The invention relates to a waste container system according to the pre- characterising clause of Claim 1 and to a method for the collection of waste according to the precharacterising clause of Claim 13.

Systems, containers and collection methods of this type are known in practice. However, the amount of waste is continually increasing. In view both of the importance of a healthy environment and of the rising costs of waste treatment, it is found necessary to make private individuals and companies - hereinafter referred to as waste producers - aware of this problem and to stimulate a change in behaviour resulting in a decrease in the amount of waste produced and allocation of the costs to the waste pro¬ ducer, which is regarded as more justified.

An important tool in these efforts is tariff differentiation on the basis of the amount of waste produced. A common implementation of a regula¬ tion of this type is that the amount paid by the waste producer increases in accordance with the volume of the waste container made available to that producer.

However, this system is not having the intended stimulating effect on many waste producers; for instance, they fail to realise that they would be able to manage with a (very much) smaller container size and so make a contribution to a healthy environment and to do so at lower cost.

The aim of the invention is to provide a solution by means of which waste producers are able to determine in a simple and reliable manner what size waste container and associated tariff group are most suitable for them.

This aim is achieved according to the present invention by designing a waste container system of the type described above in accordance with the characterising clause of Claim 1. By means of the type of volume marking provided, the waste producer obtains a clear indication, every time he or she fills the waste container, as to whether when filling the waste con¬ tainer of a larger type he or she has collected a volume of waste, as the time when said larger type container will be emptied approaches, which corresponds to the interior volume of the waste container of a smaller type. If this is regularly the case, the waste producer can with an easy mind exchange the waste container of a larger type for a waste container of a smaller type, which results in an appreciable saving in respect of the waste levy to be paid.

2

The indicator function of the system for subdivision according to volume markings which has been discussed above serves as a guide for the required container volume and can also be achieved by performing a method as indi¬ cated above in accordance with the characterising clause of Claim 13 or 14.

By constructing waste containers in accordance with Claim 8, the number of changes of container between larger and smaller waste containers is restricted to changes in the interior volume of the waste container itself. With convertible waste containers of this type, if the individual waste producer wishes to change from a said larger type to a smaller type of waste container, for which the tariff is less expensive for the producer, the waste container does not have to be replaced, but the total interior volume of the larger waste container is split by means of a reduction faci¬ lity into a convertible subdivision, an effective interior volume acces- sible from the outside and a closed-off ineffective interior volume inac¬ cessible from the outside being produced by means of a boundary. A raised false floor produced by the reduction facility in the inner wall of the waste container of the larger type gives the effective interior volume formed, measured from the top edge of the inner wall of the waste container to a raised floor produced in this way. Such an effective interior volume corresponds to the total interior volume of a said smaller type of con¬ tainer.

A converting subdivision of this type, as a result of a the false floor, also renders it unnecessary for the dustman, hereinafter designated the waste collection operative, to lift waste containers, found to impose severe ergonomic stress, in accordance with tightened regulations on work¬ ing conditions valid in The Netherlands.

Two reduction facilities indicated in more detail in the description and drawings below are central to the said converting subdivision. The first type of reduction facility applicable to the abovementioned converting subdivision consists of a partition producing vertical compart¬ ments, hereinafter referred to as the reducer, which serves as false floor, can be fitted and removed in a certain way and is discussed further below, which reducer bears on a support point intended for this purpose and located in the inner wall and is arranged such that a raised false floor is produced in the waste container and the interior volume reduced in this way gives the effective interior volume to be formed.

The second type of reduction facility applicable to the subdivision

consists of an inner bin to be placed in a waste container, preferably of an inner bin to be placed in an already known vario-container, which to this end has been adapted to inner bins which can be fitted in specific positions. In this case the total interior volume of such an inner bin corresponds to the said effective interior volume.

According to the invention, the containers can be equipped for small, individual waste producers or for larger and/or groups of waste producers. To this end, for example, galvanised steel or plastic four-wheeled con¬ tainers having a capacity of, for example, 770, 1000 or 1700 litres can be used. Such containers are characterised by a collection system, a waste container of this type constituting a collection point which is matched to the waste production of a group of waste producers, such as in high-rise locations, sub-divided low-rise buildings (where various parts of a house have individual units, as is the case, for example, in many buildings used for student accommodation). Such a group of waste producers can, in accor¬ dance with the initiated subdivision according to volume marks in the waste container, work as a group towards a smaller waste container. Larger con¬ tainers of this type are often provided with a brick enclosure (not shown), hereinafter referred to as a cocoon, and, depending on the number of con- tainers arranged in the latter, have one or more deposit openings for the one or more containers arranged behind said openings. In this context a brick enclosure of this type is preferably of a size such that it has been calculated to accommodate both larger and smaller size containers of this type. Such a cocoon can also be provided on the outside with a sealed sight hole arranged in a specific position. To counteract improper use, the deposit opening can be provided with a with a closure facility intended for the said group of waste producers exclusively, such as, for example, a lock. Other types of containers which can be used within the scope of the invention are: waste collection containers, storage tanks for underground storage, mini-containers, duo-containers, vario-containers, bank containers (such as bottle and paper banks), dustbins, and the like.

These container types preferably relate to common, commercially avail- able standard sizes, such as, inter alia, a standard height applicable thereto. Such standard sizes preferably comply with classifications which are already known, such as the DIN and/or RAL standards which are already known and applicable hereto.

The figures shown of the waste containers are shown in highly simplified fashion, without the wheel axle(s), wheels, lid, and the like (except in the case of the special lid discussed in Fig. 16). For the sake of clarity, the various containers shown in the drawings are shown without a system- atic, coherent scale or any scale whatsoever.

Particular embodiments of the waste container system are formulated in the dependent claims and the detailed description given below, in which reference is made to the drawings. Unless specified otherwise, the focus in the figures described in detail below is, by way of example, on a set of interior volume dimensions of mini-containers frequently encountered in practice. Unless specified otherwise, in this example the interior volume of the waste container is, in this case, 240 litres for the first type, in this case, 140 litres for the second type and, in this case, 60 litres for the third type. Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of a container of the first type, which is shown in greatly simplified form, having a first interior volume 1 , measured from the top edge 2 to the base 3 of the waste con¬ tainer, of 240 litres. A container of this type has two sub-volumes 5, 8 defined by volume marks 4, 7. The first and largest defined sub-volume 5 encompasses the space between the upper volume mark 4 and the base 3 and corresponds precisely to the interior volume of the waste container of the second type (see Fig. 2), which in the case in question is 140 litres. The second defined sub-volume 8 encompasses the space between the lower volume mark 7 and the base 3 and corresponds to the interior volume of the con- tainer of the third type (see Fig. 3), which in the case in question is 60 litres.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of a container of the second type, which is shown in greatly simplified form, having a smaller second interior volume 11, measured from the top edge 12 to the base 13, of 140 litres. A container of this type has a sub-volume 15, defined by a volume mark 14, which corresponds to the interior volume of the smaller waste container of the third type (see Fig. 3). Such a subdivision of the interior volume is, in this case also, indicated as a volume mark 15. This volume mark 14 indicates the abovementioned sub-volume 15 and relates to the space measured from the bottom edge of said volume mark 16 to the base 13 and in this example encompasses 60 litres.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of a container of the third type. In this figure a container of this type is constructed as a dustbin,

which is already known. In this example, the even smaller interior volume 17 of such a waste container is, measured from the top edge 18 to the base 19, 60 litres.

With regard to the above volume marks, in general the marks are prefer- ably provided with a colour which differs from the base colour of the waste container and such volume marks can also be accentuated with respect to one another by means of different colours (not shown) . The volume marks can also be produced by means of a contrasting transparent section, by means of wording or a specific combination of numerals, etc. ... Volume marks can also be designed in all manner of patterns, as described in Fig. 4 and 5, or by applying a relief (see Fig. 6). The types of volume marks can also be applied in a specific combination. The types of volume marks can also be applied both to the inside and/or to the outside of the waste container. When the abovementioned marks are applied by means of a contrasting substance, such as a type of paint or ink, or robust tape - provided with very strong adhesive -, during production or by the waste producer or waste collector him or herself (see, for example, Figs 8 and 9), the said sub¬ stances must adhere well to the material of the container, which is fre¬ quently plastic, such as HD polyethylene, and be able to withstand sub- stances released by the waste itself.

Fig. 4 shows a container, as described in Fig. 1, provided with volume marks 20 in the form of a discontinuous strip 20 running over the wall of the waste container and is preferably applied to the outside of the front and the inside of the rear. Fig. 5 shows a container as described in Fig. 1, provided with volume marks around the wall of the container, in the form of a continuous strip 21.

To prevent waste producers switching to a container which is too small, a safety margin (not shown) can be set by the waste collector. For this purpose, for example, the following two possibilities are available; is taken as an example in this context;

- The difference between the top edge 10 and the bottom edge 6 of the upper volume mark 4 (Fig. 1) can be increased. This is preferably effected solely by moving the bottom edge 6 down. - It is also possible to shift the entire volume mark 4 downwards.

Fig. 6 shows a container of the second type, which is provided with a volume mark in strip form which is applied in the form of a relief 22 in the wall, in this case the outside wall, of the container. Volume marks of

this type can be applied not only in the factory but also manually using a marking instrument suitable for this purpose, a volume mark of this type preferably being milled or branded into the wall.

Fig. 7 shows a side view of a so-called already known duo-container, provided with a an already known vertical fixed or movable partition 23, which splits the container into two compartments. Volume marks 24 are pre¬ ferably applied to the partition. The compartmented sub-volumes defined by this means correspond at least to smaller second and even smaller third compartmented total interior volumes within a set of different smaller types of duo-container sizes.

Figures 8 and 9 show two devices with which not only a manufacturer but also the waste producer him or herself can apply volume marks to a waste container in a simple and reliable manner.

Fig. 8 shows a view of a waste container before fitting a suitable height indicator strip 25 in the inside and/or outside wall of the waste container, the indicator strip 25 being preferably applied as a sticker and which extends from a base and/or a top edge, preferably over the entire wall of the waste container. The said subdivision according to volume marks 26 is indicated on said height indicator strip. It is also possible cor- respondingly to apply a subdivision according to volume marks on a dipstick suitable for this purpose (not shown) .

Fig. 9 shows a template, preferably in the form of a version, adapted to the waste container, in this case the first type, of the already known paper waste sack for containers adapted thereto with respect to vegetable matter and garden waste. With a template of this type there is preferably an adhesive strip (not shown) covered by a specific sealing strip on the top and bottom edge of the sack and preferably on both the outside and the inside of the template (so that the template can be used twice). With this arrangement the adhesive preferably displays an adhesion such that the template can be removed for re-use without any damage substantial to the wall and the template itself. The sack is preferably attached to the pre¬ ferred inside or outside of the waste container by means of an adhesive of this type. By means of the sack which has been fixed in place, the waste producer him or herself is able adequately to apply the said volume marks, in a specific said form (except for a continuous form), on the existing pre-formed cut-outs 27, adapted to said form of marking. Pre-formed cut¬ outs of this type become actual cut-outs because these are preferably per¬ forated (not shown) and the side flaps 28 thus produced are then fully

7 folded outward from the fold edge 29.

For fixing the cut-outs formed themselves, use is preferably made of adhesive strips (not shown), covered by a specific sealing strip, intended for this purpose, which adhesive strips (not shown) are, for the above reasons, preferably located both on the inside and on the outside, for the above reasons, at the bottom and the top edge, in the vicinity of the fold edges 29 of the cut-outs 27 formed. Figures 10 to 18 show waste containers which have a converting subdivision.

Figure 10.1 shows the inside of a container of conical container shape and various reducers which differ in circumferential size, the uppermost reducer 30 having a larger circumference than the lowermost 31. Reducers of this type are preferably removable only by the authorised waste collector and - in order to prevent corrosion - these reducers are preferably made of plastic or stainless steel. For fixing to the sides, the reducer can also be provided with one or more screw holes (not shown). Furthermore, one reducer is preferably fixed in the container at a time, although in the drawings several reducers have been fitted at the same time.

The reducer converts the waste container into an effective interior volume which is accessible from the outside and a closed-off ineffective interior volume located below the effective interior volume. The effective interior volume encompasses the space measured between the top edge 32 of the inside wall of the container to the reducer 30, 31. A reducer of this type bears on support points 33 (shown in cross-section) simultaneously formed in the inside wall of the container. The ineffective interior volume of such a convertible container encompasses the space below such a reducer 30, 31 to the actual base 34.

There are two adjustment facilities for the adjustment height of the support points of said converting subdivision in a container of the first type, in this case 240 litres; the first effective interior volume 35 cor- responds to the total interior volume of a waste container of the second type, in this case 140 litres, and the second effective interior volume 36 corresponds to the total interior volume of a waste container of the third type, in this case 60 litres.

The waste container of the second type, in this case of a capacity of 140 litres, which is not shown, correspondingly has one adjustment facility to a specific first effective interior volume that corresponds to the total interior volume of a waste container of the third type, in this case 60 litres.

Fig. 10.2 shows, by way of illustration, a repetition of Fig. 1 shown in part. Fig. 10.3 shows a container which has a subdivision both in accord¬ ance with said volume marks 37, which are shown differently for clarity, and in accordance with a positioning of reducers 38 on said support points 38 based on said marks.

Fig. 11 shows a waste container according to Fig. 10.1, wherein, as a refinement, the inside wall is provided with alternative downward-sloping support point 39, on which the reducer to be fixed, which has a side 40 adapted to such a support point, slides down over the side edge of the support point and automatically engages at the correct said strategic height.

Fig. 12.1 shows, in black, a shoulder structure 41 in a waste container which constitutes an alternative application to the support structure. The shoulder structure is provided with one or more depressions 42, the shape and position of which correspond to the contour of the underside of the reducer 43 which can be fitted.

Fig. 12.2 shows the advocated fixing 44 of such reducers on the support points of the shoulder structure which are intended for this purpose. A shoulder structure of this type can be produced as a construction which is integral with the wall (see Fig. 12.1 and Fig. 12.2) and is formed at the same time or as a separate shoulder which is fixed by means of fixing means to the inside wall of the container.

Fig. 13.1 shows a few preferred fixing elements which not only relate as such to an adequate closure for a reducer but also protect a reducer against removal by unauthorised persons. Fixing elements of this type con¬ sist of a specific screw fork 45, a screw 46 adapted thereto and a screw ring 47 of appropriate size. Fixing elements of this type are preferably made of a robust, corrosion-resistant material, such as plastic or stain¬ less steel. To discourage unauthorised fixing and removal, the specific screw fork is provided with two ends 48 which fit precisely in the holes 49, intended for this purpose, in the specific screw head.

Fig. 13.2 shows two advocated fixing facilities. For fixing a reducer it is advocated to make a few screw holes 50 therein, as shown. The production of screw cavities 51 adjacent thereto on support points of a support struc- ture as discussed above is also advocated.

Fig. 14.1 shows a preferred embodiment of the closure for the reducer with the support point. For this purpose one or more recesses 52.1, 52.2, formed as an integral part of the support structure, are made in the sup-

9 port structure for interaction with the appropriate reducer. The first recess 52.1 serves as a positioning ridge, as a result of which the side contour of the reducer bears seamlessly on the support structure. The se¬ cond recess is preferably formed by a further recess in the first recess in the support point and is equipped to interact with a positioning ridge 53 extending beneath the reducer. Furthermore, a rubber ring (not shown) can be fixed between the reducer and the support point. The actual base can also be provided with a drain plug, which is not shown, in connection with unforeseen leakage from the reducer. Fig. 15 shows a waste container in which the closed-off bottom ineffec¬ tive interior volume beneath the reducer, in the case in question a sepa¬ rate chamber, is provided with a ballast 54, serving to weigh it down, to stabilise the container. A ballast of this type also preferably consists of a substance which has an absorbent capacity. An absorbent substance of this type can absorb leakage water which seeps through and preferably can also counteract the production of troublesome unpleasant smells.

Fig. 16 shows, on the left, a waste container as shown in Fig. 12.1, which, in contrast to Fig. 12.1, has a lid. On the right of the figure such a lid 55 is shown separately in the open position, which lid is provided with a holder (not shown) and, on the underside, with a preferred transpa¬ rent cover plate (not shown) for storing reducers. Use is preferably made of the fixing elements as specified in Fig. 12 for fixing such a cover plate.

Fig. 17 shows a registration facility and a check facility. For the purposes of registration a specific material which can be applied is used, in this case made and shown in the form of a sticker 56 which serves for registration and checking of the interior volume which the waste producer has taken into use and the tariff group applicable to the waste producer. The sticker can differ in colour or wording or numeral combination for this purpose. A sticker of this type is preferably affixed to the front, where the lid is opened. Registration can also be performed by means of chip technology or barcodes (not shown)

To improve monitoring of the registered effective interior volume which is actually being used by a waste producer, a vertical transparent strip 57 with volume marks 58 can preferably also be affixed.

Fig. 18 shows a cross-sectional side view of a waste container of the first type, which is shown highly simplified, wherein the subdivision into the effective interior volume is produced in the form of a movable inner

bin 59. In this example the inner bin shown encompasses the said second effective interior volume, 60 litres.