ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS FOR IDENTIFYING AND CATEGORIZING WASTE
Methods for using a liner in a waste sorting and disposal system are provided. The liner includes an internal space and an opening that provides access to that internal space. In some embodiments, the liner may also include a machine-readable identification key that is configured to identify a type of waste that the liner may receive. In some embodiments, the machine-readable key is optical, color-coded, alphanumeric or graphical. The liner can include one or more closure members to allow a user to securely seal the liner when it is removed from the container. In some embodiments, the liner can include a flange, lip, hook or other protrusion to secure its position relative to a container.
1 . An electronic system for identifying and categorizing waste, the system comprising:
a sorting station comprising a plurality of containers;
wherein each of said containers has at least one opening through which waste items can be selectively deposited,
wherein each of the containers comprises a unique identifier to permit tracking of waste items after such waste items have been placed into a specific container;
wherein each of the containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste categories, thereby facilitating disposal of waste items in the appropriate container;
a handheld device configured to provide waste disposal instructions to a user, said handheld device comprising a scanner and a user input device for receiving information regarding a waste item;
wherein the scanner is configured to detect a first parameter of the waste item, said first parameter comprising information regarding a composition of the waste item;
wherein the user input device is configured to receive a second parameter regarding the waste item, said second parameter comprising at least one of whether the waste item is a sharps and whether the waste item or a container containing such waste item is empty; and
a control system configured to compare information obtained from the handheld device with waste item classification information contained in a database;
wherein the control system is further configured to assign the waste item to at least one waste category; and
wherein the control system is further configured to identify the appropriate container on the handheld device.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the handheld device is configured to identify the appropriate container by displaying a color associated with said appropriate container.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the handheld device is configured to identify the appropriate container by providing text associated with said appropriate container.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the containers are reusable.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the containers are disposable.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier of the container comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier of the container comprises serialization.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said waste item classification information comprises classification information based on environmental or drug enforcement regulations.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the user input device comprises a touch screen or keyboard.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said containers is configured to receive a removable liner.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of said liners comprises a sealing member to seal an opening of the liner to facilitate disposal.
12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of said liners comprises polypropylene and has a thickness of about 2 to 6 millimeters.
13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of said liners comprises a polymeric material.
14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of said liners comprises a flexible material.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to generate a manifest of waste items for at least one of said containers.
16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to electronically maintain an electronic log of the identified waste items and the container to which each of said waste items was disposed.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the control system is further configured to audit compliance with regulations based on said log.
18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the control system is further configured to audit usage or disposal of said waste item based on said log.
19 . An electronic system for identifying and categorizing waste, the system comprising
a sorting station comprising a plurality of containers;
a plurality of removable liners, wherein each of said containers is adapted to receive a removable liner therein;
wherein each of said containers and said liners has an opening;
wherein each of the liners is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste categories, thereby facilitating disposal of waste items in the appropriate container;
a handheld device configured to provide disposal instructions to a user, said handheld device comprising a scanner configured to detect identifying information regarding scanned waste items;
a control system configured to compare identifying information obtained from the scanner with waste item classification information contained in a database;
wherein the control system is further configured to assign a waste item to at least one waste category;
wherein the control system is further configured to identify the appropriate container for receiving the waste item on the handheld device; and
wherein information regarding the appropriate container for receiving the waste item is provided on a display of the handheld device.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the handheld device further comprises a user input device configured to receive at least one condition regarding the waste item, said at least one condition comprising at least one of whether the waste item is a sharps and whether the waste item or a container containing such waste item is empty.