METHOD FOR OPENING AND EMPTYING THE CONTENTS OF PLASTIC BAGS ENTERING RECYCLING FACILITIES

MANY U.S. MUNICIPALITIES AND COMMUNITIES ARE INTEGRATING RECYCLING PROGRAMS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THEIR SOLID WASTE IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE LANDFILL REQUIREMENTS. INCREASINGLY, THESE RECYCLING PROGRAMS INCLUDE MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITIES (MRF) WHERE THE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE (MSW), CURBSIDE COLLECTED RECYCLABLE MATERIALS, AND OTHER BAGGED WASTES ARE TRANSPORTED TO A CENTRAL LOCATION FOR THE RETRIEVAL OF THE RECYCLABLE MATERIALS BEFORE LAND-FILLING. OPERATORS OF THESE FACILITIES HAVE LONG NOTED THE NEED FOR A DEVICE WHICH COULD AUTOMATICALLY OPEN AND EMPTY THE THOUSANDS OF PLASTIC BAGS ENTERING THE MRF. CONTAINED WITHIN THE PLASTIC BAGS ARE VALUABLE RECYCLABLE MATERIALS SUCH AS ALUMINUM, GLASS, PLASTIC, NEWSPAPER, AND CARDBOARD. THEREFORE, THE OPPORTUNITY EXISTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MACHINE WHICH AUTOMATICALLY OPENS AND EMPTIES THE PLASTIC BAGS IN ORDER TO RETRIEVE THE RECYCLABLES WITH FAR GREATER EFFICIENCY THAN PRESENT METHODS. NATIONAL RECOVERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC. HAS BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH A DEVICE. THIS RESEARCH HAS LEAD TO A VERY PRELIMINARY DEVICE WHICH TAKES ASVANTAGE OF THE BAG'S WEAKNESS TO HEAT AS THE MEANS FOR OPENING BAGS. THIS PROPOSALS SEEKS TO INVESTIGATE THE VARIOUS METHODS FOR APPLYING THE NECESSARY HEAT TO THE PLASTIC BAGS IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE RECOVERY OF THE RECYCLABLES.