초록 ▼

Recyclable waste byproducts are efficiently collected for recycling at stores or other locations by compacting the recyclable waste as layers in a composite bale with cardboard. The composite bales can be formed using existing cardboard balers that retailers or other stores typically already have fo

Recyclable waste byproducts are efficiently collected for recycling at stores or other locations by compacting the recyclable waste as layers in a composite bale with cardboard. 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 preferably formed with a bottom layer of cardboard, a middle layer of one or more types of recyclable waste byproducts, and a top layer of cardboard. The layered structure can be modified to omit one of the cardboard layers or to add additional waste byproduct or cardboard layers.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for forming a layered bale of compressed recyclable waste, comprising: forming a first compressed outer layer of cardboard using a baler by positioning a plurality of individual pieces of cardboard within the baler and compressing the cardboard within the baler, and

What is claimed is: 1. A method for forming a layered bale of compressed recyclable waste, comprising: forming a first compressed outer layer of cardboard using a baler by positioning a plurality of individual pieces of cardboard within the baler and compressing the cardboard within the baler, and such that the first compressed outer layer of cardboard is formed from several individual pieces of cardboard, the first outer layer of cardboard having a generally uniform thickness; subsequent to forming the first compressed outer layer of cardboard, forming a plurality of compressed recyclable waste layers and a plurality of compressed intermediate cardboard layers on top of the first compressed outer layer of cardboard using the baler by positioning a plurality of recyclable waste layers and a plurality of intermediate cardboard layers within the baler and compressing the plurality of recyclable waste layers and the plurality of intermediate cardboard layers within the baler, wherein recyclable waste layers of the plurality of compressed recyclable waste layers and intermediate cardboard layers of the plurality of compressed intermediate cardboard layers alternate such that each major planar surface of each of the intermediate cardboard layers is substantially covered by a corresponding one of the recyclable waste layers, wherein each of the recyclable waste layers of the plurality of compressed recyclable waste layers visibly extends an entire length of said bale, from a first end of said bale to an opposing second end of said bale, as well as an entire width of said bale, from a first side of said bale to an opposing second side of said bale, each of the plurality of compressed recyclable waste layers comprising a plurality of recyclable waste material and each of the plurality of compressed intermediate cardboard layers comprising a plurality of individual pieces of cardboard; forming a second compressed outer layer of cardboard over the plurality of compressed recyclable waste layers and the plurality of compressed intermediate cardboard layers using the baler by positioning additional cardboard within the baler and compressing the additional cardboard within the baler, the second compressed outer layer of cardboard having a generally uniform thickness; and binding together the first compressed outer layer of cardboard, the plurality of compressed recyclable waste layers, the plurality of compressed intermediate cardboard layers, and the second compressed outer layer of cardboard to form a compressed composite bale formed of cardboard and recyclable waste products, wherein each of the plurality of compressed recyclable waste layers is composed of recyclable waste that excludes cardboard and which is composed of material from the group consisting of plastic bags, plastic film, aluminum cans, plastic bottles and/or plastic clothing hangers, and wherein the plurality of compressed recyclable waste layers includes bonding agents comprising at least some plastic film or plastic bags which help maintain integrity of the layered bale, the bonding agents being operable to bond different portions of the recyclable waste material together which may become rigid or not conform to an adjacent portion of the recyclable waste material and which are optionally included within the plurality of waste layers. 2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of the recyclable waste layers of the plurality of recyclable waste layers comprises a plurality of types of recyclable waste products, the 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. 3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of the recyclable waste layers of the plurality of recyclable waste layers comprises a plurality of types of recyclable waste products, the 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. 4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein forming the one or more recyclable waster layers comprises sandwiching recyclable waste selected from the second group between the recyclable waste selected from the first group. 5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein forming each of the first compressed outer layer of cardboard, the plurality of compressed recyclable waste layers, the plurality of compressed intermediate cardboard layers, and the second compressed outer layer of cardboard using the baler comprises performing a plurality of compression cycles. 6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein each compression cycle of the plurality of compression cycles compresses additional cardboard or recyclable waste such that said bale is formed by repeatedly loading and activating the cardboard baler. 7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of recyclable waste layers comprises from about 10% to about 70% of the bale thickness. 8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first compressed outer layer of cardboard, the plurality of compressed intermediate cardboard layers, and the second compressed outer layer of cardboard have a sufficient thickness such that a plurality of said bales can be stacked on one another, with the planar surfaces of layers of cardboard and recyclable waste positioned perpendicular to gravity, without said bales losing structural integrity. 9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said bale is bound together with wire, rope, or straps. 10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of recyclable waste layers comprise a first intermediate layer composed of only plastic film and at least one other intermediate layer composed of a material other than plastic film. 11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the at least one other intermediate layer is composed of plastic bottles. 12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the at least one other intermediate layer is composed of paper. 13. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the at least one other intermediate layer includes a second intermediate layer composed of plastic bottles and a third intermediate layer composed of paper.