System and method for recycling non-reusable refrigerant containers

1. A method for recycling a container, comprising:

receiving an intact container having contents into a chamber;

reading an electronically readable code printed on the intact container;

retrieving information from a database corresponding to the code;

selectively processing the intact container in dependence on the retrieved information;

puncturing the at least one intact container to release the contents;

removing the contents from the chamber, while maintaining the punctured container in the chamber; and

shredding and/or compacting the punctured container.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the intact container comprises an intact refrigerant transport container, and the contents comprises residual refrigerant in the intact refrigerant transport container.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising automatically determining a type of refrigerant content of the intact refrigerant transport container by at least reading a machine readable code associated with the intact refrigerant transport container.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising compressing and storing the residual refrigerant released into the chamber in a storage vessel in dependence on a type of residual refrigerant released.

5. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising determining a type of refrigerant composition in the intact refrigerant transport container by performing a refrigerant composition analysis of the residual refrigerant.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising compressing and storing the residual refrigerant released into the chamber in a storage vessel in dependence on a type of refrigerant released.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

encoding a container prior to use;

imposing a deposit on the container;

receiving an encoded container at a recycling facility;

releasing the imposed deposit; and

shredding and/or compacting the container after the imposed deposit is released.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the shredding and/or compacting is performed with a shredder and/or compactor, wherein the shredder and/or compactor is isolated from the chamber during the puncturing and removing steps.

9. A system for recycling a container, comprising:

an electronically code reader configured to read a code printed on an intact container having contents;

an automated control, configured to communicate with a database to retrieve information corresponding to the code, and to control processing the intact container in dependence on the retrieved information;

an element configured to puncture the intact container to release the contents into a chamber, while maintaining the punctured container in the chamber; and

a shredder and/or compactor configured to shred and/or compact the punctured container, wherein the released contents and the shredded and/or compacted container are stored separately.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the intact container comprises an intact refrigerant transport container, and the contents comprises residual refrigerant in the intact refrigerant transport container.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the automated control is further configured to automatically determine a type of refrigerant content of the intact refrigerant transport container by at least reading a machine readable code associated with the intact refrigerant transport container.

12. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising a compressor configured to compress the residual refrigerant released into the chamber for storage in one of a plurality of storage vessels, selected in dependence on a type of residual refrigerant released.

13. The system according to claim 10 , further comprising a refrigerant composition analyzer configured to determine a type of refrigerant composition in the intact refrigerant transport container by performing a refrigerant composition analysis of the residual refrigerant.

14. The system according to claim 13 , further comprising a compressor configured to compress the residual refrigerant released into the chamber for storage in one of a plurality of storage vessels, selected in dependence on a type of residual refrigerant released.

15. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the shredder and/or compactor is isolated from the chamber during the puncturing.

16. The system according to claim 10 ,

wherein the chamber has a seal;

further comprising a vacuum pump adapted to evacuate non-condensing gasses from the chamber; and

a compressor configured to remove and compress the released residual refrigerant from the chamber.

17. The system according to claim 9 , further comprising:

an encoding associated with the intact container, having contents;

a database storing a record relating to the encoded intact container, said database record relating at least to a deposit charged for the encoded intact container; and

a control, configured to update the database record after the encoded intact container is committed to shredding and/or compacting.

18. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the chamber is located above a storage area for shredded and/or compacted containers.

19. A method for implementing a container deposit program, comprising:

encoding a container prior to use;

imposing a deposit on the encoded container;

receiving an encoded container at a recycling facility;

releasing the imposed deposit upon commitment to shredding and/or compacting of the container;

automatically removing residual contents from the container; and

recycling materials from the encoded container separate from the residual contents.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein:

the container comprises an encoded refrigerant transport container, having a residual refrigerant content;

the deposit is recorded in a database storing a record relating to the encoded refrigerant transport container; and

the recycling facility comprises a recycling machine, configured to automatically remove residual refrigerant from the encoded refrigerant transport container with a vacuum pump and the compress the removed residual refrigerant to a form liquid, which is selectively stored in a storage vessel in dependence on its composition.