WO2021009348A1

WO2021009348A1 - Waste handling system

Info

Publication number: WO2021009348A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/070282
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rune STEFFENSEN; Lars STEFFENSEN
Original assignee: RECYCLE MACHINES ApS
Priority date: 2019-07-17
Filing date: 2020-07-17
Publication date: 2021-01-21
Also published as: EP3999240A1; DK201970469A1; DK180182B1

Abstract

A mobile waste handling system for handling of waste material, the waste handling system comprising: a housing where the housing defines an inner volume having a central axis; a shredder arranged in the inner volume and configured to tear up waste material into waste fragments, the shredder having a shredder input configured to receive the waste material and a shredder output configured to output waste fragments; a buffer arranged in the inner volume and having at least one buffer side wall defining a buffer volume to hold waste fragments, a buffer input configured to receive the waste fragments from the shredder output and a buffer output configured to output waste fragments; and a compactor arranged in the inner volume and configured to reduce the volume of waste fragments, where the compactor comprises a compactor input for receiving waste fragments from the buffer output and a compactor output for outputting compacted waste fragments.

Description

WASTE HANDLING SYSTEM

The present disclosure relates to waste handling system, and in particular to a mobile waste handling system that can be moved around and placed where needed, e.g. at a construction site or at a recycling station.

BACKGROUND

Waste management is an area where waste material in several instances is transported from one place to the other in order to process and recycle the waste material. In some instances, waste material is transported from one site to another to process the waste material. In some instances, the transport of the waste material is highly inefficient, as the waste material may have a significant volume but have a relatively small mass. This may be where the waste material is in its original form, such as plastic packaging, aluminum cans and isolation material, where a large part of the volume of the waste material is air. Thus, the transport is inefficient as the cost of transporting the waste material is in most cases related to the volume of the material and not the mass of the material. Thus, there may be a need to provide more effective waste handling systems.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a mobile waste handling system for handling of waste material, the waste handling system comprising a housing where the housing defines an inner volume optionally having a central axis; a shredder arranged in the inner volume and configured to tear up waste material into waste fragments, the shredder having a shredder input configured to receive the waste material, and a shredder output configured to output waste fragments; a buffer arranged in the inner volume and having at least one buffer side wall defining a buffer volume to hold waste fragments, a buffer input configured to receive the waste fragments from the shredder output, and a buffer output configured to output waste fragments; and a compactor arranged in the inner volume and configured to reduce the volume of waste fragments, where the compactor comprises a compactor input for receiving waste fragments from the buffer output and a compactor output for outputting compacted waste fragments. The above system may be capable of reducing the volume of the waste material, where a shredder shreds the waste material into waste fragments, which thereby reducing the volume of the waste material significantly. As an example, a plastic fish crate, may be shredded into small fragments, where the volume of the shredded fragments is smaller than the volume of the fish crate. The waste fragments may be introduced from the shredder into buffer, where the waste fragments may still be irregular and may still have a shape and form where the fragments define a fragment volume. The waste fragments may thereafter be introduced into the compactor from the buffer, where the compactor reduces the volume of the waste fragments from their fragment volume into a compacted volume, e.g. via a mechanical force, where the compacted volume is smaller than the fragment volume. Thereafter, the compacted volume of waste fragments may be output from the compactor, so that the compacted volume of the waste material may be transported in a state where the volume of the waste material has been reduced significantly, and may therefore be efficiently transported. Thus, if the waste material is to be driven away by a transport vehicle, such as a truck having a predefined transport volume, the reduction in volume means that a much higher mass of waste material may be transported, than if the waste material was in its original form, which in turn heavily reduces the need for costly transportation. The shredder may be in the form of a machine used for reducing the size of waste material and may be equipped with different types of cutting systems: horizontal shaft, vertical shaft, single-shaft, two-shaft, three-shaft and four-shaft cutting systems. These shredder designs can be high speed, medium speed and sometimes slow-speed systems, they typically include hammermills of a vertical and horizontal shaft design, and can also include in contrast to hammer mills slow speed technology which are also used to process or shred metal and plastic and other waste materials encountered in the waste material industry.

In these types of systems it is usual that the shredder may operate at a higher rate than e.g. the compactor, where the shredder may have a first working capacity, and the compactor may have a second working capacity, where the working capacity may be defined in volume pr. hour (m³/hr) and/or mass pr. hour (kg/hr), or in other suitable units. Thus, the first working capacity may be higher than the second working capacity. This means that if the shredder works faster than the compactor, the shredder will produce more waste fragments than the compactor can deal with. The present disclosure advantageously provides a buffer volume for the waste fragments between the shredder and the compactor, so that the shredder may be fed without risking that the waste fragments will back up and prevent the system in operating creating delays for a user filling the shredder. Thus, the shredder may operate at different intervals than the compactor, where the compactor may run while there are waste fragments in the buffer, while the shredder provides waste fragments to the buffer. Thus, the provision of a buffer means that the waste handling system may be operated at a higher capacity than the second working capacity of the shredder. Further, the waiting time for a user feeding the shredder is heavily reduced.

The buffer may e.g. be silo formed, where the buffer may have side walls and top walls to hold the shredded material. The side walls of the buffer may be adapted to hold the shredded material, and to direct the shredded material to the buffer output and into the compactor input. The side wall may be a rigid side wall, where the inner surface of the side wall may be coated with material that has low friction, such as nylon and/or Teflon, to ensure that material does not stick to the side wall, and that friction does not hold the shredded material inside the buffer volume.

The compactor may be a machine or mechanism used to reduce the size of material such as waste material through compaction. The compactor may be a screw compactor, where the screw compactor may provide a mechanical force to compact the material. The compactor may be a hydraulic compactor.

By providing the waste handling system in a housing, it may be possible to transport the waste handling system from one location to another. The waste handling system may optionally be a mobile waste handling system, where the housing holds all the

components of the waste handling system, and where the waste handling system may be transported e.g. via a truck to a location where the waste handling system is needed. Thus, the waste handing system may e.g. be transported to a building site or construction site, where the waste handling system may be used to treat waste of the site prior to the waste being transported from the site, and thereby improve the efficiency of the waste transport from the site. The waste handling system may e.g. also be provided at a waste handling site, such as a recycling station, where the system may be used to reduce the volume of waste material provided by the users of the recycling station. The output of the waste handling system may be in the form of compacted waste, where the compacted waste may e.g. be collected at the site of the waste handling system and transported to a recycling plant, where the waste may be recycled and/or reused. The housing may be provided with an electrical system where the electrical system may be adapted to power the components of the waste handling system, the electrical system may be powered by a generator, or may have an external power coupling allowing electrical power to be provided at e.g. a building site. The waste handling system may be fed by electrical power, e.g. with a voltage less than 500 V AC, such as 400V AC or 280V AC. The waste handling system may be fed by electrical power, e.g. with a current less than 80A, such as in the range from 50A to 70A or less than 50 A, such as less than 20A. In one or more exemplary waste handling systems, the waste handling system is fed with by electrical power with a voltage of about 400 V AC and a current less than 20 A. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the inner volume may comprise a first volume, also referred to as an input compartment, where the first volume is separated from a second volume, also referred to as a machinery compartment, and/or a third volume, also referred to as a second compartment. The first volume/input compartment may be defined as the input volume of the waste handling system, where the first volume may define a region or space where waste material is introduced into the waste handling system. The system may comprise a second volume and/or a third volume. By separating the first volume from the second and/or third volume it may be possible to isolate parts of the waste handling system from other parts. Thus, a user of the system may be restricted from accessing some parts of the system that are not relevant for the user. This may mean that a user will have access to the shredder input of the shredder, but may not have access to other parts of the system, such as the compactor, buffer, and/or the body of the shredder. Thus, it may be possible to reduce the risk that a user will influence the operation of the system and/or reduce the risk that a user will be injured by components of the system. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the waste handling system may comprise a second volume, also referred to as a machinery compartment, that is separated from the first volume and/or the third volume. The second volume may e.g. comprise some of the components of the waste handling system, such as the shredder body, the buffer, and/or the compactor. The second volume may be separated from other volumes, such as the first volume and/or third volume, of the system, in order to isolate access to parts of the system, so that a user that has access to one volume of the system may be isolated from access to other volumes of the system. As an example, a user that may have access to the shredder input, e.g. the first volume, may not have any need in having access to the second volume, as the second volume may only be accessible to authorized personnel that are capable of servicing the waste handling system.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the waste handing system may comprise a third volume, also referred to as an output compartment, where the third volume is separated from the first volume and/or the second volume. The third volume may e.g. be a region or space of the housing where the compacted waste fragments exiting the compactor output may be collected, and the third volume may be accessed by personnel that need to transport the compacted waste fragments/material away from the waste handling system. Thus, the third volume may e.g. hold or be configured to hold a waste outlet container, where the container may be arranged to receive the compacted waste fragments exiting the compactor output, and receive the compacted waste material. The container may be removably arranged inside the third volume, where the container may be accessed by authorized personnel when it needs to be emptied or exchanged.

Accordingly, the inner volume of the housing may be separated or divided into two or at least three compartments including an input compartment, a machinery compartment, and an output compartment. The input compartment and the output compartment may form a single input/output compartment.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the waste material may be polymeric material and/or soft metals. Examples of the polymeric material may e.g. be PUR (polyurethane), EPS (expanded polystyrene), XPS (extruded polystyrene), EPE (expanded

polyethylene), EPP (expanded polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), LDPE (low density polyethylene), HDPE (high density polyethylene), HIPS (high impact polystyrene), Nylon, PPC (Polypropylencarbonat) or any type of suitable polymer.

Examples of soft metals may e.g. be aluminum containers, iron containers, or any type of suitable soft metals that are capable of being shredded from their original state and/or compacted from metal fragments. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the housing may comprise a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall enclosing the inner volume in a radial direction. The housing optionally has a first end and a second end. The central axis may extend from the first end to the second end. The housing may be provided with walls that enclose the inner volume of the housing, where the walls provide a mechanical barrier between the inner volume and the surrounding environment. The enclosing of the inner volume using walls means that the waste handling system may be provided inside the inner volume, where all the components of the system are arranged fully inside the inner volume. This also means that the inner volume is bound by the walls of the housing, and the system may be transported from one place to the other, by moving the housing.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the term radial direction may be seen as a direction that is perpendicular to the central axis of the inner volume. The radial direction may be in any direction perpendicular to the central axis of the inner volume. In one or more embodiments, the waste handling system may comprise or be provided with a sensor assembly comprising one or more sensors including a first sensor and/or a second sensor. The first sensor may be configured to sense if the buffer volume is filled or at least filled to a certain level. The second sensor may be configured to sense if the buffer volume is empty or at least emptied to a certain level. The sensor assembly may comprise a third sensor configured to sense and/or detect presence of waste material at the shredder input. The sensor assembly may comprise a fourth sensor configured to sense and/or detect presence of waste fragments at the compactor input. The sensor assembly may comprise a fifth sensor configured to sense and/or detect presence of waste fragments at the compactor output.

The sensor assembly may comprise one or more opening sensors configured to sense if an opening, e.g. an opening in the housing, is open/not closed or closed (e.g. with a door). The one or more opening sensors may include a first opening sensor and optionally a second opening sensor. The one or more opening sensors may include a third opening sensor.

The waste handling system may comprise a controller connected to sensor(s) of the sensor assembly, such as one or more of the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor, the fourth sensor, the fifth sensor, the first opening sensor, the second opening sensor, and the third opening sensor. The controller may be configured to control parts of the waste handling system, such as the shredder, transport device, and/or compactor, based on sensor signal(s) from the sensor(s) of the sensor assembly. In one or more exemplary waste handling systems, the controller may be configured to disable or deactivate the shredder, when there is no or little free volume in the buffer volume, e.g. when a first sensor signal from the first sensor indicates that the buffer is filled or has no available buffer volume. Accordingly, the controller may be configured to operate the shredder based on a first sensor signal from the first sensor. The controller may be configured to operate the shredder based on a third sensor signal from the third sensor.

For example, the controller may be configured to activate the shredder when the first sensor signal is indicative of available buffer volume in the buffer and the third sensor signal is indicative of presence of waste material at the shredder input.

In one or more exemplary waste handling systems, the controller may be configured to disable or deactivate the compactor, when the buffer is empty or at least emptied to a certain level, e.g. until a second sensor signal from the second sensor indicates that the buffer is empty or at least emptied to a certain level. In other words, the controller may be configured to activate the compactor, when the buffer is not empty, e.g. when a second sensor signal from the second sensor indicates that the buffer holds waste fragments to be compacted. Accordingly, the controller may be configured to operate the compactor based on a second sensor signal from the second sensor. The controller may be configured to operate the compactor based on a fourth sensor signal from the fourth sensor and/or a fifth sensor signal from the fifth sensor. For example, the controller may be configured to activate the compactor when the second sensor signal is indicative of the buffer holding waste fragments to be compacted and/or the fourth sensor signal is indicative of presence of waste fragments at the compactor input and/or the fifth sensor signal is indicative of no presence of waste fragments at the compactor output. Thus, the fifth sensor may detect if a container to hold compacted waste fragments is full.

In one or more exemplary waste handling systems, the controller may be configured to disable or deactivate the compactor, when buffer is empty or at least emptied to a certain level, e.g. until a second sensor signal from the second sensor indicates that the buffer is empty or at least emptied to a certain level.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the first end of the housing may comprise a first opening providing access to the shredder input and/or input compartment. The first opening may be provided with a first door or a first openable barrier, where the first door may be selectively opened and/or closed, where the first door provides access to the first opening and/or the first volume/input compartment. The first opening sensor may be arranged at the first opening. The first opening sensor may be configured to sense or detect the state of the first opening. Thus, when the first opening is open (first door is open), the first opening sensor may send a first opening sensor signal to the controller indicative of the first opening being open, so that the controller can control the shredder not to operate while the first opening is open. When the first opening is closed, the first opening sensor may sense that the first opening is closed (first door is closed) and send a first opening sensor signal to the controller indicative of the first opening being closed so that the controller can control the shredder to operate while the first opening is closed. Accordingly, the first opening sensor may be configured to sense if the first opening is closed (e.g. if first door covering the first opening is closed) or open (e.g. if first door is open or not closed).

The first opening may be provided with a waste feeding assembly, wherein the waste feeding assembly is configured to provide access to the first opening and/or the first volume/input compartment. In one or more exemplary waste handling systems, the waste feeding assembly is configured to feed the waste material to the shredder input. The waste feeding assembly may comprise a waste receptacle, such as an actuator-driven waste receptacle. The waste feeding assembly may be configured to move waste material from the first volume/input compartment to the shredder input, e.g. during and/or after closing first door/first openable barrier/waste receptacle. In one or more exemplary waste handling systems, the controller may be configured to operate the shredder based on first opening sensor signal from the first opening sensor. For example, the controller may be configured to activate the shredder when the first sensor signal is indicative of available buffer volume in the buffer, the third sensor signal is indicative of presence of waste material at the shredder input, and the first opening sensor signal is indicative of the first opening being closed.

In one or more exemplary waste handling systems, the controller may be configured to deactivate the shredder when the first opening sensor signal is indicative of the first opening being open. Thus, there is a reduced risk that a user will come to harm when accessing the first opening and/or the first volume in turn providing a secure waste handling system. The first opening may have a lower edge that may have a height that is at least one metre from a lower edge of the housing.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the first end may comprise a second opening providing access to the compactor output and/or output compartment. The second opening may be provided with a second door or a second openable barrier, where the second door may be selectively opened and/or closed, where the second door provides access to the second opening and/or the third volume/output compartment. The second opening sensor may be arranged at the second opening. The second opening sensor may be configured to sense or detect the state of the second opening. Thus, when the second opening is open (second door is open), the second opening sensor may send a second opening sensor signal to the controller indicative of the second opening being open, so that the controller can control the compactor not to operate while the second opening is open. When the second opening is closed, the second opening sensor may sense that the second opening is closed (second door is closed) and send a second opening sensor signal to the controller indicative of the second opening being closed so that the controller can control the compactor to operate while the second opening is closed. Accordingly, the second opening sensor may be configured to sense if the second opening is closed (e.g. if second door covering the second opening is closed) or open (e.g. if second door is open or not closed).

In one or more exemplary waste handling systems, the controller may be configured to operate the compactor based on second opening sensor signal from the second opening sensor. In one or more exemplary waste handling systems, the controller may be configured to activate the compactor when the second sensor signal is indicative of the buffer holding waste fragments to be compacted and the second opening sensor signal is indicative of the second opening being closed. In one or more exemplary waste handling systems, the controller may be configured to activate the compactor when the fourth sensor signal is indicative of presence of waste fragments at the compactor input and the second opening sensor signal is indicative of the second opening being closed. For example, the controller may be configured to activate the compactor when the second sensor signal is indicative of the buffer holding waste fragments to be compacted, the fourth sensor signal is indicative of presence of waste fragments at the compactor input, the fifth sensor signal is indicative of no presence of waste fragments at the compactor output, and the second opening sensor signal is indicative of the second opening being closed.

In one or more exemplary waste handling systems, the controller may be configured to disable or deactivate the compactor when the fifth sensor signal is indicative of presence of compacted waste fragments at the compactor output, i.e. when a container to hold compacted waste fragments is full and needs to be emptied.

In one or more exemplary waste handling systems, the controller may be configured to disable or deactivate the compactor when the second opening sensor signal is indicative of the second opening being open. Thus, there is a reduced risk that a user will come to harm when accessing the second opening in turn providing a secure waste handling system.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the second end may comprise a third opening providing access to the second volume/machinery compartment, e.g. compactor, shredder and/or the buffer. The third opening may be provided with a third door or a third openable barrier, where the third door may be selectively opened and/or closed, where the third door provides access to the third opening and/or the second volume/machinery compartment. The third opening sensor may be arranged at the third opening. The third opening sensor may be configured to sense or detect the state of the third opening. Thus, when the third opening is open (third door is open), the third opening sensor may send a third opening sensor signal to the controller indicative of the third opening being open, so that the controller can control parts of the waste handling system not to operate while the third opening is open. When the third opening is closed, the third opening sensor may sense that the third opening is closed (third door is closed) and send a third opening sensor signal to the controller indicative of the third opening being closed so that the controller can control the parts of the waste handling system to operate while the third opening is closed. Accordingly, the third opening sensor may be configured to sense if the third opening is closed (e.g. if third door covering the third opening is closed) or open (e.g. if third door is open or not closed).

In one or more exemplary waste handling systems, the controller may be configured to disable or deactivate one or more parts of the waste handling system, such as the compactor and/or the shredder, when the third opening sensor signal is indicative of the third opening being open. Thus, there is a reduced risk that a user will come to harm when accessing the third opening.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the buffer volume may be positioned above the compactor input. The provision of the buffer volume above the compactor input means that the content of the buffer may be directed towards the compactor input using gravity. Thus, the gravitational force of the waste fragments will push the waste fragments into the compactor input.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, at least a lower part of the buffer and/or buffer volume may be funnel shaped. The buffer may have a first diameter and/or a first circumference at an upper part of the buffer, where the buffer may have a second diameter and/or a second circumference at a lower part of the buffer, where the second diameter and/or second circumference is smaller than the first diameter and/or second circumference. Thus, a certain portion of the upper part of the buffer may hold a larger volume of waste fragments than a lower part of the fragments. Furthermore, this means that the waste fragments that are positioned in the upper part of the buffer are forced by the funnel shape into the compactor input. This means that a bottom part of the buffer may have a size that fits the compactor input, while an upper part of the buffer may have a larger size. In one embodiment, the buffer may be funnel shaped, where the diameter and/or the circumference of the buffer reduces in a direction downwards, where the reduction may be even in at least a part of the buffer height.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the buffer volume may be closed. Thus, the buffer may have a upper wall, where the upper wall connects to the side walls of the buffer, to provide a barrier to the buffer volume in an upwards direction. The buffer volume may have a buffer input, which receives waste fragments from the shredder. By closing the buffer volume it is ensured that the waste fragments that enter the buffer volume cannot exit the buffer volume in any other place than through the buffer output, which may be connected to the compactor input. This may especially be important if the waste fragments are introduced into the buffer volume at a relatively high speed. Thus, the closed buffer volume holds the waste fragments, and the waste fragments cannot escape the buffer volume. In one embodiment the closed buffer volume may have a pressure release device, where an increase in pressure inside the buffer volume may be released. This may e.g. be important when waste fragments may be transported via air flow into the buffer volume. Thus, the air introduced into the buffer volume may escape the buffer volume via the pressure release device. The pressure release device may in its simplest form be an air opening, where the opening may have barriers, such as one or more filters, that prevent the waste fragments from escaping.

The shredder output may be arranged below the buffer input, e.g. with a height difference larger than 0.5 m, such as 1.0 m.

The waste handling system may comprise a transport device configured to transport waste fragments from the shredder output to the buffer input. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the inner volume, e.g. the second volume/machine compartment, may comprise the transport device configured to transport waste fragments from the shredder output to the buffer input. The transport device may actively transport the waste fragments from the shredder output to the buffer input. The active transportation device may e.g. be a conveyor belt, a conveyor screw or other types of mechanical transport means. The mechanical transport device may be utilized, e.g. when the waste material may be metal waste or hard plastic waste. The transport device may be adapted to increase the elevation of the waste material during transport, e.g. where the shredder output may be positioned at a lower level than the buffer input.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the transport device may comprise a blower system, where the blower system is connected to the shredder output, e.g. via an input tube of the transport device, and is configured to transport waste fragments to the buffer input, e.g. via an output tube of the transport device. The blower system may have a blower input, and a blower output, where the blower input may during operation have a vacuum effect, where the blower input may suck the waste fragments from the shredder output, and where the blower output may blow the waste fragments into the buffer volume via the buffer input. This may especially be advantageous when the waste handling system is handling polymeric waste material such as EPS.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the housing may be a shipping container, preferably a 20-foot shipping container, or at least have one or more outer dimensions corresponding to a shipping container. By providing the housing in the form of a shipping container, which may have a standard length, width and/or height, where the dimensions may be in accordance with an intermodal freight container, such as a 20 ft container or a 40 ft container. The container may be a high cube, where the height may be larger than a standard container, such as a 20 ft high cube container or a 40 ft high cube container. The container may have a height of between 2.3 m and 3 m. The width of the container may e.g. be around 8 ft. (2.35 m), while the length may be around 20 ft (5.9 m). The

housing/container may have a cubic capacity (inner volume) in the range from 25 m³ to 40 m³, such as 33 m³ ± 2 m³. Thus, the waste handling system may easily be shipped from one position to another, where a standard container truck may pick up the waste handling system and transport it, via e.g. land or sea, to a different location. The waste handling system may comprise trailer a wheel assembly comprising one or more sets of wheels. Thus, the waste handling system may be incorporated or embedded in a trailer.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the buffer side wall may comprise textile fabric. The provision of textile fabric may mean that the textile fabric may have a plurality of perforations, where the perforations are capable of releasing excess air from the buffer volume. The textile fabric may be used when the waste handling system handles EPS waste, and EPS fragments are input into the buffer volume. The textile fabric may be used in applications where the waste fragments do not damage the textile fabric when the waste fragments enter the buffer volume, or when the waste fragments are pressed up to the side walls of the buffer volume. The buffer side wall may be made of metal.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the compactor and/or the shredder may be mounted on one or more rails configured to provide manoeuvrability of the compactor and/or shredder in a direction parallel to the central axis. The rails may be mounted on a lower wall of the housing, where the rails allow the compactor and/or the shredder to be rolled out of the housing for service or exchange. The compactor and/or shredder may be provided with wheels, that connect to the rails, where the wheels may be locked, i.e. the shredder and/or the compactor may be locked into place during use.

In one or more exemplary embodiments the waste handling system may comprise an input compartment or first volume providing access to the shredder input. The input compartment may be provided with or defined by one or more side walls, optionally an upper wall and optionally a lower wall, and/or a back wall, where the walls and/or the input compartment is positioned inside the inner volume of the housing. A wall (or part of a wall) of the housing may constitute a wall of the input compartment. The input compartment may have an opening into the shredder input, where the walls may close off all other elements of the housing from the input compartment. The input compartment may be provided with the first opening, where the first opening provides access to the input compartment from the surrounding environment. The first opening or a lower edge of the first opening may be positioned at a height that is above the lower edge of the housing, where lower wall of the input compartment may be positioned so that a person standing up can feed into the shredder input via the input compartment. The height of the lower edge of the first opening may e.g. be around 1 m or larger than 1 m from the ground level (bottom wall of housing). The height of the input compartment may be less than 50% of the height of the housing. The input compartment may be positioned at a first end of the housing, where the input compartment optionally extends about or less than 50 % of the width of the housing. In other words, the input compartment may have a width of about 50% or less than 50 % of the width of the housing. The input compartment may have a depth (extension along the central axis) in the range from 0.5 m to 2 m. The shredder input may form or define the bottom or part of the bottom of the input compartment.

In one or more exemplary embodiments the waste handling system may comprise an output compartment providing access to the compactor output. The output compartment may extend from the lower edge of the housing to the upper edge of the housing, where the output compartment may be configured to hold an output container or waste bag, the output container/waste bag being configured to collect compacted waste material exiting the compactor output. The output compartment may be closed off from the remaining parts of the inner volume, where the output compartment may be provided with one or more side walls, optionally an upper wall and optionally a lower wall, and/or a back wall where the walls and/or the output compartment is positioned inside the inner volume of the housing. A wall (or part of a wall) of the housing may constitute a wall of the output compartment. The output compartment may be positioned at a first end of the housing, where the output compartment optionally extends about 50% or more than 50 % of the width of the housing. The output compartment may extend less than 50 % of the width of the housing. In other words, the output compartment may have a width of about 50% or less than 50 % of the width of the housing. The output compartment may have a depth (extension along the central axis) in the range from 0.5 m to 2 m.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, a buffer volume of the buffer may be between 1 m³ and 6 m³, more specifically between 1.5 m³ and 5.5 m³, more specifically between 2 m³ and 5 m^3, more specifically between 2.5 m³ and 4.5 m³, more specifically between 3 m³ and 4 m³, more specifically at 3.5 m³.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following is an explanation of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary waste handling system,

Fig. 2 is a top view of an exemplary waste handling system.

Fig. 3 is a side view of an exemplary waste handling system, and Fig. 4 is a first end view of an exemplary housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various exemplary embodiments and details are described hereinafter, with reference to the figures when relevant. It should be noted that the figures may or may not be drawn to scale and that elements of similar structures or functions are represented by like reference numerals throughout the figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention or as a limitation on the scope of the invention. In addition, an illustrated embodiment needs not have all the aspects or advantages shown. An aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with a particular embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in any other embodiments even if not so illustrated, or if not so explicitly described.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile waste handling system 1 , where the waste handling system comprises a housing 2. The housing 2 has a first end 3, a second end 4, a first side wall 5, and a second side wall 6. The housing 2 defines an inner volume 7, where the inner volume may be defined by all the walls of the housing 2, where in the schematic drawing is shown as being defined by the first end 3, second end 4, the first side wall 5 and the second side wall 6. The waste handling system 1 comprises a shredder arranged in the inner volume, the shredder 9 having shredder input 8, where waste material is transferred 10 from the shredder input 8 to the shredder 9. The shredder 9 rips or tears up the waste material into waste fragment thereby reducing the size of the waste material. The shredder 9 has a shredder output for outputting the waste fragments. The waste fragments may be transferred 1 1 to an optional transport device 12, where the transport device 12 is configured to physically transport 13 the waste fragments from the shredder 9 and into a buffer 14. The buffer has a buffer volume 15, where the buffer volume 15 is capable of collecting a predefined volume of waste fragments and provide a holding area/space for waste fragments. The waste fragments may be transferred 16 from the buffer 14 and/or the buffer volume 15 into a compactor 17, where the compactor 17 may be adapted to reduce the volume of the waste fragments, where the compactor 17 provides compacted waste material. The compacted waste material may be transferred 18 to a compactor waste output 19, where the compacted waste material may be collected in a holding volume 20, which may be located inside the inner volume 7 of the housing 2.

Accordingly, Fig. 1 shows a mobile waste handling system 1 for handling of waste material, the waste handling system 1 comprising a housing 2 where the housing defines an inner volume 7 having a central axis; a shredder 9 arranged in the inner volume 7 and configured to tear up waste material into waste fragments, the shredder having a shredder input 8 configured to receive the waste material and a shredder output configured to output waste fragments; a buffer 14 arranged in the inner volume 7 and having at least one buffer side wall defining a buffer volume 15 to hold waste fragments, a buffer input configured to receive the waste fragments from the shredder output and a buffer output configured to output waste fragments; and a compactor 17 arranged in the inner volume 7 and configured to reduce the volume of waste fragments, where the compactor comprises a compactor input for receiving waste fragments from the buffer output and a compactor output 19 for outputting compacted waste fragments.

As may be seen in Fig. 1 , the shredder input 8 and/or the compactor output 19 may be positioned at a first end 3 of the housing, where the first end 3 may be provided with a first opening 21 and/or a second opening 22, respectively providing selective and closeable access to the shredder input 8 (via input compartment 45) and the compactor output 19 (via output compartment 48). The second end 4 of the housing 2 may be provided with a third opening 23, where the third opening 23 may provide selective and closable access to the inner volume 7/machinery compartment 50, and may be inaccessible to anyone but authorized personnel that may provide service and maintenance of the components of the waste handling system 1. As may be seen in Fig. 1 , the inner volume 7 of the housing 2, may hold all the components of the waste handling system inside the inner volume 7. Thus, the housing 2 defines the outer part of the waste handling system 1 and where all the components are located inside the housing 2. The inner volume 7 optionally comprises a first volume/input compartment 45 arranged at the first end 3. The input compartment 45 provides access to the shredder input 8.

Fig. 2 and 3 show a top view and a side view, respectively, of an exemplary embodiment of a waste handling system 1 , the system 1 comprises a housing 2 having a first end 3, a second end 4, a first side wall 5 and a second side wall 6, as well as a top wall 24 and a bottom wall 25. The housing 2 defines an inner volume 7 of the waste handling system 1 where access into the inner volume may be provided via openings in the first end 3 and the second end 4, e.g. as shown disclosed in Fig. 1.

The system 1 comprises a shredder 9, where the shredder comprises a shredder input 8, which is adapted to provide access to the shredder and allow waste material to be introduced into the shredder 9. The shredder 9 may have a first motor 26 and a second motor 27, which are adapted to drive shredder blades 28 (knifes), that are adapted to tear up the waste material and produce waste fragments. The waste handling system may further comprise a transport device 12, in the form of a blower 29, having a blower motor 34, where the blower is connected to a input tube 30 and an output tube 31 , where the input tube 30 is connected to the shredder output 32 and the output tube is connected to a buffer input 33. The blower is capable of sucking the waste fragments from the shredder output 6, and blow the waste fragments into the buffer input 33, which provides access to the buffer volume 15 of the buffer 14. A waste handling system 1 having a blower 29 may be adapted to be used when the waste material is lightweight material such as EPS. In case the waste material is heavier and harder material, the blower may be exchanged with a different transport device, such as a screw conveyor or other suitable transport devices that are capable of transporting waste fragments from the shredder output 32 to the buffer input 33.

The buffer 14 may have a side wall 35, which defines the buffer volume 15, where an upper part 36 of the buffer 14 may have a size that is significantly larger than a lower part 37 of the buffer, where the buffer input 33 may be positioned in the upper part 36 of the buffer and a buffer output 38 may be positioned in a lower part of the buffer 14. Thus, the form of the buffer 14 ensures that the waste fragment which are introduced into the buffer volume 15 are forced via gravitational forces towards the buffer output 38.

The buffer output 38 may be connected to a compactor input 39 of the compactor 17, allowing the waste fragments inside the buffer to be introduced into the compactor 17, for the waste fragments to be compacted. The compactor may be a screw compactor, where the compacted material is fed out of the compactor via mechanical force applied by the screw. When the waste fragments have been compacted, the compacted waste may be transported out of the compactor via a compactor output 40, where the compacted waste, may be transported from the compactor output 40 and to a chute 41 , via a chute input 42, which is connected to the compactor output 40. The output force of the compactor 17 may be adapted to push the compacted waste along the chute 41 , to a chute output 43, which may be an open end of the chute 41.

The chute 41 may be angled upwards, so that the chute output 43 is higher than the chute input 42. A container 44 may be positioned below the chute output 43 in output compartment 48, so that the compacted waste may be collected in the holding

volume/third volume 20 at the first end 3 of the housing 2, where the container 44 may be maneuvered in and out of the housing 2/output compartment 48 to empty the compacted waste when necessary.

Fig. 4 shows a first end view of the first end 3 of the waste handling system 1. The housing may comprise an input compartment 45 accessible via first opening at first end 3 on one side of the first end 3, where the input compartment 45 provides access to the shredder input 8. The input compartment 45 may be provided with a first door 46, which can selectively open and/or close the input compartment 45. The input compartment or first opening may have a lower edge 47, where the lower edge is raised from the bottom wall 25 of the housing 2, allowing users to stand raised when introducing waste material into the shredder input 8. Thus, the input compartment 45 may only extend a part of the height of the housing 2 at the first end 3.

The first end 3 may comprise an output compartment 48 accessible via second opening at first end 3 on one side of the first end 3, where the output compartment 48 provides access to the chute output 43, and therefore the compactor output 19. The output compartment 45 may have a volume of a size where an output container (not shown, 44 in Fig. 2) may be positioned below the chute output 43, where the compacted waste may be collected. The output compartment 48 or second opening may be provided with a second door 49, which can selectively open and/or close the output compartment 48.

The open and closed stated of first 46 and/or the second door 49 may be sensed by respective first and second opening sensors, where the sensors provide sensor signals to a controller, where the controller may shut down or deactivate the shredder 9 when the first door 46 is open, and/or the controller may shut down or deactivate the compactor 17 when the second door 49 is open. The control element may restart or activate the shredder 9 and/or the compactor 17 when the first door 46 and/or the second door 49 is closed, respectively. EXAMPLE

The following is an exemplary waste handling system, which has the following

specifications:

Material to be processed: EPS parts, EPS fish boxes. Wet Maximum density of processed material: up to 30 g/dm3. The housing may be a TIGER 200 B1200 NL CONTAINER-Line.

The shredder may be a pre-breaker SZ 1400 NL - FG3 / B1 Motor power: 2x4,0 KW, where the throughput of the pre-breaker is up to 300 Kg/h, and having a feeding opening (shredder input) of 1400 x 900 mm.

The blower transport may comprise a Suction unit under Pre-breaker SZ 1400 nL made in stainless steel, having a pipe connection: Dia 200 mm. The blower motor may be blower VFM-42 Motor Power: 4,0 KW, having 2,200 m3/hour capacity and 3 MPa pressure.

The silo may be Silo textile fabric without steel frame with hooks for assembling at container ceiling, having a maximum width of 3500x2500 mm, height about 1500 mm, having an outlet that is 800x500 mm and where the outlet height is 700 mm from the ground.

The compactor may have a 800x500mm inlet (compactor input), and be a screw compactor SV 200 KG2 having a motor power of 5,5 KW. The throughput of compactor may be up to 60 Kg/h, where the compactor may have an outlet chute that is at a 25-30 degree angle from the compactor. All of these elements are available from HEGER GmbH + Co. KG, Zabersrasse 26, DE 71083 Herrenberg.

The use of the terms“first”,“second”,“third” and“fourth”,“primary”,“secondary”,“tertiary” etc. does not imply any particular order, but are included to identify individual elements. Moreover, the use of the terms“first”,“second”,“third” and“fourth”,“primary”,

“secondary”,“tertiary” etc. does not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms “first”,“second”,“third” and“fourth”,“primary”,“secondary”,“tertiary” etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Note that the words“first”,“second”,“third” and “fourth”,“primary”,“secondary”,“tertiary” etc. are used here and elsewhere for labelling purposes only and are not intended to denote any specific spatial or temporal ordering.

Furthermore, the labelling of a first element does not imply the presence of a second element and vice versa.

It is to be noted that the word "comprising" does not necessarily exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed.

It is to be noted that the words "a" or "an" preceding an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

It should further be noted that any reference signs do not limit the scope of the claims, that the exemplary embodiments may be implemented at least in part by means of both hardware and software, and that several "means", "units" or "devices" may be

represented by the same item of hardware.

Although features have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the claimed invention, and it will be made obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. The claimed invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents. LIST OF REFERENCES

1 Waste handling system

2 Housing

3 First end

4 Second end

5 First side wall

6 Second side wall

7 Inner volume

8 Shredder input

9 Shredder

10 Transfer

1 1 Transfer

12 Transport device

13 Transport/transfer

14 Buffer

15 Buffer volume

16 Transfer

17 Compactor

18 Transfer

19 Compactor output

20 Holding volume/third volume

21 First opening

22 Second opening

23 Third opening

24 Top wall

25 Bottom wall

26 First shredder motor

27 Second shredder motor

28 Shredder blades

29 Blower

30 Input tube

31 Output tube

32 Shredder output

33 Buffer input

34 Blower motor 35 Buffer side wall

36 Upper part of buffer

37 Lower part of buffer

38 Buffer output

39 Compactor input

40 Compactor output

41 Chute

42 Chute input

43 Chute output

44 Container

45 Input compartment

46 First door

47 Lower edge

48 Output compartment 49 Second door

50 Machinery compartment

62 First sensor

64 Second sensor

66 Third sensor

68 Fourth sensor

70 Fifth sensor

72 First opening sensor

74 Second opening sensor

76 Third opening sensor X Central axis

Claims

1. A mobile waste handling system for handling of waste material, the waste handling system comprising:

- a housing where the housing defines an inner volume having a central axis ; - a shredder arranged in the inner volume and configured to tear up waste

material into waste fragments, the shredder having a shredder input configured to receive the waste material and a shredder output configured to output waste fragments;

- a buffer arranged in the inner volume and having at least one buffer side wall defining a buffer volume to hold waste fragments, a buffer input configured to receive the waste fragments from the shredder output and a buffer output configured to output waste fragments; and

- a compactor arranged in the inner volume and configured to reduce the

volume of waste fragments, where the compactor comprises a compactor input for receiving waste fragments from the buffer output and a compactor output for outputting compacted waste fragments.

2. A mobile waste handling system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the inner volume comprises a first volume that is separated from a second volume and/or a third volume.

3. A mobile waste handling system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, where the waste material is polymeric material and/or soft metals.

4. A mobile waste handling system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, where the housing comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall enclosing the inner volume in a radial direction.

5. A mobile waste handling system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, wherein the first end comprises a first opening providing access to the shredder input.

6. A mobile waste handling system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, wherein the first end comprises a second opening providing access to the compactor output.

7. A mobile waste handling system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, wherein the second end comprises a third opening providing access to the compactor, shredder and/or the buffer.

8. A mobile waste handling system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner volume comprises a transport device configured to transport polymeric fragments from the shredder output to the buffer input.

9. A mobile waste handling system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the transport device comprises a blower system, where the blower system is connected to the shredder output and is configured to transport polymeric fragments to the buffer input.

10. A mobile waste handling system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, wherein the waste handling system comprises an input compartment providing access to the shredder input.