Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02168322 2000-11-16
BACKUROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention: The present invention relates generally to an
article of manufacture for use in recycling of waste materials, and, more
particularly,
to a recyclable article in the form of newsprint in a storage container
suitable for
baling and a method for recycling such bales, the bales consisting essentially
of
newsprint and storage containers therefor, wherein the storage containers are
formed
of material compatible for recycling with the newsprint.
2. Description of the lPrior Art: Waste products at the level of an individual
household or small commercial establishment are supplied for recycling
typically by
1 o separating and collecting the waste products in diverse containers
according to
categories of products, e.g., glass, plastic, metal, paper, etc., and then
delivering the
individual containers to appropriate ones of diverse waste recycling
facilities for
processing. Some recycling programs provide that the waste products at the
source
of origin are collected as a recycling unit and later separated to form
individual classes
~ 5 of recycling materials. Metals, plastics and glass can be successfully
handled in this
manner but waste newsprint becomes highly contaminated.
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CA 02168322 2000-11-16
Such methods have either required the individual to personally transport the
packaged waste products to designated collection centers) or the waste
products
were left "curb-side" where they were collected by a collection authority.
Examples
of containers for newsprint are found in 1J.S. Patent Nos. 1,557,881, issued
October
20, 1925; 2,971,643, issued February 14, 1961; 3,780,854, issued December 25,
1973; and 4,229,493, issued October 21, 1980, Baled products predominately
comprised of waste newsprint are disclosed in U.S, Patent Nos. 1,846,585,
issued
February 23, 1932; 3,762,454 issued October 2, 1973; and 4,059,222, issued
November 22, 1977.
1 o Aside from the obvious inconveniences and disadvantages of spent
transportation time and expense, major disadvantages arise if the individual
is required
to personally transport the waste products to the designated collection
centers. First,
if the waste storage containers are not supplied in some routine manner, e.g.,
by a
recycling authority to the individual at little or no cost, then obtaining and
maintaining
a supply of appropriate waste storage containers, whether they be reusable or
not,
requires a cost outlay by the individual then participation by individuals is
likely to be
reduced. And, if the storage containers are reusable, whether purchased or not
by the
individual, they require an inventory and thereby occupy valuable storage
space in the
individual's household or place of business.
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CA 02168322 2000-11-16
Another serious concern, regardless of whether the waste is transported to the
waste recycling center by individuals or a collection authority, is the
disposal of the
waste storage containers at the waste recycling center. That is to say, if the
container
and waste are incompatible for recycling together, e.g., waste paper packaged
in
plastic bags, then the waste paper must be removed from the multitude of
plastic bags
prior to recycling at a paper mill. The dissimilar material comprised of the
plastic
bags is an unacceptable foreign contaminant detrimentally affecting the
compositional
integrity of the final recycled 'waste produce. Consequently, the accumulation
of
discarded waste storage containers generates a secondary waste disposal
problem
1o requiring additional expenditures of resources in order to separately
dispose of the
waste storage containers.
To fully understand the newsprint recycling process of the present invention
the paper making process and materials by which the newsprint was obtained
will give
information about the waste newsprint. Wood fibers used in papermaking are
derived
from hardwoods and softwoods. Softwoods have longer fibers contributing
strength
in the paper but the fibers can make the paper rough or coarse and, therefore,
hardwood fibers are used as a filler to make the paper smoother and suitable
for
printing. Most newsprint is made from a blend of both types of wood fibers to
achieve the desired final properties. In the papermaking process, the wood
fibers are
2o joined together by hydrogen boards. The bonding process is achieved by the
polarity
of water and pressure of the hydroxyl groups on the wood fibers. To recycle
the
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CA 02168322 2000-11-16
newsprint, a repulping process similar to the original pulping process is
undertaken.
The repulping process includes separating the newsprint into individual
fibers.
Complicating factors to the repulping process include coatings on the
newspaper;
chemical treatments to the paper; and the presence of preventing ink. The
fibers must
be separated before deinking. Deinking is accomplished by using well known
procedures as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 2,916,412, issued
December
8, 1959 and U.S. Patent No. 3,932,206, issued January 13, 1976. Because the
act of
papermaking caused the fibers to bond together, in order to use the fibers
from
wastepaper, these bonds must be broken to separate the fibers once again. It
is
1o practically impossible to break the fibers apart without damaging them
somewhat. All
of these factors conspire to make paper produced from recycled fiber different
from
paper made from virgin fiber. The difference is importantly a much lower
potential
for strength.
Recycled fibers are used with virgin fiber in quantities based on the required
strength and purity. However, recycled wood fibers are lower in strength than
if the
same blend of fibers was obtained as unused pulp. While it is possible to
clean and
bleach recycled fibers to produce high-quality paper, the cost for the
cleaning and
bleaching offsets the savings from the use of lower cost wastepaper as a raw
material.
The recycled fiber is obtained primarily from newspapers and corrugated
containers
2o and usage for combination boxboard and other products where cleaning is not
needed. Combination boxboard is used for cereal cartons or other boxes made
from
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CA 02168322 2000-11-16
board that has a gray layer in the center and sometimes sandwiched between
layers of
white pulp.
The present invention seeks to produce recycled newsprint using waste
newsprint as a major source of useful wood fibers without degrading as to
color
quality and strength. Virgin wood fiber for newsprint is commonly obtained by
mechanical methods particularly ground wood pulp process for liberating wood
fibers. As a result, the newsprint has a slightly yellow appearance of fair to
low
strength. These processes are used primarily on softwoods to maximize the
strength
of the pulp because of a long wood fiber.
1o Ground wood is used for newsprint without bleaching. Bleaching is
associated with pulping but reduces the yield of the pulping operations.
Bleaching
can also be a purification operation since the chemicals react to remove
colored
materials, e.g., natural glues in the wood and from the fibers. Bleaching has
little
effect on the strength of the resultant paper unless the pulp is bleached
extensively or
to very high brightness. The major reason for bleaching is its effect on the
whiteness
or brightness of the paper.
Due to the immense quantity of newsprint which is generated, consumed and
discarded on a daily basis, the ever increasing cost of landfill disposal and
the severe
depleting effect such activity has on commercial forest resources and waste
landfill
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CA 02168322 2000-11-16
sites, an urgent need has arisen for ways and means for efficient recycling of
newsprint involving the cooperative efforts of the individual and the
recycling
industry.
During the rigors of recycling a quantity of newsprint at a paper mill,
because
s of the very nature of the material, a portion of sub-standard paper fibers
is normally
generated which must be extracted after repulping. As a result, replenishment
of a
generally equal portion of compatible higher quality paper fibers is required
in order
to maintain the recycled newsprint within predetermined commercially
acceptable
quality or tolerance standards. At present, assurance of the replenishment of
the
1o appropriate portion of compatible higher quality paper fibers entails
essentially
continuous performance of labor intensive testing and quality control measures
at the
paper mill. The chemistry of the waste newsprint varies with origin of the
newsprint.
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CA 02168322 2000-11-16
Hence, a need exists for a "self regulating" newsprint recycling process which
greatly
reduces or, preferably, eliminates labor intensive testing and quality control
measures
in order to identify corrective measures including replenishment of an
appropriate
quantity of higher quality paper fibers into the recycling process. Widely
varying
differences to the chemical and fiber composition need to be reduced, which is
possible by integrating in the waste newsprint a normalizing factor so that a
consistent
chemical and source of strength enhancing wood fibers exists to replenish
substandard
wood fiber that must be discarded during the recycling.
w v 2i~~322
A general advantage exists, therefore, for a system of
waste material recycling involving the formation of bales of
recyclable waste consisting essentially of recyclable waste
material and waste storage containers therefor, wherein the waste
storage containers are filled by the individual consumer with the
recyclable waste material prior to the formation of the bales and
are formed of material that is compatible for recycling with the
waste material, such that the containers and their contents form
unitary disposable packages of recyclable waste.
A more particular advantage exists for an efficiently
recyclable baled article consisting essentially of waste
newsprint and containers therefor, the containers being formed of
a material which is compatible for recycling with newsprint.
A further advantage exists for waste storage containers
which are preferably obtained conveniently obtained
simultaneously with, and as part of, the goods which ultimately
become the recyclable waste material stored in the containers.
A more particular advantage exists for a waste storage
container which is formed of material compatible for recycling
with newsprint and conveniently included as a component of a
newspaper.
A still further advantage exists for a "self-
regulating" newsprint recycling process which assures
replenishment of a quantity of sub-standard paper fibers
8
21 E~832Z
extracted during recycling with an appropriate quantity of
compatible higher quality paper fibers.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a system for waste material recycling involving the
formation of bales of recyclable waste consisting essentially of
recyclable waste material and waste storage containers therefor,
wherein the waste storage containers are filled by the individual
consumer with the recyclable waste material prior to the
formation of the bales and are formed of materials that are
compatible for recycling with the waste material.
It is a more particular object of the present invention
to provide an efficiently recyclable baled article consisting
essentially of waste newsprint and containers therefor, the
containers being formed of material which is compatible for
recycling with newsprint.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide articles or containers which are conveniently obtained
simultaneously with, and as part of, the goods which ultimately
become the recyclable waste material stored in the containers.
It is a more particular object of the present invention
to provide a waste storage container which is formed of material
compatible for recycling with newsprint and conveniently included
as a component of a newspaper.
9
v ~ 216~~22
It is a still further object of the present invention
to provide a "self-regulating" recycling process for newsprint
which assures replenishment of a quantity of sub-standard paper
fibers extracted during recycling with an appropriate quantity of
compatible higher quality paper fibers.
Still other objects and advantages of the present
invention will become obvious in light of the attached drawings
and written description of the invention presented herebelow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a system of waste
material recycling involving the formation of bales of recyclable
waste, the bales consisting essentially of recyclable waste
material and waste storage containers therefor, wherein the waste
storage containers are filled by the individual consumer with the
recyclable waste material prior to the formation of the bales and
wherein the container is comprised of a material that is
compatible for recycling with the waste material bleached paper
primarily long grain soft wood fibers in quantities such that
during recycling with the waste newsprint, the fibers replenish
sub-standard paper fibers extracted and lost during recycling of
waste newsprint. The waste storage containers are preferably
obtained simultaneously with, and as a component of, the goods
which ultimately become the recyclable waste material stored in
the container. In the preferred embodiment, the waste storage
.~ 2 i 68322
container comprises a compactly packaged storage container which
is compatible for recycling with newsprint and obtained
simultaneously with, and as part of, a single edition of a
newspaper, or the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a waste
material recycling system arranged in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention:
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred form of
recyclable consumer goods which find particularly beneficial
application to the recycling system of the present invention, the
consumer goods including as a part thereof a recyclable waste
storage container for the consumer goods formed of a material
compatible for recycling with the consumer goods
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the recyclable waste storage
container of Fig. 2 in fully opened condition and containing
therein a quality of waste material in the form of a
predetermined supply of the used recyclable consumer goods of
Fig. 2:
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the filled recyclable
waste storage container according to the present invention as
taken in the direction of arrows IV-IV of Fig. 3:
11
2168322
Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the filled
recyclable waste storage container of Fig. 3 in a closed
condition: and
Fig. 6 is a baled article of recyclable material formed
in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning to Fig. 1, in which there is depicted a
schematic representation of a waste material recycling system
arranged in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention, it is seen that the system essentially begins
and ends with discrete quantities of recyclable consumer goods,
preferably in the form of individual newspapers, herein
designated by the numeral 10. In this and the remaining figures
to be described hereinbelow, the consumer goods 10 are disclosed
as taking the form of newsprint since conventional and relatively
low quality newsprint paper finds particularly beneficial and
practical application to the recycling system of the present
invention. That is to say, the unique difficulties and
peculiarities encountered in the recycling of newsprint are well
tended by the integrated recycling system described herein.
The initiation of the recycling system begins with the
purchase of a newspaper 10 by a consumer. Preferably, as a
convenience to the consumer, the newspaper 10 includes as a
component thereof a recyclable storage container, a specific
12
CA 02168322 2000-11-16
Example of which is described hereinbelow, formed of material which is
compatible
for recycling with the newspaper 10. As an alternative arrangement, however,
it is
also contemplated that the storage container may be purchased or otherwise
obtained,
as by free public delivery, for example, as a component which is separate from
the
newspaper. Once read or otherwise used, the newspaper 10 then becomes waste
material which is placed in the waste storage container in order to create a
unitary
waste package 12 formed essentially entirely of materials which are compatible
for
recycling with one another. As is customary, the waste package 12 is either
left curb-
side for collection by an appropriate collection authority or is delivered
directly by the
to consumer to a designated collection center. If the collection center is not
also a
recycling facility, then the collected packages of waste material are
delivered by
suitable means, i.e., truck, train, barge, or the like, to the appropriate
recycling facility
14 which typically includes at least one compactor/ baler 16 and may further
include
at least one waste conditioner 18.
The bales 20 are formed by the compaction and baling of many individual ones
of the waste packages 12 such that a given bale generally weighs on the order
of 1300
to 1500 lbs. (Minimum weight approximately 1000 lbs.) And typically have
dimensions on the order of 2J" x 40 x 60" when compressed in the
compactor/baler
16 compression chamber and roughly 30" x 4fi" -
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v 2168322
48" x 60" when removed therefrom. It will be understood,
however, that the sizes and weights of the bales 20 will vary
according to the capacities of differing compactor/balers and the
specifications dictated by the means of transportation selected
to transport the bales 20 to a suitable processing facility to be
described hereinbelow.
Within the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, that is, the recycling of newsprint, the waste
conditioner may take the form of fluffier device 18 if the waste
newsprint units or packages 12 are of such density that they
preclude efficient compacting or baling with one another by the
compactor/baler 16 and/or they overload the compaction or waste
shearing systems of the compactor/baler. A typical configuration
for the fluffier device 18 is a rotatable arbor having a
plurality of radially projecting beater-like members sometimes
lengths of chains attached to its periphery. Upon passage of the
waste packages through fluffier device 18, they become thrashed
by the beater members so as to be increased in volume and
decreased in density. Hence, the reduced density packages pose
less resistance to the compaction and/or shearing mechanisms of
the compactor/baler 16.
A suitable fluffier device of the aforementioned type
is manufactured by the Harris Press and Shear, Inc. of Cordele,
GA and may comprise an attachment to the compactor/baler 16. A
14
.~ 2 i 68322
suitable compactor/baler for the present invention is also
manufactured by Harris Press and Shear, Inc. Thus the essential
component of the recycling facility 14 is the compactor/baler 16
with the waste conditioner(s), e.g., fluffier device 18, being
optional. Aside from taking the form of a single fluffier device
18, the waste conditioners) may comprise an assortment of
devices including chemical treaters, heat treaters, cleaners,
decontaminators, etc., operable to function either individually
with compactor/baler 18 or in various combinations therewith.
The situation in which the waste packages 12 do not
require fluffing or other preliminary conditioning and hence pass
directly from a delivery truck, for example, to compactor/baler
16 is indicated by the arrow 22 depicted in Fig. 1.
From the recycling facility 14, the bales of recyclable
material 20 are then transported through a suitable
transportation network 24 to a processing facility in the form of
a paper mill, herein designated by the numeral 26, whereat the
bales 20 are processed into rolls of newsprint. Due to economic
factors influenced by the great bulk and weight considerations
attendant to the transport of large numbers of bales 20 to the
paper mill 26 at a steady rate, the transportation network 24
most preferably used in accordance with the present invention
comprises sea and/or rail shipping. However, although not
preferred for reasons of cost inefficiency, the bales 20 could be
2168322
shipped to the paper mill 26 by truck if desired or if it is the
only means of high-volume transportation available between the
recycling facility 14 and paper mill 26.
A typical grade or material composition of paper which
may be supplied by the recycling facility 14 to the paper mill
may be defined as follows:
A fiber supply containing 65% to 75% #6 News (PS-86),
which shall be baled newspapers containing less than 5% of other
papers; the prohibitive materials in the supply may not exceed
1/2 of 1%, and total out-throws may not exceed 2%; the remaining
25% to 35% of the supply in each load will be magazine stock
containing less than 5% of other papers, less than 1/2 of 1% of
prohibitive materials and less than 2% of total out-throws; the
#6 News and magazine stock portions may be inter-mixed within
each bale 20 or within each load; the breakdown of percentages,
i.e., 65% to 75% #6 News and 25% to 35% magazine stock, must be
maintained within each separate shipment to ensure that the
proper mix of fibers can be processed at the mill 26 on a
consistent, daily basis (all percentages expressed representing
weight percentages).
One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the
aforementioned composition definition will vary somewhat
according to the requirements of the individual paper mill;
however, the essential point to be emphasized is that the bales
16
CA 02168322 2000-11-16
20 in all cases consist essentially of a majority portion of newsprint and a
balance
portion of paper material readily compatible with newsprint, in this case
storage
containers perferably formed at least in part of bleached white soft wood
fiber paper
stack and can take the form of bleach draft clay coated for presenting a high
quality
surface suitable for quality printing of advertisement to affect the bag and
recycling
costs as well as instruction information inductive of obtaining consumer
participation
in a recycling program at hand. Bleached white clay coated kraft has fiber
content
compatible with newsprint paper and is easily, efficiently and readily
compatible for
recycling therewith and useful to supply long soft wood fiber to replenish the
quantity
to of sub-standard paper fibers which are extracted from the newsprint pulp
during
processing at the paper mill 26. The storage containers will form a quantity
of higher
quality paper fibers in order to materially contribute to the maintenance of
the
recycled newsprint within predetermined quality or tolerance standards. As
will be
discussed hereinbelow, the material composition of the storage containers
serves to
15 impart a "self regulating" effect on the quantity of higher quality long
fibers which are
replenished during processing of the paper at the paper mill 26.
After transportation from the paper mill 26 by suitable means, the recycled
newsprint arrives at a newspaper publishing facility 28 whereat the newsprint
is
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CA 02168322 2000-11-16
printed into newspapers which are delivered into the marketplace 30, e.g.,
individual
homes, businesses newspaper dispensing machines, newsstands, and the like. In
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, for the
purpose
of convenience to the consumer and assurance of distribution, the individual
newspapers 10, prior to reaching the marketplace 30, possess as a component
thereof
a waste storage container 32 formed of material which is compatible for
recycling
with the remainder of the newsprint forming the newspaper 10. The storage
container
is thus most preferably added to the contents of the newspaper at the
publishing
facility 28, as indicated by arrow 34 in Fig. 1. However, although preferred,
it is not
i o a requirement that the storage container 32 be a component of the
individual
newspaper 10. For example, storage container 32 may be purchased or otherwise
obtained, perhaps by free delivery from a designated recycling authority, at a
time
and/or location separate from the moment of obtaining the newspaper 10, as is
indicated by dashed-line arrow 36 depicted in Fig. 1.
An example of a preferred form of consumer goods package which is
particularly well-suited for the recycling system according to the present
invention is
depicted in Figs. 2-5. With particular rei:erence to Fig. 2, there is clearly
seen the
consumer goods package initially obtained by the consumer.
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216$322
The consumer goods package most fundamentally includes a quantity
of newsprint in the form of the aforementioned newspaper 10 which
is typically comprised of one or more individual sections 38.
The newspaper 10 in Fig. 2, for purposes of clarity in
description, is shown unfolded and face down, i.e., with its
front page at the bottom, not shown, and with its back page 40 on
top.
Positioned on the top of the back page 40 of newspaper
is a waste storage container 32 formed either of newsprint
10 paper or other material composition compatible with newsprint
paper for efficient recycling/processing therewith.
Formed as such, the waste storage container 32,
depicted herein as a bag-like container, may be laid flat on top
of the back page 40 and folded along the newspaper fold line 44
so as to be included as an enclosure of the newspaper 10, hence
forming a component of the consumer goods package. As should be
appreciated, container 32 may also be folded to a much more
compact configuration than that illustrated, if desired.
Furthermore, although illustrated as a bag-like container, it is
contemplated that waste storage container 32 may assume other
suitable configurations such as, for example, a sheet of wrapping
material having mating tabs and slots for maintaining the
structural integrity of the container 32 when wrapped about a
19
~~ 6a3~2
quantity of waste material, thereby positively retaining the
waste material therewithin.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention, i.e., the article of manufacture for use in
recycling of newsprint, aside from the criticality of the
composition of the material which is employed as the waste
storage container 32, for purposes of practicality, the
dimensions of the container 32 also assume particular
significance. That is to say, although container 32 may be of a
size which, when opened, can essentially receive and contain only
the newspaper 10 with which it initially formed a package of
consumer goods, it is preferred that container 32 be of a
capacity suitable to accommodate a plurality or several editions
of newspapers and, most preferably, at least a complete one-week
supply of newspapers 10
With reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the
length Lg and width Wg of the goods (unfolded newspaper 10) are
preferably greater than the length Lc and width Wc, respectively,
of the waste storage container or bag 32 in order that newspaper
10 and bag 32, when folded, present an aesthetically pleasing
package of consumer goods. Bag 32 most preferably has an open
top 46 and a closed bottom 48, with the bottom 48 being closed by
an adhesive or preferably mechanical fastening members, which, if
not wholly compatible for recycling with newspaper l0 and bag 32,
216822
is of a material or composition which represents either an
insignificant and acceptable quantity of contaminant or an easily
removable constituent of the newsprint recycling process.
Fig. 3 clearly illustrates that Lg/2, or the length of
the newspaper 10 and/or other newspapers l0A through 10F in
normally folded condition, is determinant of the preferred
minimum acceptable width We of the storage container or bag 32.
That is to say, We should generally be slightly greater than Lg/2
in order to most compactly store the folded used newspaper 10
and, if necessary, other folded editions of newspaper l0A-10F.
With particular attention being paid to Fig. 3, that newspaper 10
in folded condition is significantly thicker than each of
newspapers 10A through 10F in similar folded condition. This
particular detail is provided to indicate that newspaper 10 most
preferably represents the most voluminous edition of a daily
newspaper, which, in most areas, is the Sunday edition. Numerals
l0A through 10F, therefore, as should now be apparent, represent
the Monday through Saturday editions. It should also be
appreciated that the waste storage container 32 is not limited to
being a component of a single and specific edition of a daily
newspaper, but may be a component of one or more of any editions
thereof.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the maximum depth Dc of
21
21b8322
container or bag 32 in a fully opened condition suitable for
accommodating the aforementioned one-week supply of folded
newspapers 10 and 10A-10F. The preferred dimension for Dc is
ideally only slightly greater than the maximum "worst case"
thickness of a one-week supply, i.e., Sunday through Saturday
inclusive, of folded editions of a daily newspaper. The "worst
case" thickness is preferably initially determined through
historical analysis of the thickness of a plurality of previously
published one-week packets of editions of the newspaper and, if
necessary, periodically adjusted responsive to ongoing analysis
of the thicknesses of subsequently published one-week packets of
the newspaper. As noted hereinabove, however, Dc maybe of a
dimension sufficient to accommodate as little as a single daily
edition or even more than a one-week supply of editions, although
capacity for a one-week supply is preferred.
Turning to Fig. 5, again in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, upon filling of
the bag 32 with the one-week supply of newsprint, the top of the
bag is folded in such manner as to envelop the supply of
newsprint therewithin in order to create a unitary waste package
12 formed essentially entirely of materials compatible for
recycling with one another.
Furthermore, during compaction at a recycling facility
14 having high-powered baling and shearing mechanisms, i.e., one
22
2168322
J
requiring no fluffier device 18, the containers 32 restrain their
contents in an organized fashion whereby the waste packages 12
act as unitary components in a mass which permits compaction to
greater density than can be achieved by baling unrestrained and
randomly oriented waste materials.
Turning to Fig. 6, there is shown a bale 20 formed in
accordance with the present invention consisting essentially of
newsprint, e.g., newspapers 10 and 10A-10F, and storage
containers 32 therefor. As is customary, bale 20 is bound in the
compactor/baler 16 by suitable binding means 50 such as wire,
straps, cord, rope, cable, or the like.
The producers of consumer goods 22 will find that
additional expenses incurred by the inclusion of recyclable waste
storage containers 32 into the consumer goods packages 10 which
they produce can at least be partially, if not wholly, defrayed
by using the exterior surfaces of the recyclable waste storage
containers 32 as paid advertising for other consumer goods and
services or free advertising for their own consumer goods. For
example, a newspaper publisher might use the exterior surfaces of
the waste storage containers 32 as paid advertising space for
goods and services or as space for conveying public service
messages from the publisher, e.g., messages to the effect that
the publisher is a concerned supporter of community help
programs, particularly the need for recycling, among others. It
23
CA 02168322 2000-11-16
Is also preferred that the storage container 32 be printed with use
instructions on its
exterior which may indicate, inter alia, the kinds of materials which are
acceptable
and/or unacceptable for insertion thereinto for recycling purposes.
Moreover, in the preferred application of the recycling system of the present
invention, i.e., the recycling of newsprint, the waste storage containers 32
not only
serve as convenient disposable storage means which are compatible for
recycling with
the newsprint, but they may also serve, as noted previously, as important
control
elements for "self regulating" the recycling process by assuring the addition
of a
supply of higher quality paper fibers which are essential for replenishing sub-
standard
to paper fibers which are lost during recycling. That is to say, a
predetermined quantity
of higher quality fibers must be added during recycling of the newsprint and
these
fibers can conveniently be added by forming the composition of the waste
storage
containers with a predetermined and desired quantity of magazine paper stock.
As illustration, in large cities wherein many pounds of newsprint may be
15 generated in the publication of a one-week supply of editions, or even a
single edition,
of a daily newspaper, the waste storage container 32 may be formed virtually
entirely
of higher quality and rugged magazine grade paper fibers in order to assist in
the
supply of the required higher quality
-24-
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r
fiber replenishment in the recycling process, and also to provide
the strength necessary to contain the newsprint until the package
12 reaches the recycling facility. Conversely, in smaller cities
and towns wherein only a few pounds of newsprint are typically
generated in the publication of even a one-week supply of
editions of a daily newspaper, the waste storage containers 32
may be suitably formed of a material mixture containing somewhat
less low-grade paper fibers and somewhat more newsprint-grade
paper fibers than the waste storage containers used in large
cities, since, due to the generation of less newsprint in a given
time period, less higher quality fibers are required for
replenishment of sub-standard fibers lost during recycling and
less strength is required for containing the reduced quantity of
newsprint.
While the present invention has been described in
connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures,
it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used
or modifications and additions may be made to the described
embodiment for performing the same function of the present
invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the present
invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but
rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the
recitation of the appended claims.
