Method and process for collecting and processing recyclable waste

Abstract

Recyclable plastic film is efficiently collected for recycling at stores or other locations by compacting the plastic film as layers in plastic/cardboard bales. The plastic/cardboard bales can be formed using existing cardboard balers that stores typically already have for baling recyclable cardboard. In one embodiment, the plastic/cardboard bales are preferably formed with a bottom layer of cardboard, a middle layer of the recyclable plastic film, and a top layer of cardboard. The layered structure can be modified to omit one of the cardboard layers or to add additional plastic film and cardboard layers.

1 . A bale formed of cardboard and recyclable plastic, comprising:
 a layer of recyclable plastic film, the layer of recyclable plastic film comprising first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the layer of recyclable plastic film comprises a plurality of used plastic bags and plastic sheets and has a thickness of at least about three inches;   a first layer of cardboard in contact with the first surface of the layer of recyclable plastic film, the first layer of cardboard having a thickness of at least about twelve inches; and   a second layer of cardboard in contact with the second surface of the layer of recyclable plastic film such that the layer of recyclable plastic film is sandwiched between the first layer of cardboard and the second layer of cardboard, the second layer of cardboard having a thickness of at least about three inches; wherein the layer of recyclable plastic film, the first layer of cardboard, and the second layer of cardboard are compactly bound together to facilitate transportation and storage.   
   
   
       2 . A bale as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the layer of recyclable plastic film comprises from about 10% to about 70% of the bale thickness. 
   
   
       3 . A bale as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the layer of recyclable plastic film has a thickness of from about nine inches to about eighteen inches. 
   
   
       4 . A bale as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the top layer of cardboard comprises at least about six inches of cardboard. 
   
   
       5 . A bale as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the top layer of cardboard comprises at least about twelve inches of cardboard. 
   
   
       6 . A bale as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the bale has a thickness of about forty-eight inches. 
   
   
       7 . A bale as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first layer of cardboard and the second layer of cardboard have a sufficient thickness such that a bale of similar or greater weight can be stacked thereupon, with the layers of cardboard and plastic positioned perpendicular to gravity, without the bale losing structural integrity.