Systems, methods, and devices for collecting, packaging, and processing recyclable waste

Abstract

Recyclable waste byproducts are efficiently collected for recycling at stores or other locations by compacting the recyclable waste as layers in a composite bale. The composite bales can be formed using existing cardboard balers that retailers or other stores typically already have for baling recyclable cardboard. In one embodiment, the composite bales are formed by binding together a layer of one type of recyclable waste and a layer of recyclable waste that includes one or more types of recyclable waste byproducts. The layered structure can be modified to omit one of the layers or to add additional waste byproduct layers.

1 . A bale formed of recyclable waste, comprising:
 a layer of plastic, said layer of plastic having a generally uniform thickness; and   a layer of recyclable waste on top of and in contact with said layer of plastic, wherein said layer of recyclable waste comprises a plurality of types of recyclable waste products, said layer of recyclable waste having a generally uniform thickness, and wherein said layer of plastic and said layer of recyclable waste are compactly bound together to facilitate transportation and storage of said bale.   
   
   
       2 . A bale as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second layer of plastic on top of and in contact with said layer of recyclable waste such that said layer of recyclable waste is sandwiched between said layer of plastic and said second layer of plastic, said second layer of plastic having a generally uniform thickness. 
   
   
       3 . A bale as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of types of recyclable waste products comprises at least two of a group consisting of: aluminum beverage cans, plastic bottles, plastic clothing hangers, plastic film, used plastic bags, and shredded paper. 
   
   
       4 . A bale as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of types of recyclable waste products comprises at least one of a first group consisting of used plastic bags and plastic film, and further comprises at least one of a second group consisting of: aluminum cans, plastic bottles, plastic clothing hangers, and shredded paper. 
   
   
       5 . A bale as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said layer of recyclable waste includes at least plastic bottles, said plastic bottles being made of one or more of high density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
   
   
       6 . A bale as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said layer of recyclable waste comprises one or more bags enclosing one or more types of recyclable waste selected from said second group. 
   
   
       7 . A bale as recited in  claim 6 , wherein at least one of said types of recyclable waste selected from said first group is sandwiched between bags enclosing one or more types of recycled waste selected from said second group. 
   
   
       8 . A bale as recited in  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said plurality of types of recyclable waste products is enclosed in a plastic bag. 
   
   
       9 . A bale as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said plastic bag includes at least one air release for allowing air to escape said plastic bag when the bale is compacted. 
   
   
       10 . A bale as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each plastic bag contains only one type of said plurality of types of recyclable waste products. 
   
   
       11 . A bale as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of types of recyclable waste products is enclosed in a plastic bag. 
   
   
       12 . A bale as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bale has a thickness of about forty-eight inches. 
   
   
       13 . A bale as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least two sides and the ends of said bale are wrapped in shrink wrap to enhance the structural integrity of said bale or to prevent plastic or recyclable waste from separating from said bale. 
   
   
       14 . A method for collecting recyclable waste using a baler, comprising:
 forming a composite bale of multiple recyclable materials by at least:
 forming a layer of plastic; 
 forming a layer of recyclable waste on top of said first layer of plastic, wherein said layer of recyclable waste includes a plurality of types of recyclable waste products; 
 compacting said layer of plastic and said layer of recyclable waste together; and 
 binding said layer of plastic and said layer of recyclable waste together. 
   
   
   
       15 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of types of recyclable waste products comprises at least two of a group consisting of: aluminum beverage cans, HDPE containers, PET bottles, plastic clothing hangers, plastic film, shredded paper, and used plastic bags. 
   
   
       16 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of types of recyclable waste products comprises at least one a first group consisting of used plastic bags and plastic film, and further comprises at least one of a second group consisting of: aluminum cans, HDPE containers, PET bottles, plastic clothing hangers, and shredded paper. 
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein forming said layer of recyclable waste comprises sandwiching recyclable waste selected from said first group between plastic bags enclosing one or more types of recycled waste selected from said second group, such that said recyclable waste selected from said first group acts as a bonding agent between said recycled waste selected from said second group, and thereby facilitates maintaining structural integrity of said bale during stacking or transport. 
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein forming a composite bale comprises packaging said plurality of types of recyclable waste products in one or more compressible containers such that each of said one or more compressible containers contains only one type of said plurality of types of recyclable waste products. 
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein forming said layer of recyclable waste comprises:
 forming a first intermediate layer of recyclable waste on top of said layer of plastic;   forming a second intermediate layer of plastic on top of said first intermediate layer; and   forming a third intermediate layer of recyclable waste on top of said second intermediate layer.   
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising compacting said bale with a cardboard baler by using a plurality of baler activations, wherein each baler activation compresses additional plastic or recyclable waste such that said bale is formed by repeatedly loading and activating said baler. 
   
   
       21 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising wrapping shrink wrap around at least two sides and the ends of said bale to enhance the structural integrity of said bale or to prevent plastic or recyclable waste from separating from said bale. 
   
   
       22 . A bale formed of recyclable waste, comprising:
 a layer of recyclable waste, wherein said layer of recyclable waste comprises a plurality of types of recyclable waste products, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of types of recyclable waste products are packaged in one or more compressible containers such that each of said one or more compressible containers contains only one type of said plurality of types of recyclable waste products, and wherein said layer of recyclable waste is compactly bound together to facilitate transportation and storage of said bale.   
   
   
       23 . A bale as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said plurality of types of recyclable waste products comprises at least two of a group consisting of: aluminum beverage cans, plastic bottles, plastic clothing hangers, plastic film, used plastic bags, and shredded paper. 
   
   
       24 . A bale as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said plurality of types of recyclable waste products comprises at least one of a first group consisting of used plastic bags and plastic film, and further comprises at least one of a second group consisting of: aluminum cans, plastic bottles, plastic clothing hangers, and shredded paper. 
   
   
       25 . A bale as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said layer of recyclable waste includes at least plastic bottles, said plastic bottles being made of one or more of high density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
   
   
       26 . A bale as recited in  claim 24 , wherein one or more types of recycled waste selected from said second group are enclosed within said one or more compressible containers. 
   
   
       27 . A bale as recited in  claim 26 , wherein at least one of said types of recyclable waste selected from said first group is sandwiched between said one or more compressible containers enclosing one or more types of recycled waste selected from said second group. 
   
   
       28 . A bale as recited in  claim 22 , wherein at least two sides and the ends of said bale are wrapped in shrink wrap to enhance the structural integrity of said bale or to prevent plastic or recyclable waste from separating from said bale.