Methods and facilities for producing revenue from gypsum-based refuse sites

• US 6,846,131 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gypstack Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mark Topp, Peter J. Ianniello, Tracy R. Johnson
• Inventors: Ianniello, Peter J., Topp, Mark, Johnson, Tracy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MITCHELL, KATHERINE W
• Application Number:
  US10/440,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20030194274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 405/129.95, 405/129.7, 405/128.3, 405/128.55, 428/2, 52/86, 521/697, 264/633
• US Class Current: 405/129.3
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 1/00 Dumping solid waste
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 18/0445 Synthetic gypsum, e.g. phosphogypsum gypsum from smoke purification C04B18/064
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2111/00775 the composition being used as waste barriers or the like, e.g. compositions used for waste disposal purposes only, but not containing the waste itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/20 using renewable energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/30 Landfill technologies aiming to mitigate methane emissions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/91 Use of waste materials as fillers for mortars or concrete
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

The invention pertains to business methods for enabling the creation of positive revenue streams from previously negative assets, and particularly from those facilities formed from gypsum waste, such as gypsum stacks. Waste containment or landfill facilities are formed from the conversion of gypsum refuse waste materials derived from gypsum mining and processing, such as from existing gypsum stacks, or from facilities formed in place from gypsum-based refuse. Such facilities are utilized, rented or leased as waste containment facilities for the short-term, long-term or permanent storage of non-gypsum waste materials such as solid waste, community refuse materials, biomass, industrial waste, phosphate waste, and for composting or otherwise processing materials such as biomass. Advantageously, methods of the invention comprehend also the storage and processing of non-gypsum waste materials within a containment facility according to the invention, and the sale or further use of products derived from that processing.

Claims

1. A method for producing revenue from one or more facilities formed from gypsum refuse, said method comprising the steps of:

A. providing at least one facility suitable for the containment of non-gypsum waste materials, said facility comprising a container having one or more concavities, said container being formed substantially from said gypsum refuse consisting of one or more existing gypsum stacks or a gypsum waste stream as it is forming or enlarging a gypsum stack, and

B. renting, leasing or otherwise deriving revenue from said at least one facility suitable for the containment of said non-gypsum waste materials.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said containment further comprises one or more of the steps of:

C. storing said non-gypsum waste materials, and

D. processing said non-gypsum waste materials.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of

E. charging fees for said storing or said processing.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising, after step C or step D, the step of

F. providing management of the conditions of said processing, and

G. charging fees for said management of said conditions.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said management of the conditions of said processing is such that usable products are produced from said non-gypsum waste materials.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, after steps F or G, the step of H. selling said usable products.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said selling of said usable products is effected by one or more from the group consisting of public auctions, on-line auctions, closed bid auctions, pricing by the seller, agreement reached before transfer or processing of said waste, and processing price schedules.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said conditions of said processing comprise one or more from the group consisting of the identity and quantity of gases produced during said processing, the identity and quantity of chemicals produced during said processing, the mean, area and spot pressures within said facility, temperature, fluid flow, pH of aqueous fluids within said facility, the addition or removal of gases in said facility, the addition or removal of liquids or processed products from said facility, and the addition or removal of microbes to or from said facility in order to aid, effect or direct said processing.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said steps C and D are performed contemporaneously.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said facility is constructed and arranged to store or process one or more types of said non-gypsum-based waste from the group consisting of food production waste, industrial waste, forest waste, medical waste, hazardous waste, municipal waste, aquatic waste, marine waste, sewage, community waste, industrial waste, agricultural waste, animal husbandry waste, and food production waste.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said facility is constructed and arranged to store or process biomass and wherein said biomass comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of sugar, sugar cane, sugar cane waste, community waste, seaweed or other marine waste, municipal waste, fish, fish waste, shellfish, shellfish waste, sewage, aquatic waste, agricultural waste, horticultural waste, animal husbandry waste, food production waste, industrial waste, and forest waste.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of

I. providing for said facility, means for monitoring and controlling the conditions, content, and changes of said non-gypsum waste contained in said facility.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said means for monitoring and controlling includes one or more from the group consisting of cameras, microphones, data collection means, data forwarding means, data analysis means, gas detectors, gas identification sensors, chemical sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, fluid flow sensors, pH sensors, gas sampling means, gas recovery means, microbial sensors and microbial condition sensors.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said non-gypsum-based refuse comprises binders or cementitious additives such as Portland cement or concrete.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of

J. providing for said facility, one or more from the group consisting of pumps, drains, drain matrices, sumps, leachate collection systems, valves, valving means for directing or controlling the flow of fluids or leachate within and from said waste and said facility, permeable covers, impermeable covers, removable covers, permanent covers, microbial reservoirs, partitions, subcontainers and one or more means for monitoring the content, conditions, or changes thereof with respect to said waste contained in said facility.

16. A method for producing revenue from gypsum-based refuse, comprising the steps of:

A. providing a site having gypsum-based refuse thereon or therein, said gypsum refuse consisting of one or more existing gypsum stacks or a gypsum waste stream as it is forming or enlarging a gypsum stack, and

B. providing a facility comprising at least one container suitable for storing or processing wastes, said container having one or more concavities, said at least one container being formed substantially from said gypsum-based refuse and essentially free of other components except for aqueous-based fluids, cementitious additives, and structural reinforcements, and

C. renting, leasing or otherwise deriving revenue from said at least one facility suitable for the containment of said non-gypsum waste materials.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said facility is constructed and arranged to store or process one or more types of waste from the group consisting of food production waste, industrial waste, forest waste, medical waste, hazardous waste, municipal waste, aquatic waste, marine waste, sewage, community waste, industrial waste, agricultural waste, animal husbandry waste, food production waste and biomass,

wherein said biomass comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of sugar, sugar cane, sugar cane waste, community waste, seaweed or other marine waste, municipal waste, fish, fish waste, shellfish, shellfish waste, sewage, aquatic waste, agricultural waste, horticultural waste, animal husbandry waste, food production waste, industrial waste, and forest waste.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said storing and processing further comprises one or more of the steps of:

D. storing said non-gypsum-based waste materials,

E. processing said non-gypsum-based waste materials,

F. charging fees for said storing or said processing,

G. providing management of the conditions of said processing,

H. charging fees for said management of said conditions,

I. providing for said facility, means for monitoring and controlling the conditions, content, and changes of said non-gypsum-based waste contained in said facility,

J. producing usable products from said non-gypsum-based waste, and

K. selling said usable products.

19. A method for producing revenue from one or more containers formed from gypsum-based refuse, wherein said gypsum-based refuse consists of one or more existing gypsum stacks or a gypsum waste stream as it is forming or enlarging a gypsum stack, said method comprising the steps of:

A. providing a site suitable for having said gypsum-based refuse thereon or therein,

B. placing said gypsum-based refuse in or on said site,

C. forming said gypsum-based refuse into at least one container suitable for storing or processing non-gypsum based waste materials, wherein said gypsum-based refuse is free of other components except for aqueous-based fluids, cementitious additives, and structural reinforcements, and

D. renting, leasing or otherwise deriving revenue from said at least one container suitable for the containment of said non-gypsum waste materials.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said facility is constructed and arranged to store or process one or more types of waste from the group consisting of food production waste, industrial waste, forest waste, medical waste, hazardous waste, municipal waste, aquatic waste, marine waste, sewage, community waste, industrial waste, agricultural waste, animal husbandry waste, food production waste and biomass,

wherein said biomass comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of sugar, sugar cane, sugar cane waste, community waste, seaweed or other marine waste, municipal waste, fish, fish waste, shellfish, shellfish waste, sewage, aquatic waste, agricultural waste, horticultural waste, animal husbandry waste, food production waste, industrial waste, and forest waste.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said containment further comprises one or more of the steps of:

E. storing said non-gypsum-based waste materials,

F. processing said non-gypsum-based waste materials,

G. charging fees for said storing or said processing,

H. providing management of the conditions of said processing,

I. charging fees for said management of said conditions,

J. providing for said facility, means for monitoring and controlling the conditions, content, and changes of said non-gypsum-based waste contained in said facility,

K. producing usable products from said non-gypsum-based waste, and

L. selling said usable products.