Method of sterilizing waste containers with ultraviolet light

A method of sanitizing a diaper pail having a housing and a lid assembly with an ultraviolet (UV) light, comprising:

• integrating a support structure into the diaper pail having an opening adapted to receive two different types of flexible bag assemblies, the support structure having a first stationary support member having a first support surface dimensioned to seat and secure a first bag assembly, and a second stationary support member having a second support surface vertically offset from the first support surface and that extends horizontally below the first surface dimensioned to seat and secure a cassette;
• inserting an article of waste into the diaper pail through the opening in the support structure positioned within a housing of the diaper pail;
• sealing the diaper pail from an external environment to prevent UV light from emanating therefrom;
• activating a UV sanitizing routine stored in a UV light module that is connected to at least one UV light source, wherein the UV sanitizing routine is activated by verifying that a multi-axis lid sensor is engaged by detecting that the lid is closed and substantially parallel to a surface supporting the diaper pail;
• irradiating an interior surface of the diaper pail with the UV light directed downwardly from a bottom surface of the lid assembly;
• and
• deactivating the UV sanitizing routine after a predetermined time period.

A method of cleaning a diaper pail comprising:

• providing a container having a housing and a lid assembly;
• integrating a support structure into the container having an opening adapted to receive two different types of flexible bag assemblies, the support structure disposed between the housing and the lid assembly;
• installing at least one of the flexible bag assembly on a first stationary support member or a second stationary support member of the support structure, wherein the second stationary support member extends horizontally below and is vertically offset from the first stationary support member;
• pulling a flexible tubing from the flexible bag assembly through the opening in the support structure;
• inserting an item of waste in the flexible tubing of the flexible bag assembly;
• closing a cover lid of the lid assembly, the cover lid containing at least one ultraviolet (UV) light source and at least one multi-axis sensor that detects a position of the lid assembly;
• and
• directing UV light from the UV light source downwardly from a bottom surface of the lid assembly onto the item of waste stored in the diaper pail, wherein the UV light source is activated only when the at least one multi-axis sensor detects that the cover lid is resting substantially parallel to a surface supporting the diaper pail.

A method of sanitizing a diaper pail having a housing and a lid assembly with an ultraviolet (UV) light disposed therein, comprising:

• installing a bag assembly into the diaper pail having a support structure integrated and positioned within a housing, the support structure having an opening adapted to receive two different types of flexible bag assemblies, the support structure having a first stationary support member having a first support surface dimensioned to seat and secure a first bag assembly, and a second stationary support member having a second support surface vertically offset from the first support surface and that extends horizontally below the first support surface dimensioned to seat and secure a cassette;
• inserting an article of waste into a flexible portion of the bag assembly;
• sealing the diaper pail to prevent the UV light from escaping outside of the diaper pail to an external environment;
• activating a UV sanitizing routine that controls the UV light, wherein the UV sanitizing routine is activated by verifying that a multi-axis lid sensor is engaged by detecting that the lid is closed and substantially parallel to a surface supporting the diaper pail;
• and
• irradiating an interior surface of the diaper pail with the UV light directed downwardly from a bottom surface of the lid assembly.