US 12,459,005 B2
Waste sorting and separation process for absorbent articles
Rodrigo Rosati, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
Assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Filed by The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Filed on Dec. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/541,439.
Application 18/541,439 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2022/036750, filed on Jul. 12, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 21185070 (EP), filed on Jul. 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0116082 A1, Apr. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. B07C 5/342 (2006.01)
CPC B07C 5/3422 (2013.01) [B07C 2501/0054 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A waste sorting process for separating used absorbent articles from a general waste stream, the process comprising steps of:
providing a packaged product comprising an outer package, a plurality of absorbent articles and a first disposal bag, wherein the plurality of absorbent articles and the first disposal bag are contained within the outer package;
using absorbent articles and placing the used absorbent articles within the first disposal bag, wherein the first disposal bag comprises an identifying code or an identifying colour;
collecting first disposal bags containing used absorbent articles and collecting second disposal bags containing other waste to provide a mixed waste stream; and
transporting the bags of the mixed waste stream to a waste sorting facility;
in the waste sorting facility, identifying the first disposal bags and separating the first from the second disposal bags so that the first disposal bag containing the used absorbent articles is recovered;
recycling the used absorbent articles by a recycling process selected from: mechanical separation and recovery of at least some of the materials of the used absorbent articles; or composting of the used absorbent articles; or mechanical-biological treatment; or thermal decomposition of the used absorbent articles; or combinations of the above; and
mechanically separating the used absorbent articles into at least two material streams: a first material stream comprising cellulosic materials and a separate, second material stream comprising thermoplastic materials.