GB2428672A - Localised waste handling facility - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable housing <B>1</B>, unit or container encloses a multiplicity of equipment <B>2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e</B> which is firmly secured to the floor or walls. The equipment <B>2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e</B> handles and processes waste for reuse or recycling. The housing <B>1</B> has vertically hinged opening doors on one or more longitudinal section. Extra units such as a washroom, incinerator, storage or tyre shedding unit may be added to the housing. Water, diesel and waste water tanks may be built into the housing <B>1</B>. A generator or an air conditioning unit may be incorporated into the housing <B>1</B>. A housing which houses a single type of equipment, such as a tyre shredder, woodchip processor or can crusher is also disclosed.

Description

Mobile Materials Recycling Facility

Description

This invention relates to a method of containerising and locatising waste processing. It is proposed to do this by fabricating a containensed housing, or a multiplicity of housings to act as a support, shelter and operational structure for said equipment. There exists a series of containensed structures for housing a number of items such as accommodation modules, sewage systems, generators and water treatment plants.

Recycling is a vital component of life today for energy conservation and the preservation of our ecology, but the energy used in transporting recyclable materials to a processing facility often exceeds the energy saved by using recovered material. This patent looks at providing a saving of up to 80-90% in transport and handling costs, by reducing the volume of waste local to its point of origin.

This patent in no way purports to claim invention of any new waste handling or waste processing equipment, as all equipment will be of proprietary design. If new technology is introduced, the inclusion of it in this design scope can be assumed.

There exists a range of equipment installed in so-called MRF facilities (Material Recycling Facility), but these tend to be of a centralised and very large nature. This patent relates to any number of localised centres based on a containerised system.

The advantages of the containensation system are many, and are listed here to demonstrate the uniqueness of the concept proposed by this patent.

* AU waste equipment in one place- no need to move waste around between sites.

* Only one purchase order- no need to buy an assorted range of individual pieces of equipment.

* Standard ISO shipping containers-as an option.

* Self powered option- no requirement to rely on external power or water supplies.

* Weatherproof- no requirement to erect a building over purchased equipment.

* Welfare area included-an option for the inclusion of a rest room is available.

* ISO 14001 quality -Compliance with international standards is simplified.

* Reduction of landfill waste volume up to 80%.

* Maximise on recycling- Local businesses and waste collection agencies may become more profitable with a reduction in waste volumes and handling costs.

* Considerable savings on landfill costs.

Page 1 * Easy to transport-by crane onto a vehicle, or with a self-loading container vehicle.

* Secure- Lockable units to ensure security.

* Less space than a waste handling station-Vastly reduced footprint, and associated cost reductions.

* Buy-in and engagement of local communities where local people may choose operate the facility themselves.

* An 80-90% reduction in waste collection company transport costs, as recycled material receivers may be invited to collect materials directly.

* Facility may be associated with other reclamation sites such as wood, Stone, hardcore etc, reducing landfill costs even further.

* For remote locations, a small high temperature incinerator may be incorporated to reduce waste further The situations where these systems may be used include but are not limited to: * Hotels * Hospitals * Educational Facilities * Airports * Towns and Villages * Any waste producing facility where recycling is desired * Ships * Offshore * Industrial estates * Construction sites * Factories * Military use * Refineries According to the present invention there is provided a container, or a multiplicity of containers that can be prefabricated in any material, such as in ISO shipping container, that may prove to be portable. A standardised shipping container with modified doors is envisaged, as this can be transported by vehicles, with or without cranage. Similarly, the unit may be a more permanent structure, and nonportable.

The main advantage with the ISO container is that the container and all of the internal equipment, may be built and commissioned at a single place, and simply transported to a new site ready to use.

Page 2 Access into the container lI be from the side doors that may be designed so as to produce a large opening along the longitudinal section of the container, to allow a woildng area for waste de'ivery and shipment The dimensions of the housing or container will not be described in detail, as the unit may be in SpecIfic Shipping sizes (20 foot or 40 foot for example), or another suitable shape or size, depending upon requirements.

The container may benefit from being supplied with the following: * Supplied waste handling and processing equipment * Generator * Fuel tank * Water tank * Lighting * Wiring for electrical system * Telephone sockets The type and range of equipment may include some or all of the following, and any unlisted or new technology may be assumed to be included.

* Crushing and bang machines * Light bulb/strip light crusher * Drum crusher * Can crushers and compressors * Glass crusher * Aerosol piercer * Can/tin crushers * Waste food processor * Jet washer * Waste oil tank * Pallet truck a Porter trolley * Drum Trolley * Barrel pump * Incinerator for remote locations (incorporating a removable chimney stack) Removable and optional equipment may include * Collection bins * Plastic sheeting to cover processed waste Pae3 * Spill cleanup equipment Other flxed/po,table fittings may include: * Lights Generator (Voltages to suit) * Power distribution cables * Compressor * Cabinets for tools and equipment * Heaters and extract fans * Control panels * Spares/tools cabinet * Wall heaters/coolers * Extract fans * Compressor * Pipeline valves and instruments * Lighting * Power distribution boards The figures listed below show the typical drawings only, and are representative of the concept The drawings in no way represent shapes, sizes or material for the units, as these may be of many combinations. Also, the equipment shown is representative, and not intended to represent the actual equipment types selected for the units, as this would be the customers choice at the time of fabrication.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure Ia shows a typical layout of a container for waste processing equipment.

Figure lb shows another configuration for a subsequent container housing a welfare and storage area.

Figure 2 shows an alternative design for a larger unit with a welfare area included.

Figure 3a shows the housings with typical door openings.

Figure 3b indicates door proposals for larger containers.

Figure 4 shows a general or typical circuit diagram.

Figure 5 shows a layout of a typical CWAA (central Waste Accumulation Area) or MRF, using container principles.

Page 4 The housings shown in Figures 1-3 represent a plan view of a portable type Of unit. The actual housing [1] may be of any material, chosen for it's strength, cosmetic value or cost Inside the housing, equipment for waste handling and processing is mounted and secured, including but not limited to balers [2a], drum crusher [2b1, aerosol piercer [2cJ, glass crusher [2d], bulb crusher [2e], and any other type not envisaged, but of use in waste handling and processing. The equipment within the housing [1] is secured to the floor and walls, is used in situ, the housing offering a shelter from the elements, and security.

Other removable items may also be incorporated including collection bins [3b], placed for shipment and storage in the container, a spill kit [3a], and trolleys for load carrying [3c].

These may include a porter's trolley, drum trolley and pallet truck. A jet washer [5] with water, which may be supplied from an integral tank, and used for cleaning bins etc. An option exists for the larger or second units to house waste oil tanks [4], and a bunded pallet [10] for drums that may leak.

Larger housings, as in Figure 2, or second similar (additional) housings may incorporate a welfare area [6], used for rest periods, storage of safety equipment and information etc. There exists an option here to incorporate an incinerator at the extreme end of a housing, to enable the destruction of wastes in remote locations.

Each of the housings (1] will require to be built or modified to incorporate a door arrangement as in Figures 3a & 3b, to allow easy access to use the equipment, but still ensuring that the structural integrity of the housing [1], is not compromised.

It is envisaged that the housings will be built with an electrical system typically represented in Figure 4, incorporating lighting and socket outlets for the equipment [2a-2e]. A plug and socket [12] may be used for power sharing if a multiplicity of containers is used. Circuit breakers [13] may be supplied for each of the users [14] (these may be 2a-2e).

On a woricing site, the housings may form part of a larger reclamation yard, or Central Waste Accumulation Area (CWAA) as shown in Figure 5. Waste is loaded into inlet bins [16], segregated by waste type. Waste is then processed (15], and the subsequent recyclable waste stored in containers of some kind [IT], for collection.

Page 5

Claims (9)

1 A purpose made portable housing, unit or container to enclose a multiplicity of equipment types firmly secured to the floor or walls, for the handling and processing of waste for reuse and recycling, and can be of any proprietary material, having vertically hinged opening doors on one or more longitudinal section to allow access to use the waste handling and processing equipment inside the protective cover.

2 An housing as in claim 1 whereby extra units or housings can be added on to include such possible features as a welfare area, washroom, incinerator, storage for recyclable waste, tyre shredding equipment etc

3 An housing as in claim 1 where water, diesel and waste water tanks can be built into the housing to provide self sufficiency and stand alone capability for a period of time.

4 A housing as in claim 1 whereby a generator may be incorporated to provide power for the processing equipment and utilities.

A housing as in claim 1, whereby the housing has the capability of being loaded onto a vehicle, using a method which tilts the container between 0 and 45 degrees during loading.

6 A housing as in claim I whereby The exterior of the unit can be of any colour or design, to requirements specified by the purchaser.

7 A housing as in claim 1, whereby the unit can incorporate air conditioning for hot and cold climates, which can also be enhanced by the use of insulated wall materials and/or cladding.

8 A housing as in claim I whereby the whole container can be used to house a single certain type of equipment, such as a tyre shredder, where tyres may be reduced in volume, in preparation for sending to a recycling plant, or other single materials such as woodchips and crushed cans can be treated in larger volumes.

Pape 6 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1 A purpose made housing or container to enclose a multiplicity of equipment types, for the processing of waste for reuse and recycling The units may be of any proprietary material, and have opening swing doors to allow operator access to use the machinery inside the protective housing 2 A unit as in claim 1 whereby extra units or housings may be added on to include such possible features as a welfare area, washroom, storage for recyclable waste, tyre shredding equipment etc 3 A unit as in claim 1 where water, diesel and waste water tanks may be built into the housing to provide self sufficiency and stand alone capability for a period of time 4 A unit as in claim 1 whereby a generator may be incorporated to provide the power for the processing equipment and utilities.

A unit as in claim 1, whereby removable equipment and consumables would be supplied for a period of operation. This relates for example to a container that is being leased to a site, and full waste collection equipment is supplied with the unit.

6 A unit as in claim 1, whereby the equipment is firmly bolted to floor and walls, and all loose items have the capability of being secured to suitable, supplied anchor points, so that a container may be loaded onto a vehicle, using a hook method which tilts the container between 0 and 45 degrees during loading 7 A unit as in claim 1 whereby The exterior of the unit may be of any colour or design, to requirements specified by the purchaser 8 A unit as in claim 1, whereby an awning may be incorporated above the swing doors, to afford a larger dry working area.

9 A unit as in claim 1, whereby the unit may incorporate air conditioning for hot and cold climates. This may be enhanced by the use of insulated wall materials and/or cladding A unit as in claim 1 whereby the whole container may be used to house a certain type of equipment, such as a tyre shredder, where tyres may be reduced in volume, u preparation for sending to a recycling plait This concept may be used in wood chipping, tyre shredding, large-scale can crushers etc