A front-loading, refuse collecting vehicle is modularly provided with a combination of a low-profile, front-loadable waste bin (intermediate container) and one or more, side-loading robotic arms. To reduce mechanical stresses along couplings between the vehicle and the combination of the intermediate container and the robotic arm(s), a major portion of the mass of the robotic arm mechanism is situated to the rear of the intermediate container so that a mass and beam combination is defined where the mass-supporting beam has reduced length. More specifically, hydraulic and/or other relatively massive motor devices of the robotic arm mechanism are mounted to the rear of a refuse-containing wall of the intermediate container. Elastomeric and/or other dampening devices may be interposed between the vehicle and the bulk mass of the combination of the intermediate container and robotic arm mechanism for converting into heat some of the vibrational energy which may otherwise move between the vehicle and the combination of the intermediate container and robotic arm mechanism. A modular sled system may be provided for supporting different robotic arms in combination with refuse containers made of different materials as may be appropriate for different waste collection situations.

A cantilevered dumping system comprising a dumping mechanism that is adapted to be repositioned (e.g., reversed) relative to a base structure such that there may be multiple modes of operation of the dumping mechanism relative to the base structure (e.g., loading of materials and/or movement of the dumping mechanism, etc.). An exemplary embodiment of a dumping system may allow for the connections of a dumping mechanism to a base structure to be changed (e.g., reversed) such that the operation of the dumping mechanism relative to the base structure (e.g., loading of materials and/or movement of the dumping mechanism, etc.) is different. Another embodiment of a dumping system may include a base structure that includes multiple guide plates and/or guide rails to facilitate the desired modes of operation of a dumping mechanism relative to the base structure (e.g., loading of materials and/or movement of the dumping mechanism, etc.).

A method, apparatus and system is disclosed for making garbage dumpsters which includes a box comprising: a bottom panel; a back panel; a front panel; a left panel; a right panel; wherein said bottom panel; said back panel; said front panel; said left panel; and said right panel are configured so that a last remaining one of said panels can be hung on a plurality of hooks protruding from edges of two of said panels, thereby creating a container without using tools and without welding; where said container is configured to be lifted by fork portions of a vehicle.

Unitary ornamental front load containers for containing trash and/or recyclables include a container for containing the trash and/or recyclables, and an ornamental surround attached with a connector to the front load container. The attached ornamental surround defines right and left front openings aligned with right and left front pocket openings of right and left fork pockets of the container. The ornamental surround obscures from view the front sidewall, the right sidewall having the right fork pocket, the left sidewall having the left fork pocket, the rear sidewall, and the at least one hinged top of the container by an observer standing on the ground. The container and the attached ornamental surround being liftable as a unit by forks of a front loading garbage truck to empty the trash and/or the recyclables from the unitary ornamental front load container.

The specification discloses a waste container including a lower grab bar having a self-adjusting length to accommodate flexure of the container and to ease installation of the grab bar in the container. The grab bar includes an outer tube, a plunger slidably received within the outer tube, and a spring within the tube. The spring biases the plunger outwardly with respect to the tube, so that the grab bar has a compressed position and an uncompressed/expanded position.

An intermediate container is provided for receiving refuse from a primary refuse container that is configured to be carried by a top-loading refuse collection vehicle lifter. The intermediate container comprises a front wall, a rear wall, opposed sidewalls, and a bottom wall defining a total refuse collection volume. An extension assembly that is configured for mounting a primary refuse collection container lifter thereon is located substantially beneath the total refuse collection volume intermediate the front wall and the rear wall, with a portion of the extension assembly being movable between a first, retracted position for storage and for dumping a primary refuse collection container and a second, extended position for engaging and releasing the primary refuse collection container at a location laterally spaced from the intermediate container refuse collection vehicle. Further, the intermediate container is free of fork receivers and includes at least one mounting member for non-destructive removable attachment to the collection vehicle lifter.

A trash collection assembly may include a dumpster housing which may house therein a dumpster to provide a more desirable aesthetic appeal. A garbage truck may be configured to lift the dumpster out of the dumpster housing without the need for the garbage truck driver to get out of the truck. A cover of the dumpster may open and close automatically respectively during the removal of the dumpster from the housing and return of the dumpster to the housing.

A waste container includes a body having a base and a side wall extending upward from the base to define a container interior. A lid is hingeably secured to an upper portion of the side wall. A latch assembly selectively secures the lid to the side wall, the latch assembly including a rotatable latch portion having a latch member selectively interlocking with a hook portion.

A trash collection assembly may include a dumpster housing which may house therein a dumpster to provide a more desirable aesthetic appeal. A garbage truck may be configured to lift the dumpster out of the dumpster housing without the need for the garbage truck driver to get out of the truck. A cover of the dumpster may open and close automatically respectively during the removal of the dumpster from the housing and return of the dumpster to the housing.