A method for a municipality to control, track, and monitor waste or refuse receptacles requires a permit for use of a waste receptacle. An issuing organization issues a permit associated with a discreet receptacle identifier. An RFID tag is provided with the permit and attached to a discreet receptacle. The RFID tag transmits a signal carrying data associated with the discreet receptacle identifier. The signal may be read by a portable reader carried by municipal personnel to record violations of municipal code associated with the use of the discreet receptacle.

A container assembly includes a container body having a side wall extending upward from a base to define a mouth. A lid is pivotably secured to the container body and is pivotable between an open position and a closed position over the mouth of the container body. A collar is secured to an upper edge of the side wall of the container body. The collar reinforces the mouth of the container to prevent deformation thereof, such as by bears, and access between the lid and mouth of the container.

An automatic, roll-top waste container with a spring-activated lid includes a receptacle, a flexible lid, a sleeve, a retraction mechanism, and a locking mechanism. The receptacle has curved corners that prevent a trash bag from tearing while being loaded and unloaded. The flexible lid is slidably engaged over an opening of the receptacle. In the open position, the retraction mechanism retracts the flexible lid into the sleeve for storage and safe-keeping. To close the receptacle, a user must manually pull the flexible lid out of the sleeve and engage the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is operatively coupled onto a front wall of the receptacle. In the engaged position, the locking mechanism prevents the flexible lid from retracting into the sleeve. The user can disengage the locking mechanism to allow the flexible lid to retract back into the sleeve.

A waste container that is configured to be expandable and collapsible so as to provide at least two alternate interior volume capacities. The waste container includes a body having a base member wherein the base member is configured with opposing wheels and a recess for an axle. The body further includes two first ring members and a second ring member wherein the second ring member is intermediate the two first ring members. The second ring member has a diameter that is slightly larger than the first ring members. The two first ring members and a second ring member are configured to be slidably and frictionally engaged so as to provide a first and second position of the waste container. The body further includes a top assembly that is operably coupled to the first ring member above the second ring member. A lid is releasably secure to the top assembly.

A trashcan system includes a body forming an interior cavity; a lid engaged with the body to enclose the interior cavity; a control system secured to the body and having a speaker; the control system is to wirelessly communicate with a smart device; the control system activates playing of audio from the smart device through the speaker when the smart device is within a predetermined distance from the control system.

A security bin formed from a commercially available rectangular plastic bin having removable lids that are secured to the bin to prevent unauthorized access to the items placed therein. The lids are locked with a tamperproof flap and latching hook to prevent access to the bin contents. Plexiglass windows allow viewing of materials placed within the bin. Spring pins allow ease of lid movement for access to the bin contents, or allow removal of the windows to allow stacking for storage and shipping. An optional scanner can be mounted to one of the lids for recording and tracking of storage media placed within the bin.

A hub or wheel assembly includes a retaining element, biasing element, and hand-maneuverable release mechanism. The housing includes an axle bore configured to receive an axle and a pin sleeve including a first end in fluid communication with the axle bore, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end. The retaining element is within the conduit and is configured to operatively engage a groove in an axle. The biasing element is within the conduit and is configured to bias the retaining element towards the axle bore. The hand-maneuverable release mechanism is configured to displace the retaining element away from the axle bore.

A refuse container having an indicator assembly for informing a waste generator of contamination in a waste stream. A refuse container includes a container body comprising a receptacle portion and a lid coupled with the receptacle portion. The receptacle portion includes a plurality of walls that together define an enclosed space for containing refuse. An indicator device is coupled with the container body. The indicator device is movable relative to the container body between a first position and a second position. First indicia is provided on one of the indicator device or the container body. When the indicator device is in the first position, the first indicia are visible from the exterior of the refuse container, and when the indicator device is in the second position, the first indicia are not visible from the exterior of the refuse container.

A centralized hub system for improving automatic waste transport and collection using a self-driving robot, which allows for self-driving and efficient collection of waste in densely populated areas, such as apartment complexes and residential neighborhoods, and areas with a floating population by using robots with built-in artificial intelligence software and hardware and self-driving waste collection and driving functions and an integrated management server for monitoring these robots, and which helps to put information together in this process and use it as base data for the efficient operation of future waste policies and the corresponding systems. The centralized hub system for improving automatic waste transport and collection using a self-driving robot comprises self-driving inlet robots, an integrated management server, and a self-driving vehicle robot.

A container assembly for collecting and/or storing refuse, the assembly comprising a container body and a lid, wherein the container body comprises a wall section and a lower base section defining a container body interior, the container body having an open top end, the lid is configured to enclose the body open end, the lid comprises an opening configured for insertion of matter into the container body, the lid opening accounts for a portion of a total surface area of the lid and the opening, and the lid comprises a door configured to open and close the lid opening.