ABSTRACT
The integrated waste management is made possible by the implementation of waste recovery systems. Frequently, limitations exist such as the available space and the urban environment, leading to the development of buried equipment, which are mostly characterized by their superior storage capacity. On the other hand, since buried equipment is totally below ground level, the only visible element is the top bin. This chapter proposes an improved equipment for underground waste disposal, with emphasis to safety devices in accordance with safety regulations, and automated mechanisms for platform opening and closing. The buried equipment is composed of three main components: the main structure, the liner, and the top bin, serving as user interface. Since the market-available equipment is typically overdesigned, the authors consider that these structures can highly benefit from design tools, leading to a higher competitiveness of companies. Thus, this chapter presents the equipment concept, followed by structural design using the finite element method or FEM to perform successive iterations and improvements. The prototype fabrication is fabricated and tested, and a cost estimate is also presented. This work led to a proposal to improve the existing equipment, showing significant weight and cost reductions.
