Refuse collection system

An intermediate refuse collection container in combination with a convertible lifter assembly,

• the convertible lifter assembly being configured for attachment to spaced lift members of a top loading refuse collection vehicle, the convertible lifter assembly allowing the vehicle to dump an intermediate collection container having fork-receiving apertures or pockets and to dump an intermediate collection container lacking fork receiving pockets, the convertible lifter assembly comprising:
• a) cross member for extending between and attachment to the lift members of a top loading collection vehicle;
• b) spaced-apart mounting connectors fixedly attached to the cross member and configured for selective non-destructive removable attachment to container lift forks for lifting intermediate containers having fork-receiving apertures or pockets or to an intermediate container having mating mounting members and being free of fork-receiving apertures or pockets;
• and
• the intermediate refuse collection container for receiving refuse from a primary refuse container and being configured without fork receiving apertures or pockets to be carried by the convertible lifter assembly, the intermediate container comprising:
• a) a front wall, a rear wall, opposed sidewalls, and a bottom wall defining a total refuse collection volume;
• b) an extension assembly substantially beneath the total refuse collection volume intermediate the front wall and the rear wall, the extension assembly being movable between a first, retracted position for storage and for dumping a primary refuse collection container and a second, extended position for engaging and releasing the primary refuse collection container at a location laterally spaced from the intermediate container, the extension assembly further comprising a track assembly with first and second side frames horizontally spaced-apart along the bottom wall of the intermediate refuse collection container, a rigid extension member with first and second spaced-apart slide members, a slide member being associated with each side frame, and an actuator positioned between the slide members for moving the rigid extension member relative to the track assembly;
• and
• c) a mounting base secured to the extension assembly and a primary refuse collection container lifter carried on the mounting base at a location lateral to a side wall of the intermediate container.