collection containers for 100 households should have 15 intermediate storage containers be provided.

Communication unit with the waste generator

The central collection container communicates via a display and Automatic receipt with the waste generator. The waste producer surrenders a man-machine interface MMI the recycling category he want to fill in a. The MMI is in an advantageous embodiment from 7 large buttons, 5 for recyclables, 1 for residual waste and one for Correction. The buttons are unique and international thanks to symbols identifiable. The input, as well as the Garbage / amount of recyclable material displayed, so that the waste generator again Possibility of a correction. After repeatedly pressing the keyboard or after 30 seconds the input is accepted as confirmed and the Transport vessel emptying carried out automatically.

A receipt is automatically generated in the waste generator, in which Time, quantity and recycling category are displayed. This A receipt can be shown for any complaints.  

Measuring and weighing sensors & material preparation

The central collection container checks on the basis of that of the waste producer defined quality category the quality of the material. In The dependency of the material to be analyzed is different mechanical, thermal or electrical pretreatments and / or Perform substance identification using sensors. As examples are here listed:

• - detection of iron
• - Detection of paper
• - detection of glass
• - Detection of plastic

i) Detection of iron Recycling conditions (depend on recycling process and product)

Here it is assumed that the iron in blast furnaces together with Iron ore is to be melted down, the iron scrap fraction at the The production of pig iron depends on blast furnace technology.

+ Organic soiling is not critical as this co-burned.

+ Inorganic substances with different specific Weight will go up or down in the iron smelter decrease, which results in a separation.

Detection in the collection container

The valuable iron is passed under an electromagnet transported, magnetic materials are not from magnetic separated. The remaining garbage components will be weighed. The collecting container determines the quotient remaining garbage components and quantity of recyclable material. Is  this quotient is smaller than that specified by the waste management Recyclable pollution mark, so the valuable iron in the If the container for iron is transported, if it is larger, it gets there filled garbage in the residual waste. (With iron, the temporal Delay between transporting residual waste and separating iron Magnetic activation of all ferrous materials Recycle bin can be fed). The waste generator gets the measurement result of its recycling of waste via the garbage control room communicated.

ii) Detection of paper Preconditions for recycling (depend on process and product)

Here it is assumed that waste paper for the production of Packaging paper and cardboard is used.

+ smaller floating parts such as B. staples or Scraps of scotch tape can be eliminated in the recycling process (e.g. through a centrifuge where the paper fibers are let through bigger particles don't.

+ no papers with larger plastic or Metal coating

+ no plastic parts (e.g. foils).

Detection in the collection container

The material of value is paper for the detection of metal coatings detected by means of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. As soon as reflections occur that are above the permitted limits the paper is assigned to the residual waste. Then will the waste paper is fed to a shredding roller. This roller shreds paper, but not solid / tough materials. Through a grid  the shredded parts are let through. The not crushed Parts end up in the residual waste. Finally, the valuable material Weighed paper and the quotient of residual and filled Quantity of recyclable material determined and the waste producer via the waste management communicated.

iii) detection of glass Preconditions for recycling

+ Glasses have to be sorted separately by color.

Detection in the collection container

Since glasses can always be translucent, the test the glasses can be carried out by means of LEDs and photodiodes. In Dependence of the glass color between the LED and photodiode The photodiode delivers different glasses specific signals from which the glass color can be derived. For the Glass color detection is a short distance without glass Labeling sufficient. All materials that have no transparency are weighed and assigned to residual waste.

iv) detection of plastics Preconditions for recycling

Here it is assumed that for transparent and white foils Recycling capacities are available.

+ no solid plastic parts

+ no papers

+ no colored or contaminated foils.  

Detection in the collection container

The detection of plastic films is carried out by means of LEDs, photodiodes, Rolling and the shredding known from paper detection realized, whereby the shredded paper is eliminated. The rollers eliminate solid components that are not foils. LED and photodiodes check the transparency and absorption behavior of the Foils, non-transparent or white foils are eliminated. Around the inverse must also eliminate white paper Paper recognition process can be applied, which is not crushable plastic films remain as a valuable material at the end.

The collection container shown in this example thus has following mechanical process equipment:

• - electromagnet
• - separation rollers
• - crushing rollers
• - divider

via the following sensors:

• - Scale for determining the amount of substance in the intermediate container
• - Balance for residual waste
• - high-frequency sensors
• - Optical sensors.

The collection container has a modular structure. According to the Process requirements can be combined with different sensor modules become.  

The recyclables that meet the quality requirements are listed in Storage containers kept. The size of this collection container is aligned according to the expected volume of the respective recyclable can be derived from the average volume of material in the region can.

In an exemplary embodiment, such a recycling container is included an optical level indicator, which is equipped with LEDs and Photodiode detects when the upper filling limit is reached. By means of a A distinction is made between the timing element whether the photodiode is only filling Recognized material or the filling limit has been reached.

Data processing

All measurement results and information about waste producers captured by the central computer unit in the collecting container and assigned. If a quality control process correlates between different sensor results are required, these are also in this data processing carried out.

After the garbage / recycling check, the following data is available:

• - waste producers
• - Time of refilling
• - amount of filling
• - Specified recycling category
• - Quality inspection result
• - Allocation of filling into residual waste or recycling containers.

Communication unit with garbage control

When a filling limit is reached, which is recorded by data processing, the collection container sends the information

• - Location of the collection container
• - Type of material to be transported

to the garbage director. This information transfer can be done accordingly Claim 4 can be executed as wireless telecommunications. Based on this information transfer, the garbage director Emptying initiated.

This communication route is also used for transmission all data collected from the central collection container to the waste management related. The data transmission takes place periodically by means of simple Time control.

D) Garbage transportation

The garbage control organizes the removal of the valuable materials or residual waste. Recyclable materials are sent directly to the respective waste disposal companies transported, so that an intermediate storage and additional loading and There is no unloading.

The emptying of only full, central collection containers significantly reduces the effort for waste disposal.

E) feedback to waste producers

The waste management department creates a periodic list for each waste producer of residual waste, recyclable quantities and purity of the sorting of recyclables.  

If the sorting is inadequate, references to identified substance classes can be made, such as
e.g. B. Metal in paper collection
Caused by e.g. B.

• - Composites with a metallic coating
• - incorrect sorting.

In order to increase the efficiency of the sorting of recyclables, these are Notices sent to waste producers. Advice for the better Waste sorting complements the information flow back to the waste producer.

Additional incentives for the qualitatively sufficient sorting of valuable materials can through financial compensation for satisfactory waste sorting can be achieved.

Reference list

Fig. 1:
CI = coded identification
ÖF = opening
PM = personal waste transport container

Fig. 2:
AR = locking
CI = coded identification
ZM = central waste collection container

Fig. 3:
FB = conveyor belt
MMI = human-machine interface
RB = residual waste container
SM = sensor module
WB = recycling container
WM = weighing module
ZL = waste transport container for temporary storage

Fig. 4:
DT = disk
EM = energy supply
FB = conveyor belt
KA = communication antenna
MMI = human-machine interface
RB = residual waste container
SM = sensor module
WB = recycling container
WM = weighing module
ZL = waste transport container for temporary storage

Claims (6)

1. A method for collecting valuable and waste quantities, characterized in that

• - The trash can of the waste generator is identified by electronic coding
• - The central collection container recognizes the code of the waste generator
• - The central collecting container detects the amount of waste or valuable material and stores it together with the identification code of the waste generator
• - The central collecting container checks the purity of the recyclable materials and stores the recyclable material in appropriate chambers if the preprogrammed purity conditions are observed.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the Waste generator using a personal, coded Multi-chamber waste bin that collects recyclables separately. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the Waste producers every time they visit the central collection container Category of waste or residual waste is determined manually. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the central Collecting container when the upper filling limit of a chamber is reached automatically emptying the collecting container by means of Telecommunications initiated.   5. The method according to claim 1 and 4, characterized in that the central collecting container over the data

• + Waste generator
• + Amount of residual waste per waste producer
• + Amount of recyclables separated by waste producer and type of recyclable material

transmitted to the waste disposal director, and this to each waste producer periodically a list of the quantities of waste, recyclables and their purity transmitted.