Debris collection and transport cart and method of using same

A method for receiving, classifying and transporting recyclable debris comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of debris carts, each of the plurality of debris carts further comprising:
• a container defined by a bottom panel with a wall extending upwardly from and encircling a periphery of the bottom panel and terminating in a top end, the wall further comprising a first end wall and a second end wall, the first and second end walls being opposingly disposed on the periphery;
• a first hitch portion connected to an exterior surface of the first end wall;
• and
• a pair of spaced apart wheels connected to an exterior surface of the second end wall;
• the second end wall being outwardly angled relative to the bottom panel, an outer circumference of the pair of wheels being positioned adjacent to a ground surface when the bottom panel is supported by the ground surface, the outer circumference of the wheels being positioned adjacent to the ground surface when the top end of the second end wall is in contact with the ground surface and the bottom panel is vertically oriented, the cart being supported by the wheels in contact with the horizontal surface and the first hitch portion when the bottom panel is rotated from a horizontal orientation toward a vertical orientation;
• positioning the plurality of debris carts adjacent to a material receiving area;
• receiving recyclable materials into the material receiving area;
• sorting and classifying into like materials the recyclable materials in the material receiving area;
• segregating like recyclable materials by removing from the material receiving area and depositing into one of the plurality of debris carts designated for like recyclable materials;
• providing a work vehicle with an elevating apparatus;
• providing a boom having a proximal end adapted for connection to the work vehicle elevating apparatus and distal end having a second hitch portion configured for selective connection to the first hitch portion;
• connecting the boom to the work vehicle;
• connecting the second hitch portion to the first hitch portion of one of the plurality of debris carts at least partially filled with like recyclable materials and elevating the second hitch portion to a height at which the cart is supported by the wheels and the hitch;
• removing from adjacent to the material receiving area the one of the plurality of debris carts at least partially filled with like recyclable materials;
• and
• transporting the one of the plurality of debris carts at least partially filled with like recyclable materials to a like material storage area.

A method for receiving, classifying and transporting recyclable debris comprising the steps of:

• receiving a delivery load of a mixed material debris and assigning a unique tracking number for the delivery load;
• measuring a weight of the delivery load of mixed material debris and associating the weight with the unique tracking number;
• placing the delivery load of mixed material debris in a designated receiving area;
• providing a debris cart having a container defined by a bottom panel with a wall extending upwardly from and encircling a periphery of the bottom panel and terminating in a top end, the wall further comprising a first end wall and a second end wall, the first and second end walls being opposingly disposed on the periphery, the second end wall being outwardly angled relative to the bottom panel and having a pair of wheels outwardly disposed thereon, the first end wall having a hitch outwardly disposed thereon, the debris cart having a resting position defined as support of the debris cart by adjacent contact between the bottom panel and a ground surface, a transport position defined by elevating the hitch to rotate the bottom panel so that the container is suspended between the hitch and the wheels, and a dumping position defined by continued elevation of the hitch so that the bottom panel is generally vertical to the ground surface;
• positioning the debris cart adjacent to the designated receiving area, the debris cart being assigned a unique identifier and provided with indicia of the unique identifier;
• scanning the indicia wherein a system controller associates the unique identifier with the unique tracking number;
• sorting the delivery load of mixed material debris, classifying into one or more types of recyclable commodities, and segregating a first type of recyclable commodities in the debris cart;
• repositioning the debris cart containing the first type of recyclable commodities using a boom with a hitch elevated by a work vehicle elevating apparatus to rotate the debris cart to the transport position;
• transporting the debris cart containing the first type of recyclable commodities from the dedicated receiving area;
• scanning the indicia and weighing the debris cart containing the first type of recyclable commodities wherein the system controller associates a first weight of the first type of recyclable commodities with the unique tracking number;
• transporting the debris cart containing the first type of recyclable commodities to a batch storage area for the first type of recyclable commodities;
• and
• repositioning the debris cart containing the first type of recyclable commodities using the boom connected to the work vehicle elevating apparatus to rotate the debris cart from the transport position to the dumping position thereby unloading the first type of recyclable commodities in the batch storage area.