Dust and allergen control for surface cleaning apparatus

A waste receptacle for emptying a dirt collection region of a surface cleaning apparatus, the dirt collection region comprising a first end, an opposed second end and a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, the first end comprising an openable portion and a closure member securing the openable portion in a closed position, the waste receptacle comprising:

• (a) a container housing defining an interior volume and having an inlet port;
• and,
• (b) an air flow path extending from the interior volume to a clean air outlet wherein, when the dirt collection region is positioned in flow communication with the inlet port, a suction motor draws air through the air flow path,
• (c) a release actuator which, when the first end of the dirt collection region is positioned in the interior volume of the container housing, drives the closure member from an engaged position, in which the closure member secures the openable portion in the closed position, to a disengaged position in which the closure member is spaced from the openable portion whereby the openable portion is openable and the dirt collection region is emptyable into the interior volume,
• wherein the inlet port comprises a deformable member provided on the container housing at the inlet port and the deformable member is substantially sealable around the openable portion of the dirt collection region of the surface cleaning apparatus, and
• wherein the waste receptacle is free standing on a floor and, when the waste receptacle is free standing on the floor, the inlet port is located at an upper end of the waste receptacle, and
• wherein the container housing is openable to remove dirt collected in the container housing.

A system comprising:

• (a) a dirt collection region of a surface cleaning apparatus, the dirt collection region comprising a first end, an opposed second end, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, the first end comprising an openable portion and a closure member securing the openable portion in a closed position;
• and
• (b) a waste receptacle comprising an interior volume, an air flow passage through the interior volume from an inlet port to an air outlet, and a release actuator having an engagement portion that is engageable with the closure member,
• wherein, when the closure member is engaged by the engagement portion, the closure member is disengaged from the openable portion, whereby the openable portion is openable,
• wherein at least a portion of the surface cleaning apparatus comprising the dirt collection region is alignable to the waste receptacle whereby the dirt collection region is removably positionable in flow communication with the air flow passage and, when the dirt collection region is positioned in flow communication with the air flow passage, a deformable member engages the sidewall of the dirt collection region whereby the inlet port is substantially sealed, and
• wherein, when the first end of the dirt collection region is positioned such that the dirt collection region is in air flow communication with the interior volume of the waste receptacle when the openable portion is opened, the engagement portion is inaccessible by a user,
• wherein the waste receptacle is free standing on a floor, and
• wherein, during an emptying operation, air is drawn through the inlet port into the air flow passage of the waste receptacle.