A disposal bin includes at least one identifying sensor that captures and provides identifying information for items placed in the disposal bin as well as at least one state sensor to capture and provide state information (such as the weight of the item) for such items. A control circuit operably couples to these sensors and responds to placement of a consumable commodity container in the disposal bin by using the identifying information to identify the consumable commodity container. The control circuit then accesses a data store to obtain a fullness metric corresponding to the container (for example, a weight for the consumable commodity container when full). The control circuit then uses that fullness metric and the state information to determine a current fullness state of the container. The control circuit can then determine whether to automatically take a replacement order action based upon the current fullness state.

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.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including food waste removal system employed to eliminate food waste from trash for food permitted establishment. In one aspect, a method for evacuating food waste from a food permitted establishment includes providing a sealable container, the sealable container comprising a vessel and a lid, the vessel comprising a base portion and a vertical sidewall forming a closed bottom, an inner surface, and an open top, the inner surface having been exposed to a chemical to form a coating resistant to molecule permeation, the lid configured to form a seal preventing oxygen from entering, distributing the sealable container within the food permitted establishment, filling the vessel with the food waste, sealing the vessel with the lid to form the seal, placing the sealable container on a delivery vehicle, and removing the sealable container filled with food wastes from the food permitted establishment with the delivery vehicle.

A disposal box for used playing cards has a cuboid shape provided with six surfaces, namely, front and back surfaces, left and right surfaces, and upper and lower surfaces in an assembled state. The disposal box includes a slit that is provided in at least one of the six surfaces and enables the used playing cards to be inserted into the disposal box. The disposal box further includes viewing windows that are provided with a plurality of holes having a size at which the playing card cannot be taken out, and can allow the used playing cards contained in the disposal box to be visually recognized. The disposal box is formed of a paper or plastic material, and can be discarded in a state in which the used playing cards are contained in the disposal box.

A computer system including sensor and alternative power technologies for enhancing waste disposal and energy efficiency using is provided. The computer system may be configured to receive waste data and recycling data from at least one sensor located proximate to a waste bin, and determine a level of waste in the waste bin based upon the received waste data, and a level of contamination of the waste bin based upon the received recycling data. The computer system may be also configured to determine whether collection of waste in the waste bin or decontamination of the waste bin is required. The computer system may be further configured to generate an alert including information corresponding collection or decontamination of the waste bin, and transmit the alert to one or more client devices associated with at least one user.

A waste storage device and corresponding waste sorting method. The waste storage device may include compartments for storing waste; an acquisition unit that acquires at least one characteristic of a piece of waste that is to be stored in the waste storage device; a processor unit that obtains data identifying the waste from the characteristic; a communications unit that sends the identifying data to a remote server and that receives data in response; and an advice supply unit that delivers sorting advice to a user. The sorting advice may come from the data that was received in response and it may identify at least one of the compartments of the waste storage device into which the piece of waste should be stored or placed by the user.

An integrated container with a box and pallet is provided that is made entirely of corrugated materials, and is fully compatible with automated systems and methods for the safe collection, transfer, and treatment of infectious and hazardous waste. The integrated box and pallet made entirely of corrugated materials provides an improved high strength packaging solution that allows for safe transport of waste to a disposal location. The corrugated pallet and box are compatible with shredders and does not require metal fasteners. The corrugated pallet and box are completely recyclable, and may be made of a cardboard or of plastic. Separate waste collection containers may be collected and placed in the box of integrated container.

Systems and methods for detecting a waste receptacle, the system including a camera for capturing an image, a convolutional neural network, and processor. The convolutional neural network can be trained for identifying target waste receptacles. The processor can be mounted on the waste-collection vehicle and in communication with the camera and the convolutional neural network configured for using the convolutional neural network. The processor can be configured for using the convolutional neural network to generate an object candidate based on the image; using the convolutional neural network to determine whether the object candidate corresponds to a target waste receptacle; and selecting an action based on whether the object candidate is acceptable.

A container, such as a roll-out cart, includes a body portion and a lid. The body portion includes an outer wall extending upward from a base wall to a mouth of the body portion. The lid is secured to the body portion and pivotable between a closed position over the mouth and an open position. The lid includes an upper lid portion and a lower lid portion. The upper lid portion extends downward to an outer lip. The lower lid portion extends downward to an inner lip. The inner lip is inward of the outer wall of the body portion when the lid is in the closed position. The outer lip is outward of the outer wall of the body when the lid is in the closed position.

Systems, methods and devices are provided for transporting, tracking and managing waste or recyclable materials, which may include one or more devices for transporting waste or recyclable material, such a via a bin that comprises a base; and a collapsible sleeve movable between an open state and a collapsed state, wherein the collapsible sleeve in the open state interfaces in a nesting manner with the base to form a bin for receiving and transporting waste material.