Methods 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bale of compressed recyclable materials, comprising:
 a first layer of recyclable material; and   a layer of compressed recyclable waste, the layer of compressed recyclable waste comprising:
 first and second opposing surfaces, the first opposing surface being in direct contact with the first layer of recyclable material; 
 a plurality of individual plastic bags filled with a first type of recyclable waste material; and 
 recyclable plastic film disposed around or between the plurality of individual plastic bags, 
 the layer of compressed recyclable waste being contiguous and formed by compressing together the plurality of individual bags and recyclable plastic film, the recyclable plastic film being configured to act as bonding agents to stabilize positions of the plurality of individual plastic bags within the layer of compressed recyclable waste, the layer of compressed recyclable waste extending an entire length of the bale, from a first end of the bale to a second end of the bale, as well as an entire width of the bale, from a first side of the bale to an opposing side of the bale so that the layer of compressed recyclable waste can be seen when looking at any of four of six sides of the bale; and 
   a second layer of recyclable material in contact with the second opposing surface of the layer of recyclable waste such that the layer of recyclable waste is sandwiched between the first layer of recyclable material and the second layer of recyclable material, a thickness of the layer of recyclable waste being substantially thicker than the first layer of recyclable material and/or the second layer of recyclable material;   the layer of recyclable waste, the first layer of recyclable material, and the second layer of recyclable material being compactly bound together.   
     
     
         2 . The bale as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the layer of compressed recyclable waste comprises from about 10% to about 70% of the bale thickness. 
     
     
         3 . The bale as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the layer of compressed recyclable waste has a thickness of from about nine inches to about eighteen inches. 
     
     
         4 . The bale as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first layer of recyclable material comprises at least about six inches of recyclable material. 
     
     
         5 . The bale as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first layer of recyclable material comprises at least about twelve inches of recyclable material. 
     
     
         6 . The bale as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the bale has a thickness of about forty-eight inches. 
     
     
         7 . The bale as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first layer of recyclable material and the second layer of recyclable material has a thickness such that a bale of similar or greater weight can be stacked thereupon, with the layers of recyclable material and recyclable waste positioned perpendicular to gravity, without the bale losing structural integrity. 
     
     
         8 . The bale recited in  claim 1 , wherein the layer of compressed recyclable waste is formed by simultaneously compressing together at least four individual bags that are each filled with quantities of recyclable plastic film, hangers, or bottles and such that the at least four individual bags form, in a compressed state, at least part of the layer of compressed recyclable waste. 
     
     
         9 . The bale as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the compressed bale is a bound bale that is bound by wires or bands, and wherein the first and second layers of recyclable material form outermost layers of the bound bale and which are uncovered by any other layer of the bound bale, such that the first and second layers of the recyclable material are in direct contact with the wires or bands that bind the bound bale. 
     
     
         10 . The bale as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second layers of recyclable material have different thicknesses, with the first layer of co recyclable material, which comprises a bottom layer, having a greater thickness than a thickness of the second layer of recyclable material, which comprises a top layer. 
     
     
         11 . A layered bale of compressed recyclable waste, comprising:
 a first outer layer of recyclable material;   a compressed recyclable waste layer comprising recyclable plastic film and a plurality of bags filled with a first type of recyclable waste material that is different from the recyclable plastic film or bags, such that the compressed recyclable waste layer comprises a plurality of recyclable waste materials; and   a second outer layer of recyclable material, the first and second outer layers of recyclable material being positioned on opposing sides of the compressed recyclable waste layer;   wherein the first outer layer of recyclable material, the compressed recyclable waste layer, and the second outer layer of recyclable material are bound together to form a layered bale of compressed recyclable material and recyclable waste materials, wherein:
 the recyclable plastic file is configured to act as a bonding agent to stabilize positions of the plurality of bags within the layer of compresses recyclable waste; 
 the compressed recyclable waste layer has a thickness that is greater than a combined thickness of the first outer layer of recyclable material and the second outer layer of recyclable material; and 
 the compressed recyclable waste layer is viewable along an entire length and an entire width of the layered bale. 
   
     
     
         12 . The layered bale of  claim 11 , wherein the first type of recyclable waste material comprises aluminum cans, plastic bottles, or plastic hangers. 
     
     
         13 . The layered bale of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of bags are color-coded to enable identification of the first type of recyclable waste material therein. 
     
     
         14 . The layered bale of  claim 11 , wherein said bale is bound together with wire or bands. 
     
     
         15 . A bound and layered bale of compressed recyclable waste, comprising:
 a first outer layer formed of a recyclable material;   a compressed recyclable waste layer formed of at least:
 a first recyclable waste of a first material substance within one or more bags; and 
 a recyclable binding material that binds the one or more bags within the compressed recyclable waste layer; 
   a second outer layer formed of additional recyclable material, the first and second outer layers being positioned on opposing sides of the compressed recyclable waste layer and being formed of recyclable materials different from those of the compressed recyclable waste layer, wherein:
 the compressed recyclable waste layer has a thickness that is greater than a combined thickness of the first outer layer and the second outer layer; and 
 the compressed recyclable waste layer is viewable along an entire length and an entire width of the layered bale. 
   
     
     
         16 . The bound and layered bale of  claim 15 , wherein the recyclable material of the first and second outer layers is of a same type. 
     
     
         17 . The bound and layered bale of  claim 15 , wherein the recyclable material of the outer layers comprises cardboard. 
     
     
         18 . The bound and layered bale of  claim 15 , wherein the recyclable binding material comprises plastic film. 
     
     
         19 . The bound and layered bale of  claim 15 , wherein the first outer layer, the compressed recyclable waste layer, and the second outer layer are bound together with wire or bands. 
     
     
         20 . The bound and layered bale of  claim 15 , wherein the compressed recyclable waste layer further comprises recyclable waste of a second material substance within one or more additional bags.