A mobile cart that holds a bag for receiving solid waste generated during a medical or surgical procedure. The cart includes a sensor that monitors whether or not an object containing metal is placed in the bag. A processor monitors the signal output by the sensor. If the sensor signal indicates that an object with a minimal amount of metal is placed in the bag, the processor momentarily asserts an audible alarm and continuously asserts a light alarm. The light alarm remains asserted until turned off. If, while the light alarm is on, the sensor signal indicates a second object with the minimal amount of waste is placed in the container, the processor again momentarily asserts the audible alarm. This provides notice that it may be necessary to investigate the contents of the bag to determine if not one but two or more objects were inadvertently discarded.

The present disclosure relates to a waste management system comprising a first waste bin having a first camera operatively configured to a controller. Images of waste captured by the first camera are analyzed by the controller to ensure that the waste is a plastic waste. Further, a categorization mechanism executing at the controller classifies the plastic waste in at least one of a plastic category using a machine learning mechanism. The system comprises a motor for shredding the plastic waste and a sieve for collecting the shredded plastic waste. Containers attached at an end of the sieve receive and store the shredded plastic waste. The system comprises a second waste bin having a second camera for capturing images of the general/wet waste and categorizing the images to alert user about potential food waste. Categorized wet waste is collected in the second bin.

A system comprising a vacuum cleaner and an apparatus for receiving dirt from a dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner. The apparatus has an air flow passage from an inlet port to a clean air outlet, wherein the dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner is positionable in air flow communication with the inlet port. In an emptying mode of operation, a motor and fan assembly of the system produces a flow of air that conveys dirt from the dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner to the air treatment member of the apparatus. The vacuum cleaner is docked with the apparatus by a user moving the dirt collection region in a downward direction to a position in which, during the emptying mode of operation, the flow of air conveys the dirt from the dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner downwardly to the air treatment member of the apparatus.

A system comprising a vacuum cleaner and an apparatus for receiving dirt from a dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner. The apparatus has an air flow passage from an inlet port to a clean air outlet, wherein the dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner is positionable in air flow communication with the inlet port. The apparatus also has an air treatment member positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the inlet port wherein the air treatment member comprises an apparatus dirt collection region. When the apparatus is standing on the floor, the apparatus has an upper end which has the inlet port, and the dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner is moved in a downward direction to an emptying position in which the dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner is in air flow communication with the inlet port.

Waste chute devices and methods for using the same are provided. In some embodiments, a method for operating waste chutes comprises: receiving, using a hardware processor of a waste chute device, an identity associated with a user of the waste chute device; in response to receiving the identity associated with the user, allowing, using the hardware processor, a door of the waste chute device to be opened; determining, using the hardware processor, a number of items and at least one type associated with the items that have been placed in an opening of the waste chute device; determining, using the hardware processor, that the door of the waste chute device has been closed; updating, using the hardware processor, information associated with the user based on the number of items and the at least one type of items that have been placed in the opening of the waste chute device; and providing, using the hardware processor, the user with the updated information.

Waste chute devices and methods for using the same are provided. In some embodiments, a method for operating waste chutes comprises: receiving, using a hardware processor of a waste chute device, an identity associated with a user of the waste chute device; in response to receiving the identity associated with the user, allowing, using the hardware processor, a door of the waste chute device to be opened; determining, using the hardware processor, a number of items and at least one type associated with the items that have been placed in an opening of the waste chute device; determining, using the hardware processor, that the door of the waste chute device has been closed; updating, using the hardware processor, information associated with the user based on the number of items and the at least one type of items that have been placed in the opening of the waste chute device; and providing, using the hardware processor, the user with the updated information.

A waste disposal system has a waste disposal device and cassette having a length of flexible film. The cassette has a lower surface and a guide feature enabling the cassette to rotate within the upper housing of the pail, maintain a substantially stationary position within the upper housing of the pail, or combinations thereof. The waste disposal device has a guide member that engages the guide feature of the cassette. The waste disposal device has a cassette housing and a sealing mechanism. One of the housing and sealing mechanism, and the cassette, rotate with respect to the other, either directly or indirectly.

A leaf mulcher includes a carriage, a plurality of wheels rotatably secured to the carriage, and a main housing having a front and a rear. A scoop is removably coupled to the front of the main housing and configured to direct leaves into the main housing to be mulched. The leaf mulcher also includes an impeller housing having an entry and an exit, where the entry of the impeller housing is coupled to a rear of the housing. In addition, the leaf mulcher includes a bag having an intake conduit coupled to the exit of the impeller housing and is configured to receive mulched leaves, and an impeller is within the impeller housing and has an insert and nut. A motor is coupled to the impeller and is configured to spin the impeller to create a vacuum to draw leaves into the impeller housing where the leaves are mulched.

A leaf mulcher includes a carriage, a plurality of wheels rotatably secured to the carriage, and a main housing having a front and a rear. A scoop is removably coupled to the front of the main housing and configured to direct leaves into the main housing to be mulched. The leaf mulcher also includes an impeller housing having an entry and an exit, where the entry of the impeller housing is coupled to a rear of the housing. In addition, the leaf mulcher includes a bag having an intake conduit coupled to the exit of the impeller housing and is configured to receive mulched leaves, and an impeller is within the impeller housing and has an insert and nut. A motor is coupled to the impeller and is configured to spin the impeller to create a vacuum to draw leaves into the impeller housing where the leaves are mulched.

A removable device for collecting, storing and transporting fermentable waste comprises, in a direction of flow of the fermentable waste, a feed device for supplying fermentable waste; a hopper for conveying the fermentable waste from the feed device to the grinder; a grinder arranged to grind the fermentable waste and form ground materials; a transfer device for transferring the ground materials to the storage tank; a storage tank for storing the ground materials; a device for emptying the storage tank; and an effluent filtering device connected to the storage tank. The transfer device is under positive pressure in the direction of flow of the fermentable waste, and the effluent filtering device is a solid filtering medium, preferably a carbon filter or a biofilter. The device further comprises a pressure relief valve.