Methods and facilities for a municipal solid waste management system

• US 8,560,459 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2005
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Casella Waste Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Casella Waste Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Bohlig, James W., Calabrese, Paula
• Primary Examiner(s): KELLEY, HEIDI RIVIERE
• Application Number:
  US11/282,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20070112577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,889 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/1.1, 705/308, 405/129.95
• US Class Current: 705/308
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

The present invention includes a system and method for creating a municipal solid waste (MSW) system to address the multiple types of waste that are disposed by the public, and further, to provide a waste management solution that provides for the sustained economic development and growth of communities. The present invention also provides effective screening and separation of hazardous components in the waste stream, and further provides recovery and reuse solutions as alternatives to disposal of hazardous waste. The present invention further provides communities with a system and method to more effectively capture and use disposed MSW and other waste streams to provide renewable energy sources. Moreover, the present invention includes a method for establishing a municipal solid waste management system that makes sustainable development possible while preserving the economic interests of the parties involved.

Claims

1. A municipal solid waste management system comprising:

a plurality of landfill elements that are selected in response to at least one source input and adapted to generate at least one value output, the plurality of landfill elements located near a landfill mass, which includes municipal solid waste products, wherein the at least one value output includes community objectives;

a plurality of landfill liners with a channel for directing the flow and volume of leachate to selected portions of the landfill mass such that the leachate is directed from the surface of the landfill mass to an interior segment of the landfill mass, wherein the leachate has been produced naturally or artificially;

a combination of recirculation system and at least one of natural or artificial means for increasing the rate of decomposition of the landfill mass producing a greater volume of gaseous byproducts;

gas removal means for removing the gaseous byproducts of the landfill mass;

an energy conversion system for converting the gas removed by the gas removal means into reusable energy, wherein the at least one source input is added in accordance with a decrease of the overall volume of the landfill mass by at least one of the gas removal system and the leachate; and

an energy distribution system for storing and distributing the reusable energy to the landfill elements.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy distribution means further includes means for distributing the reusable energy to the municipality.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the gas removal means includes means for at least a vacuum for removing the gas from the landfill mass.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the gas removed by the gas removal means is methane gas.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one source input includes at least one of municipal solid waste, construction and demolition waste, green waste, electronic waste, liquid waste and recyclables.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one value output includes at least one of electricity and gas, thermal energy, recyclable pump, created products and reusable products.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the landfill elements include a municipal recycling facility, a renewable energy facility, a composting facility, a glass beneficiating facility, an electronics recycling facility, a wood cleaning facility, a recycling education center and a research facility.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the gas removal means and the energy conversion means cooperate so as to provide zero-emissions production of energy.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein water is added to the leachate to further increase the decomposition rate of the landfill mass.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the recirculation system produces consistent and accelerated decomposition of the landfill mass.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the recirculation system recirculates leachate throughout the landfill mass.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the recirculation system creates a steady volume of gas from the landfill mass.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the municipal solid waste system reduces emissions produced by the plurality of landfill elements and the predetermined class of source inputs.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy conversion system comprises storage and combustion means for directing the gaseous byproducts removed by the gas removal means.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for reducing emissions produced by the at least one source input and the plurality of landfill elements.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the interior segment is a denser segment of the landfill mass.

17. The system of claim 2, wherein a portion of the reusable energy is returned to the landfill elements after at least a portion is distributed to the municipality.