Automated Vacuum Collection
Encyclopedia
The Automated Vacuum Waste Collection System, also known as pneumatic refuse collection, or Automated Vacuum Collection (AVAC) system, transports waste at high speed through underground tunnels to a collection station where it is compacted and sealed in containers. When the container is full, it is transported away and emptied. The system helps facilitate separation
and recycling
of waste.
. The first vacuum system for household waste, was installed in the new residential district of Ör-Hallonbergen, Sweden in 1965.
The inventor of the system, Envac AB (Sweden), is still an important supplier.
There are close to a thousand systems in operation all over the world - in China, South East Asia, Korea, the Middle East, the U.S, South and North Europe. In the U.S.A. this type of system is installed in several places but Disney World and Roosevelt Island
are the most well-known.
Major cities in which the system is operating include Barcelona, London, and Stockholm.
residential neighbourhood in Helsinki
, Finland
. All housing cooperative
s and other apartment buildings are obliged to join the network. The system envisioned for Jätkäsaari would help facilitate the separation
and recycling
of waste.
Each building will have a collection point with up to five wastebins or tubes, each for different types of waste and with the capacity to store several parcels of waste. The underground tube network would act in a manner similar to a packet switched telecommunication network, transporting one kind of waste at a time. Once an input bin is filled, or capacity is available, it is transferred to the central collection site combined with the same class of waste.
in New York City
uses a AVAC system. Currently it is the only AVAC system serving a residential complex in the United States.
A system is planned for a new City Center development in Carmel, Indiana
. It would service condominiums, businesses, and a hotel. The city of Montreal
has also announced plans for an automated vacuum collection system for its Quartier des Spectacles
entertainment district, now under construction.
Waste sorting
Waste sorting is the process by which waste is separated into different elements. Waste sorting can occur manually at the household and collected through curbside collection schemes, or automatically separated in materials recovery facilities or mechanical biological treatment systems.Waste can...
and recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
of waste.
History
The system originated in Sweden, with the first one installed in 1961 at Sollefteå HospitalSollefteå Hospital
Sollefteå Hospital is a hospital in Sollefteå in Västernorrland County, Sweden. The hospital was the first site to use an Automated Vacuum Collection system, with the first system installed in 1961.- External links :*...
. The first vacuum system for household waste, was installed in the new residential district of Ör-Hallonbergen, Sweden in 1965.
The inventor of the system, Envac AB (Sweden), is still an important supplier.
Current systems
The system is used in more than 30 countries.There are close to a thousand systems in operation all over the world - in China, South East Asia, Korea, the Middle East, the U.S, South and North Europe. In the U.S.A. this type of system is installed in several places but Disney World and Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island, known as Welfare Island from 1921 to 1973, and before that Blackwell's Island, is a narrow island in the East River of New York City. It lies between the island of Manhattan to its west and the borough of Queens to its east...
are the most well-known.
Major cities in which the system is operating include Barcelona, London, and Stockholm.
Europe
A system is planned to be installed in the new JätkäsaariJätkäsaari
Jätkäsaari is a quarter in Helsinki, the capital city of Finland. It is part to the Kampinmalmi district and Länsisatama neighbourhood. It is was the location of the main container harbour in Helsinki until late 2008, when the harbour moved to the new facilities in Vuosaari...
residential neighbourhood in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. All housing cooperative
Housing cooperative
A housing cooperative is a legal entity—usually a corporation—that owns real estate, consisting of one or more residential buildings. Each shareholder in the legal entity is granted the right to occupy one housing unit, sometimes subject to an occupancy agreement, which is similar to a lease. ...
s and other apartment buildings are obliged to join the network. The system envisioned for Jätkäsaari would help facilitate the separation
Waste sorting
Waste sorting is the process by which waste is separated into different elements. Waste sorting can occur manually at the household and collected through curbside collection schemes, or automatically separated in materials recovery facilities or mechanical biological treatment systems.Waste can...
and recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
of waste.
Each building will have a collection point with up to five wastebins or tubes, each for different types of waste and with the capacity to store several parcels of waste. The underground tube network would act in a manner similar to a packet switched telecommunication network, transporting one kind of waste at a time. Once an input bin is filled, or capacity is available, it is transferred to the central collection site combined with the same class of waste.
North America
Roosevelt IslandRoosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island, known as Welfare Island from 1921 to 1973, and before that Blackwell's Island, is a narrow island in the East River of New York City. It lies between the island of Manhattan to its west and the borough of Queens to its east...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
uses a AVAC system. Currently it is the only AVAC system serving a residential complex in the United States.
A system is planned for a new City Center development in Carmel, Indiana
Carmel, Indiana
Carmel is a city in Hamilton County, Indiana, United States located immediately north of Indianapolis, Indiana. The population was 79,191 at the 2010 census, and is one of the most affluent communities in the Midwest....
. It would service condominiums, businesses, and a hotel. The city of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
has also announced plans for an automated vacuum collection system for its Quartier des Spectacles
Quartier des Spectacles
Quartier des Spectacles is an entertainment district located in the eastern section of Downtown Montreal. The area is currently undergoing gentrification and urban renewal that will turn it into the centre for Montreal's cultural events and festivals....
entertainment district, now under construction.
See also
- Transfer stationTransfer stationA transfer station is a building or processing site for the temporary deposition of waste. Transfer stations are often used as places where local waste collection vehicles will deposit their waste cargo prior to loading into larger vehicles...
- Waste collectionWaste collectionWaste collection is the component of waste management which results in the passage of a waste material from the source of production to either the point of treatment or final disposal...
- Waste collection vehicleWaste collection vehicleGarbage truck refers to a truck specially designed to collect small quantities of waste and haul the collected waste to a solid waste treatment facility. Other common names for this type of truck include trash truck and dump truck in the United States, and bin wagon, dustcart, dustbin lorry, bin...
- Waste collectorWaste collectorA waste collector is a person employed by a public or private enterprise to collect and remove refuse and recyclables from residential, commercial, industrial or other collection site for further processing and disposal...
- Pneumatic refuse conveying systemPneumatic refuse conveying systemThe Pneumatic Refuse Conveying System is a type of waste disposal system that uses air to move refuse through pipes to collection points.A notable example was implemented in the Stockholm area in Sweden. Refuse is conveyed through steel pipes by a 20–25 meter per second air current.-Sources:*...