WO2022258126A1

WO2022258126A1 - An environmental control system

Info

Publication number: WO2022258126A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/025205
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank Chiappetta; Samuel Marsh
Original assignee: Trackersack Technologies Limited
Priority date: 2021-06-09
Filing date: 2021-06-09
Publication date: 2022-12-15

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the field of environmental management and to recycling and waste management and provides a waste carrier deployment system for environmental management. In particular the present invention relates to a recycling and waste management facilitated by provision of suitable carriers and system of organization.

Description

An Environmental Control System

Field of the invention

001 The present invention relates generally to the field of environmental management and to recycling and waste management and provides a waste carrier deployment system for environmental management. In particular the present invention relates to a recycling and waste management facilitated by provision of suitable carriers and system of organization.

Background to the invention

002 Waste generation encompasses activities in which materials are identified as no longer being of value (in their present form) and are either thrown away or gathered together for disposal. Waste generation is, at present, an activity that is not very controllable. In the future, however, more control is likely to be exercised over the generation of wastes. Reduction of waste at source, although not controlled by solid waste managers, is now included in system evaluations as a method of limiting the quantity of waste generated.

003 According to data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra )the recycling data for local authorities in England covering the financial year 2018/19 returned an overall recycling rate of 45.1% - although it 44.3% of household waste was recycled in 2015. There was a 235% increase in household recycling in England between 2000/01 and 2009/10. In 2015, 26.7 million tonnes of household waste was generated, of which approximately 11.6 million tonnes was recycled, reused or composted, with dry recycling being the largest component of recycled waste, comprising 59% of the total. Notwithstanding this, a recycling target to be met by December 2020 for the whole of the European Union had been set at 50% for municipal waste. Notwithstanding the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the East Riding of Yorkshire unitary authority managed to achieve a rate of 64.8% recycling, composting and reuse rate - although the authority also reported a relatively high waste per person rate of just over 495kg per person. The local authorities which returned low recycling rates tended to be city- dominated municipalities. Unlike other European countries, there are very few deposit-refund schemes in operation. The United Kingdom's Governmental Department for Environment, Food 8i Rural Affairs (Defra) has supported reward- based programmes, but such have received almost no public or political attention.

004 The majority of recycling undertaken in the United Kingdom is performed by statutory authorities, although commercial and industrial waste is chiefly processed by private companies. Local Authorities are responsible for the collection of municipal waste and operate contracts which are usually kerbside collection schemes. The Household Waste Recycling Act 2003 required local authorities in England to provide every household with a separate collection of at least two types of recyclable materials by 2010. Local Authorities are given incentives towards meeting recycling targets set by national and regional Government by the imposition of financial penalties for failing to recycle. For example, levies are imposed on the proportion of waste material going to landfill under a landfill tax.

005 In December 2018, DEFRA announced plans for a pledge of up to £60m towards innovative new packaging. The establishment of the government body Waste 8i Resources Action Programme is seeking to increase the country's recycling capacity, to achieve a circular economy, an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources. Circular systems employ reuse, sharing, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing and recycling to create a closed-loop system, minimising the use of resource inputs and the creation of waste, pollution and carbon emissions. The circular economy aims to keep products, equipment and infrastructure in use for longer, thus improving the productivity of these resources. Waste materials and energy should become input for other processes: either a component or recovered resource for another industrial process or as regenerative resources for nature (e.g., compost). This regenerative approach is in contrast to the traditional linear economy, which has a "take, make, dispose" model of production. For example, one initiative sought to assess the viability of household food waste being "transformed into environmentally-friendly plastic bags and cups".

006 The waste hierarchy refers to the "3 Rs" Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, which classifies waste management strategies according to their desirability in terms of waste minimisation. The waste hierarchy is the cornerstone of most waste minimisation strategies. The aim of the waste hierarchy is to extract the maximum practical benefits from products and to generate the minimum amount of end waste; see: resource recovery. The waste hierarchy is represented as a pyramid because the basic premise is that policies should promote measures to prevent the generation of waste. The next step or preferred action is to seek alternative uses for the waste that has been generated i.e. by re-use. The next is recycling which includes composting. Following this step is material recovery and waste-to-energy. The final action is disposal, in landfills or through incineration without energy recovery. This last step is the final resort for waste which has not been prevented, diverted or recovered. The waste hierarchy represents the progression of a product or material through the sequential stages of the pyramid of waste management. The hierarchy represents the latter parts of the life-cycle for each product.

007 Environmental management includes the activities and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. Specifically, this remit extends to the collection, transport, treatment and disposal of waste, together with monitoring and regulation of the waste management process.

008 Public health is a key driver and health issues are associated throughout the entire process of environmental management. Health issues can also arise indirectly or directly. Directly, through the handling of said waste, and indirectly through the consumption of water, soil and food. Waste is produced by human activity, for example, the extraction and processing of raw materials. Proper management of waste is important for building sustainable and healthy cities, but it remains a challenge for many developing countries and cities.

009 UK domestic recycling policy is geared towards encouraging individuals to recycle in their own homes, through regulation and public awareness campaigns. These include fines for people who don't cut their household waste and a greater emphasis on separating waste into different recyclable materials, with each council applying different rules. Their focus is shifting toward encouraging recycling, rather than punishing households for non-recycled waste. Recycling is most efficient when items are reused around the home rather than discarded. Other approaches include taking glass items to bottle banks at supermarkets and composting biodegradable waste, making landfill unnecessary. A 2018 survey by the Ball Corporation studied the public's concerns and thoughts on recycling in the UK: 86% of all British adults claim to be worried about the matter, and 90% of the people aged 55 and above show the most concern. Despite this, only 67% claim to ’often’ take action to reduce plastic pollution, for example by recycling and changing shopping habits to buy alternatives to disposable plastic.

010 Effective environmental management can be quite expensive, usually comprising 20%-50% of municipal budgets. Operating this essential municipal service requires integrated systems that are efficient, sustainable, and socially supported. A large portion of waste management practices deal with municipal solid waste (MSW) which is the bulk of the waste that is created by household, industrial, and commercial activity. As an example, the following list is an excerpt from York city municipal authority's figures (in tonnes) of materials: Steel cans, 114.93; Aluminium cans, 32.99; Co-mingled materials 3495.33; Green garden waste only 87.24; Plasterboard 5.84; Card, 48.13; Co-mingled materials, 223.89; Other compostable waste, 0.66; Wood 153.13; Other Scrap metal 0.38; Mixed Plastic Bottles, 8.67; Clear glass, 19.06; Mixed glass, 21.44; Paper, 31.3; Card, 7.81; Aluminium cans, 4.85; Other Scrap metal, 4.21; Other plastics, 90.32; Green garden waste only, 393.74; WEEE - Small Domestic App, 120.3; WEEE - TVs 8i Monitors, 2.69; WEEE - Flourescent tubes and other light bulbs, 0.98; WEEE - Fridges & Freezers, 93.76; Plasterboard, 34.64; Composite food and beverage cartons, 1.41; Gas bottles, 0.76; Mixed glass, 26.52; Card, 268.84; Mixed paper & card, 34.96; Textiles & footwear (reuse), 5.69; Other compostable waste, 75.66; Wood, 883.17; Other Scrap metal, 237.02; Post consumer, non-automotive batteries, 0.9; Vegetable Oil, 0.9; Mineral Oil, 2.05; Green glass, 22.37; Mixed Plastic Bottles, 10.66; Composite food and beverage cartons, 0.92; Textiles only (reuse), 22.81; Brown glass, 12.1; Clear glass, 18.8; Card, 37.96; Mixed paper & card, 31.03; Steel cans, 3.04. (WasteDataFlow - Local Authority waste management, Published by: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 03 March 2021). York city municipal authority which has a population of 210,000.

Oil Waste sacks are currently widely used in many environments, from household waste, office waste to manufacturing and hospitals. Households have been requested to assist in recycling by separating waste; businesses will pay for recycling and will always seek to reduce their cost; deceit can occur in practice; it is well known that manufacturing industries will return unused product, where practicable, whilst health-care providing institutions will seek to classify biological product, chemical product and contaminated devices differently from "normal waste".

012 The present inventor has recognized that several problems exist in association with the waste disposal aspect of environmental management. Two of the more prominent problems comprise an improper filling of the bags and improper correspondence between allocation and ownership of waste bags through at least one of ignorance, confusion and deceit.

Object to the invention

013 The present invention seeks to reduce the occurrence of such problems as described above. The present invention seeks to provide accountability to an operator of an environmental management system. The present invention seeks to provide a system and method of operation for utility waste management procedures, including the provision of refuse sacks, the collection of refuse sacks once filled, the checking of refuse sacks, the appropriate allocation of the downstream refuse disposal route, simplifying subsequent management procedures whereby to increase reuse decrease dumping management system.

Statement of invention

014 In accordance with a general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste carrier deployment system for environmental management; an operator of an environmental management system utilizing waste disposal sacks can assist in the reduction of waste management and can provide a reduction in false recycling.

015 Inventors have determined that problems, especially those with financial penalties, arise from a poor control of environmental management, such as the extremely poor traceability of waste incurred of that in the distribution of waste sacks is the lack of, and has developed an identification system which allows, for efficient distribution and traceability of waste sacks through associated inventories, enabling the efficient traceability of commercial, clinical, domestic and re-cycling waste.

016 In accordance with a specific aspect of the invention, there is provided an environmental management system for a municipal area including an improved waste carrier deployment system to improve municipal waste management, the municipal area comprising domestic and commercial inhabitants including at least one of house dwellers, business premises, agricultural premises and industrial premises, wherein the waste produced by the inhabitants include at least several of household waste, plastics waste, ash/combustion product waste, bulky waste, construction and demolition waste, industrial waste, hazardous; waste, biomedical/hospital/sharps waste; wherein waste carriers are produced to in relation to a type of waste. In this embodiment, waste carriers are allocated to in relation to a type of waste and inhabitant and waste carriers are provided with indicators whereby to permit tracking and education of the inhabitants whereby to ensure that waste is correlated with respect to the type of carrier.

017 Conveniently, the environmental management system is provided with tracking equipment including carrier identifier readers and deployment recording equipment, which operate to correlate the data with respect to a database. The systems' tracking equipment carrier identifier readers can comprise at least one of barcode readers, RFID readers, QR scanners and image recorders. The carrier deployment recording equipment can comprise at least one of a location indicating device and a visual recording device, whereby deployment of waste carriers can be correlated with inhabitants. 018 Conveniently, the carriers comprise waste sacks formed from plastics film or fibrous in correspondence with the type of waste to be carried. Preferably, the carriers comprise clear panels for inspection or are at least partly translucent, whereby to provide visual confirmation, in use, of the nature of waste carried within. The inhabitants who fill the carriers can ensure by checking that the contents are correctly placed within an appropriate type of carrier. Conveniently, the carriers are grouped in batches, also provided with identifiers, whereby to assist in warehousing and deployment. Conveniently, the individual identifiers comprise one of barcodes, RFID devices or QR codes.

019 Preferably, the environmental management system includes waste management vehicles, wherein the waste management vehicles are provided with a body having separate receptacles for the collection of waste of different categories, with apertures operably sealed with closures. Conveniently, the waste management vehicles further comprise sensors whereby the passage of waste can be monitored. The sensors can operably control the closures of the apertures whereby to permit or prevent the passage of waste therethrough.

020 The raison d'etre of environmental management is to ensure healthy living and to remove dangers - biological, chemical and physical - arising, for example, from waste to nature and humankind. Ideally this is accomplished by re-use and recycling to reduce adverse effects of waste in general. It is widely recognized that environmental management and, in particular, waste management practices are neither uniform within countries nor among countries (developed and developing nations); regions (urban and rural areas), and residential and industrial sectors can all take different approaches. In accordance with a specific aspect of the invention, there is provided an environmental management system wherein waste management benefits from the use of carrier sacks and bags are identified and associated with waste generators. The inhabitants of a municipality - the waste generators - can be notified or otherwise advised of errors in packing whereby to educate inhabitants, whereby to enable waste to be more simply and reliably managed.

021 In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a fabrication process for a waste carrier, the process comprising: heating in a melting chamber plastics stock so that it becomes molten; extruding molten plastics though an annular die; cooling the plastics during the extruding process prior to exiting the die to yield a weak semi-solid tube; introducing gas within the tube to cause the diameter of said semi-solid tube, to expand; drawing the tube upwards with rollers whereby to stretch the plastics tube in both the transverse and draw directions, whereby to reduce the thickness of the tube and to cause alignment of the polymer chains in the direction of greatest strain; cooling the film; flattening the film through several sets of rollers into a lay-flat state; tensioning the flattened tube, and: successively heating across a width of the flattened tube to define a closed end of successive bags; cutting or perforating into desired lengths; applying an identification mark to the bag.

022 Conveniently, the fabrication process includes the step of applying an identification mark is performed prior to or subsequent to the heating and cutting/perforating steps. The application of identification mark can be performed by way of one of a printing process, or the attachment of a device. The device can comprise a printed paper tag, an RFID tag, or some other form of label. The device can comprise a printed paper tag, a wireless tag, a GPS tag, an RFID tag, or some other form of label. It is possible that the procedures of forming plastic bags is performed subsequently to the manufacture of a spooled lay-flat tube of plastics film. Conveniently, the plastic bags are then stacked, packaged and grouped, with subsequent identification marks being applied to the packages for future reference, storage, despatch and allocation to end user.

023 In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating an environmental management system wherein waste collection in a municipal area comprising domestic and commercial inhabitants including at least one of house dwellers, business premises, agricultural premises and industrial premises, utilizes various carriers. The waste types produced by the inhabitants include at least several of household waste, plastics waste, ash/combustion product waste, bulky waste, construction and demolition waste, industrial waste, hazardous; waste, biomedical/hospital/ sharps waste; the method comprising the steps of: allocating identification numbers in a municipal environmental management scheme; providing a number of types of waste carriers suitable to carry the distinct waste of the municipality, the waste carriers having separate identities together with data correlating the identities of the waste carriers and the type of waste; allocating waste carriers to the domestic and commercial inhabitants and correlating the identities of the waste carriers to the domestic and commercial inhabitants and the type of waste; delivering the waste carriers to the inhabitants; confirming association of the allocated waste carriers having identities with the inhabitants; undertaking a waste collection route by means of waste collector operatives in association with a waste collection vehicle having a number of waste receiving receptacles; collecting waste sacks, wherein a waste collection operative will pick up and scan a number of waste carriers, using an appropriate carrier identity scanner device; in the event of an apparent breach of waste carrier collection protocols applicable to a class of waste sack, taking evidence and correlating with the identity; and disposing of the waste by means of placement within a most appropriate receptacle of the waste collection vehicle.

024 In the event of an apparent breach of waste carrier collection protocol, the step of taking evidence comprise one or more of: taking a photograph, with reference to the identity of the carrier: weighing the carrier in the event that the protocol relates to the mass of the carrier; recording location coordinate to confirm the location of the waste carrier when collected; disposing of the waste carrier correctly or retaining for evidential purposes. Accordingly, upon an apparent breach of waste carrier collection protocol it is determined whether or not such a breach has taken place; and, in the event that such a breach had taken place, a correlation of an identity of the carrier in respect of which the breach has occurred is made with an allocated inhabitant whereby to provide feedback of the breach of waste carrier protocol.

Description of the Figures

025 For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the Figures as shown in the accompanying drawing sheets, wherein:-

Figure 1 schematically represents a general view of a prior art environmental management deployment;

Figure 2 represents a system for providing waste carrier sacks with tracking devices in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a flow chart of steps involved in allocation / distribution of waste carrier sacks; and

Figure 4 illustrates a flow chart of steps involved in collection of filled waste carrier sacks and providing feedback

Figure 5 shows a waste operative with a carrier sack in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 shows a simplified view of a waste collection vehicle in accordance with another aspect of the invention; and,

Figure 7 shows how a heat map can be used in education and waste management in accordance with an aspect of the invention. Detailed description of the Preferred Embodiments

026 There will now be described, by way of example only, the best mode contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the present invention. In the following description, numerous specific details are set out in order to provide a complete understanding to the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the present invention may be put into practice with variations of the specific.

027 Environmental management includes management of the solid waste material generated from various human activities and which is normally disposed as useless and unwanted. With regard to municipal environmental control, there are distinct sources of waste: households, offices, industry and institutions, which sources of waste provide distinct forms of waste which can be combined with similar forms of waste from the distinct sources of waste noting that the various categories of waste which can be favourably separated at source. Accordingly, with reference to Figure 1, there is shown a simplified arrangement of a system for managing waste in a community within a local borough 10, wherein the body responsible for disposal of waste - typically a council stores 12 of local council in the United Kingdom - provides plastic sacks 14 for filling with waste in specific sacks appropriate to the waste. The sacks are delivered to the specific household 16, offices 17 and industries 18. Each entity within the community will be provided with waste disposal sacks appropriate to the type of waste that is produced by the respective residential and commercial entities. Either the council or subcontracted waste management companies ensure that that waste is collected in a timely fashion from residential homes, flats and the like, from offices, from industrial outlets and other commercial entities and disposed of in a fashion appropriate to the class of waste.

028 In today's rapidly developing world, managing environmental control is a major problem these days and such management is a matter of concern for all first and third world countries. In the last decades, the amount of waste material has multiplied due to urbanization and industrialization. The waste which is not properly disposed of is a primary cause of damage to both environmental and human health. Waste material must be treated first with appropriate methods like physical, chemical, or thermal. These methods will not destroy the waste material but can help reduce them to a low toxicity level from high toxicity. Recycling converts waste material into a new form and thus, with regard to waste, reducing, recycling, and reuse is believed by many to be an efficient strategy. It is believed that the present invention will assist in meeting this goal. 029 Present inventors have realized that in an efficient environmental management system, cooperation and coordination of local council, residents and business can bring about benefits by the provision of feedback and education to the users and operators of the facilities. In particular, the present inventors have conceived a method of providing a labelling system to bags and sacks to assist in a correct allocation and subsequent collection of sacks which have are subject to a reduced level of inappropriate filling. Specifically, a system of bag manufacture, collation, labelling and distribution has been developed, the system being operable to assist in the provision of an efficient process for ensuring that waste is collected in a timely fashion from residential homes, flats and the like, from offices, from industrial outlets and other commercial entities. Each entity within the community will be provided with waste disposal sacks appropriate to type of waste that is produced by the respective residential and commercial entities, resulting in an overall benefit to the environment.

030 Some of the major various classification of solid waste include: Ash and combustion products; Bulky Waste; Construction and Demolition Waste; Industrial Waste; Hazardous Waste; Sewage Waste; Biomedical/Hospital/Sharps Waste; Plastics Waste.

031 In today's rapidly developing world, managing environmental issues is a major problem these days. In the most recent decades, the amount of waste material has multiplied due to urbanization and industrialization. The waste which is not properly disposed of is the cause of damage to both environment and human health. Waste material must be treated first with appropriate methods like physical, chemical, or thermal. These methods will not destroy the waste material but can help reduce them to a low toxicity level from high toxicity. Recycling converts waste material into a new form. Reducing, recycling, and reuse is an efficient strategy. Reducing the toxic material to less toxic form decreases the risk of the spread of diseases. Recycling and reusing can be very beneficial as the waste can be used in another form, and also it can be a source of income for many people. But the recycling material can be a bit heavy on the pocket for some people. Aluminium, disposable cups and plates and paper are the most commonly recycled material.

032 A comprehensive classification of wastes is described in Manual on Municipal Solid waste Management, 2000. Current thinking on the best methods to deal with waste is centred on a broadly accepted 'hierarchy of waste management' (arrangement in order of rank) which gives a priority listing of the waste management options available. The hierarchy gives important general guidelines on the relative desirability of the different management options. The hierarchy usually adopted is (a) waste minimisation/reduction at source, (b) recycling, (c) waste processing (with recovery of resources i.e. materials (products) and energy), (d) waste transformation (without recovery of resources) and (e) disposal on land (landfill).

033 The waste sack management system begins with the fabrication of the waste sacks themselves. Figure 2 show a simple system for producing such bags: a heater 20 receives pellets 20a of plastics material, such as a polymer, which are heated to a molten state and fed to extruder system 21 to form a basic element of sack manufacture being a tube of plastics film by extruding the plastics melt under high pressure. The machine 21 will have a screw feeder forcing the melt through an annular die 21a, which benefits from a molten polymer passing about the complete cross section of the die before exiting the die. The molten plastic is cooled somewhat before leaving the die to yield a weak semi-solid tube 22, the diameter of which is caused to expand by the use of air pressure whereby the tube's diameter is rapidly expanded whilst the melt is reduced in temperature as the tube is drawn upwards with rollers 23, stretching the plastic in both the transverse and draw directions.

034 The drawing and blowing cause the film to be thinner than the extruded tube, and also preferentially aligns the polymer molecular chains in the direction that sees the most plastic strain. If the film is drawn more than it is blown i.e. the final tube diameter is close to the extruded diameter, then the polymer molecules will be highly aligned with the draw direction, making a film that is strong in that direction, but weak in the transverse direction. As the film continues to cool, it is drawn through several sets of nip rollers 23 to flatten it into lay-flat tubing, which can then be further processed including the steps of being tensioned prior to being uniformly cut by way of a die-board cutting process or similar in a bag forming machine 24.

035 In the next sequence of the waste management sequence, packages 27 - of the various types to cover the specific types of waste for a particular waste disposal authority - whether a local council or a commercial company are provided. It will be appreciated that the specific packages are provided with identification numbers whereby each and every bag can be separately identified. The identification numbers tend to be various alpha-numeric codes, and can be simply represented by way of a barcode, in a 1-D or 2 -D fashion, for example - but not limited to any one of the types: code 39, code 128, interleaved and Universal Product Code (UPC), QR code, 2-D Data Matrix can be employed to enable a unique identifier to be provided to a plastic sack of millions can be produced at many facilities per month. Each particular waste disposal authority can include, for example, details relating to neighbourhoods, streets or buildings in particular households, commercial premises, industrial outlets etc., to whom waste sacks are assigned for particular wastes and particular waste disposal channels. It is important to realize that barcodes operate by a simple method to transfer strings of characters.

036 Barcodes, whether in a 1-D or 2-D format can be compared with registration plates of vehicles that are linked to a government office whereby police officers and the like can call up details of vehicles - except with typically twelve or thirteen symbology characters in a code, the numbers of variations possible is considerable. Moreover, with respect to the use of such identifiers in waste management system, a plastic sack can easily be tracked and associated with a user. The strings of characters of a waste sack can designate all types of information. Rather than manually writing and copying identities, it becomes encrypted in barcode languages (symbologies) for fast transfer through a scanner to computer. Each symbology follows an algorithm for standardizing the encoding and storing of these characters. Barcode Symbologies differ in qualities such as capacity and linearity, making some advantageous for particular uses and industries. Barcode technology never stops advancing. For instance, the recent surge of 2D barcoding has proven popular by allowing you to scan straight from your smartphone for a wealth of data.

037 Thus, it will be appreciated, the present invention assists environmental managements by providing traceability to waste carrier packaging. Each particular waste disposal authority unit can utilize this to their advantage in waste management education and thereby simplification of the whole procedure. In use each respective waste disposal authority allocates particular waste carriers to specific addresses - whether they are private households or are business entities, creating industrial waste, substantially office-type waste or specific industrial waste - noting that office waste will encompass types of waste varying packaging waste from tea-room containers and paper waste to toner cartridges and used stationery items.

038 In one embodiment, with reference to Figure 3, there is shown a simplified flow chart of a procedure in environmental management. In the first step, A, refuse collecting agent such as a local authority receives packaged carrier sacks 27 from a manufacturer or distributor of such sacks, with associated identifiers 26. In step B, an identifier for each sack is associated with an intended premises, taking into account correlation data, per step C, vis-a-vis types of bag in package and optionally any addresses pre-allocated (if any - for example if waste sack of a particular type for a limited number of business addresses). The packages are separated so that specific carrier sacks are allocated to specific households and businesses with respect to a database in accordance with step D. Associated with the correlation of data is the provision of a correct type of carrier or groups of waste carrier sacks required by the respective household and business addresses, with appropriate waste carrier sacks as known, conveniently with numbers of such sacks controlled given earlier deliveries of such sacks. In the next step, step E, the waste disposal sacks are delivered to the various premises within the geographical area for which the local authority is responsible, in accordance with a local authority collection agency preference, i.e. by way of dedicated delivery, by postal delivery or, responsive to a differing need by courier subject to a specific request or by way of an ancillary task during a collection of waste. The waste disposal sacks could be delivered once a month, week or otherwise as appropriate, with each refuse sack identifier being correlated to specific household and business address. In due course, the sacks are filled appropriate to type of waste and waste sack type, per step F. In the final step of this flowchart, step G, the refuse carrier sacks are placed at designated area / kerbside on collection day / at a preferred time for pick-up.

039 The present invention pertains to a system where the initial sorting procedure is performed by personnel associated with a premises being dedicated staff / general staff or a householder. Sorting at source (self-sorting: home sorting, business-sorting) is driven by the existing markets for recyclable materials and the link between the waste generator and the waste collector. Preferred self sorting streams are:

(a) Dry recyclable materials e.g. glass, paper, plastics, cans etc.,

(b) Bio-waste and garden waste,

(c) Bulky waste,

(d) Hazardous material in household waste,

(e) Construction and Demolition waste, and

(f) Co-mingled MSW (mixed waste).

040 In the first instance, a waste collection sack 25 will be provided in relation to the expected type of waste, with feedback determined from collections to determine differences, also taking special instructions to vary a particular provision of sacks if, for example, an industrial premises undertakes distinct work for a period of time. As indicated above, each category of waste has an associated type of waste carrier for use therewith, which waste carrier have clear to use colour and pattern identifiers - in addition to the barcode identifier as discussed above. It will be realized that certain protocols will need to be adhered to, for example a weight limit for a bag or the contents must correspond with the waste sack colour and pattern identifiers.

041 Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown a flow diagram with regard to a first example of a waste collection scheme in accordance with the invention. The waste collection procedure - typically performed on a particular day of the week within a narrow time period, to enable waste bags to be placed outside yet not be subject to prolonged placement at the side of the road in view of attack from vermin and comprising a potential hazard for road/pavement users. In the first instance, a waste collection vehicle (WCV) undertakes a collection route - per step 1. In collecting waste sacks, the waste collector operatives (WCO) will pick up and scan a number of waste sacks, using an appropriate rfid / barcode scanner device 41. Occasionally, where there is a clear breach of the filling rules applicable to a class of waste sack, contemporaneous photographic evidence may be procured by way of a camera system associated with the device 41 or with a separate camera associated with the WCO. It may be that an inhabitant regularly overfills a bag, which can cause injury to WCOs, either with respect to a particular instance or with regard to repetitive instances. For such events, a weighing instrument may be provided to enable a record of the mass to be made; GPS or other radio beacon data may be used to confirm location. Each waste bag collected is placed within the appropriate receptacle associated with the WCV by the WCO, as the WCV completes its route.

042 In this embodiment, in the event that there is a disparity with regard to a weight or content of waste with respect to a particular waste sack, then the WCO will be able to determine to whom or to which business entity the waste sack was associated. This information can then be uploaded to a particular route file or customer file. The waste management company or local authority may then be able to follow up such breaches of rules with feedback to the inhabitant associated with carrier identified as being in breach of rules.

043 In the event of an obvious breach of the sack filling guidelines, for example when a carrier designated for paper is determined as being filled with iron or steel components (indicated by way of a return magnetic signal from ferro-metallic components) or by being overweight, (confirmed by way of portable weight measuring device or by a device associated with a refuse collection vehicle), then the sack can be identified and recorded by way of a photographic image. Conveniently, the scanner device is provided with a camera, but the WCO may be provided with a camera positioned on the operative's clothing - i.e. a so-called body-cam. A separate, dedicated device for recordal, might need to be certified for evidentiary purposes in certain jurisdictions. When the scanner device identifies a lack of correlation between the nature of the refuse and an intended function of a particular refuse carrier sack then the scanner can be programmed to provide an alert. The WCO will then place the refuse carrier sack in the dedicated refuse receptacle of the waste collection vehicle; in the event that at least one of the scanner device and the operative has noticed or identified a lack of correlation between carrier sack and contents, then the refuse carrier sack may need to be placed in a non-specific receptacle of the waste collection vehicle. In addition to this disposal event, with a disparity between function and contents of a refuse carrier sack, enforcement and education measures can subsequently be taken. In the alternative, subject to the nature of the contents neither providing a safety risk nor health hazard, an option of leaving a contaminated carrier sack at a premises remains a possibility. In a further variant of the invention, the waste collection vehicle's receptacles have covers and scanning devices, wherein the scanning devices co-operate with the covers so that upon recognition of a type of refuse carrier, the cover opens - or not if the refuse carrier is not of the correct type for the intended receptacle.

044 Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a simple example of a WCO 51 having a scanner device 52 in accordance with the present invention fitted in a glove / mitten style to the hand 53 of the WCO. In this Figure, it can be seen that the scanner is directed towards an identification tag 54 of a carrier 55. It may be that a certain personnel or an inhabitant of a premises regularly overfills a bag, which is susceptible to cause injury to WCOs, either with respect to a particular instance or with regard to repetitive instances. For such events, a weighing instrument may be provided to enable a record of the mass to be made; GPS or other radio beacon data may be used to confirm location. Each waste bag collected is placed within the appropriate receptacle associated with the WCV by the WCO, as the WCV completes its route.

045 Wearable technology refers to mobile and lightweight advanced electronic devices that can be worn or are incorporated into clothing, such as jackets, headwear & gloves and accessories. These wearable devices are designed to provide means for gathering quantitative information regarding the wearer's everyday activities and surroundings. Radiofrequency identification (RFID) techniques are becoming more readily available and can assist in detecting and monitoring across a diverse range of situations by means of low power and cost effective technology. The sensors and signal processing units can be integrated with RFID devices to permit data transfer. The RFID system basically, comprises of a reader (or interrogator) and a tag (or transponder). The reader provides the electromagnetic energy to the tag. It transmits and receives the radio signals to and from the tag. The reader can be controlled either by a computing system. The Tag is the device that can be fixed on the product or element to be tracked. Most RFID tags do not have any power source: i.e. they are referred to as passive tags: the tag gets energy from the RF field of the reader by rectifying an induced voltage from the reader's RF energy. The tags with internal battery or energy source behave similar like passive tags with improved performances are called active tags. The RFID tag can provide an improved alternative to the barcode in view of certain advantages, such as its non-line-of-sight reading and long distance tracking range capability. The most popular 'barcode system' cannot offer a smart communication technique due to human involvement in the process.

046 Figure 6 shows a simplified view of a waste collection vehicle 60 having a body 61 for collection waste of different categories. Apertures 62, for differing classes of waste, indicated by letters A, B, C, D are provided with closures to minimize release of potentially offensive gases and for reasons of security. Details of equipment such as macerators or presses for the minimization of waste volume is not shown. Nonetheless, sensors 63 are provided whereby the passage of waste can be monitored and recorded by way of cameras 64. Covers for the apertures may be provided and be associated with the sensors and cameras so as to prevent an incorrect placement of a certain type of refuse carrier in a distinct type of receptacle.

047 The present invention seeks to provide a system to enable businesses and householders to more readily assist in correct waste management segregation. By the provision of feedback - and other types of enforcement, sacks will not be regularly overfilled and accurate collation of waste data and associated costs will assist in an understanding to increase environmental understanding. By accurate tracking, the analytics of waste management can be facilitated. For example, so- called "heat maps" - as indicated in Figure 7 with regard to a particular locality - of types of activity that are beneficial or indeed negative to the business of waste collection can be collated. Such heat maps can be used to emphasise the benefits of proper waste management. Equally, the heat maps can be produced to indicate to areas of overfilling / incorrect filling (contamination) both generally and specifically to selected neighbourhoods. For example, the correct utilization of refuse carrier sacks has reduced the cost of providing the environmental collection within a neighbourhood, whereby local taxes can be reduced, or, more realistically not increase as might otherwise have happened.

048 inevitably, there will be groups who are liable to flout filling and guidelines and specific responses to such groups can enable authorities or waste management companies to address, monitor and control groups of certain communities. On the one hand the provision of evidence from an operator's camera can be used to verifiably show that for example weight limits have been exceeded or the wrong type of waste has been placed in a refuse carrier sack. On the other hand, the amount of lost revenue for waste collection operators arising from the presence of overweight sacks can be reduced with accurate accountability for overweight sacks. Equally, but a greater accuracy in placement of type of waste, operators will be able to recoup costs by receiving greater returns from an increase in an amount of recycling intake, with fewer penalties for cross-contamination of waste received at commercial refuse stations. The amount of lost time during collections through inappropriate placement of waste can be minimized. Those in charge of premises which have been found to offend can be reasoned with to take more care in their filling of refuse sacks. The system in accordance with the present invention can be adapted so that text messages / e-mails / letters can be sent to Instant issue of Emails sent to offending business owners and householders, with corresponding communications being provided to enforcement agencies

049 It is known that certain waste groups are more expensive to dispose / further process than others and in certain known schemes where different waste sacks are provided it is known that deliberately filing of specific waste sacks with waste of another type occurs. Equally, simple ignorance or a mistake may have taken place. The present invention, by providing traceability of waste sacks, can prevent this occurring as a matter of course. Moreover by feedback with regard to the numbers and types of sacks used, local authorities can realistically supplement waste sacks. It will be appreciated that errors in storage will occur, but it is also expected that a number of spare sacks will be provided to all waste generators to ensure that waste is properly disposed of at all times.

050 Finally, it will be understood that the present invention has been described in its preferred embodiments and can be modified in many different ways without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1.An environmental management system utilizing waste carriers for municipal waste handling in a municipal area, the municipal area comprising domestic and commercial inhabitants including at least one of house dwellers, business premises, agricultural premises and industrial premises, wherein the waste produced by the inhabitants include at least several of household waste, plastics waste, ash/combustion product waste, bulky waste, construction and demolition waste, industrial waste, hazardous; waste, biomedical/ hospital/sharps waste; wherein waste carriers are produced to in relation to a type of waste; wherein waste carriers are allocated to in relation to a type of waste and inhabitant; wherein waste carriers are provided with indicators whereby to permit tracking and education of the inhabitants whereby to ensure that waste is correlated with respect to the type of carrier.

2. An environmental management system according to claim 1, wherein there are provided systems tracking equipment including carrier identifier readers and deployment recording equipment, which operate to correlate the data with respect to a database.

3. An environmental management system according to claim 2, wherein the systems tracking equipment carrier identifier reader comprises at least one of a barcode reader, a RFID reader, a QR scanner and an image recorder.

4. An environmental management system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the carrier deployment recording equipment comprise at least one of a location indicating device and a visual recording device, whereby deployment of waste carriers can be correlated with inhabitants.

5. An environmental management system according to claim 1, wherein the carriers comprise waste sacks formed from plastics film or fibrous in correspondence with the type of waste to be carried.

6. An environmental management system according to claim 1, wherein the carriers comprise clear panels for inspection or are at least partly translucent, whereby to provide visual confirmation, in use, of the nature of waste carried within.

7. An environmental management system according to claim 1, wherein individual bags have identifiers; the bags are grouped in waste sacks formed whereby to assist deployment.

8. An environmental management system according to claim 1, wherein individual identifiers comprise at least one of a barcode, a RFID device, a QR code and an image.

9. An environmental management system according to claim 1, wherein groups of carriers are provided with individual identifiers to assist in warehousing and deployment.

10. An environmental management system according to any one of claims 1 - 9 wherein the system includes waste management vehicles, wherein the waste management vehicles are provided with a body having separate receptacles for the collection of waste of different categories, with apertures operably sealed with closures.

11. An environmental management system according to claim 10 wherein the waste management vehicles, wherein the waste management vehicles further comprise sensors whereby the passage of waste can be monitored.

12. An environmental management system according to claim 11, wherein the sensors of the waste management vehicles, can control the closures of the apertures whereby to permit or prevent the passage of waste therethrough.

13. A fabrication process for environmental management waste carriers, the process comprising: heating in a melting chamber plastics stock so that it becomes molten; extruding molten plastics though an annular die; cooling the plastics during the extruding process prior to exiting the die to yield a weak semi-solid tube; introducing gas within the tube to cause the diameter of said semi-solid tube, to expand; drawing the tube upwards with rollers whereby to stretch the plastics tube in both the transverse and draw directions, whereby to reduce the thickness of the tube and to cause alignment of the polymer chains in the direction of greatest strain; cooling the film; flattening the film through several sets of rollers into a lay-flat state; tensioning the flattened tube, and: successively heating across a width of the flattened tube to define a closed end of successive bags; cutting or perforating into desired lengths; applying an identification mark to the bag.

14. A fabrication process according to claim 13, wherein the step of applying an identification mark is performed prior to or subsequent to the heating and cutting/perforating steps.

15. A fabrication process according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the application of identification mark is performed by way of one of a printing process, or the attachment of a device.

16. A fabrication process according to claim 15 wherein the device comprises a printed paper tag, an RFID tag, or some other form of label.

17. A fabrication process according to any one of claims 13 - 16, wherein the device comprises a printed paper tag, a wireless tag, a GPS tag, an RFID tag, or some other form of label.

18. A fabrication process according to any one of claims 13 - 17, wherein the procedures of forming plastic bags is performed subsequently to the manufacture of a spooled lay-flat tube of plastics film.

19. A fabrication process according to any one of claims 13 - 18, wherein the plastic bags are then stacked, packaged and grouped, with subsequent identification marks being applied to the packages for future reference, storage, despatch and allocation to end user.

20. A method of operating a municipal area environmental management scheme, the municipal area comprising domestic and commercial inhabitants including at least one of house dwellers, business premises, agricultural premises and industrial premises, wherein the waste produced by the inhabitants include at least several of household waste, plastics waste, ash/combustion product waste, bulky waste, construction and demolition waste, industrial waste, hazardous; waste, biomedical/hospital/ sharps waste; the method comprising the steps of: allocating identification numbers in a municipal waste management scheme; providing a number of types of waste carriers suitable to carry the distinct waste of the municipality, the waste carriers having separate identities together with data correlating the identities of the waste carriers and the type of waste; allocating waste carriers to the domestic and commercial inhabitants and correlating the identities of the waste carriers to the domestic and commercial inhabitants and the type of waste; delivering the waste carriers to the inhabitants; confirming association of the allocated waste carriers having identities with the inhabitants; undertaking a waste collection route by means of waste collector operatives in association with a waste collection vehicle having a number of waste receiving receptacles; collecting waste sacks, wherein a waste collection operative will pick up and scan a number of waste carriers, using an appropriate carrier identity scanner device; in the event of an apparent breach of waste carrier collection protocols applicable to a class of waste sack, taking evidence and correlating with the identity; disposing of the waste by means of placement within a most appropriate receptacle of the waste collection vehicle.

21. A method of operating a municipal area environmental management scheme according to claim 20, wherein, upon an apparent breach of waste carrier collection protocol, the step of taking evidence comprise one or more of:

Taking a photograph, with reference to the identity of the carrier:

Weighing the carrier in the event that the protocol relates to the mass of the carrier; recording location coordinate to confirm the location of the waste carrier when collected; disposing of the waste carrier correctly or retaining for evidential purposes.

22. A method of operating a municipal area environmental management scheme according to claim 20, wherein, upon an apparent breach of waste carrier collection protocol: determining whether or not such a breach has taken place; and, in the event that such a breach has taken place, correlating an identity of the carrier in respect of which the breach has occurred with an allocated inhabitant whereby to provide feedback of the breach of waste carrier protocol.