Receptacle for secure collection of waste

A waste collection receptacle, comprising:

• a housing defining a waste-collection chamber, the housing comprising:
• a chute door on an exterior of the housing;
• and
• a chute leading from the chute door to the waste-collection chamber;
• a chute door switch operable to detect opening and closing of the chute door;
• a fill sensor within the housing and oriented to measure a fill level of a waste-collection container positioned within the waste-collection chamber;
• a lock configured to secure the chute door against opening;
• and
• a controller in communication with the chute door switch, the fill sensor, and the lock, wherein the controller is configured:
• to receive a signal from the chute door switch when the chute door switch detects that the chute door has opened and closed;
• upon receiving the signal from the chute door switch, to command the fill sensor to measure the fill level of the waste-collection container and to receive the measured fill level from the fill sensor;
• to compare the received measured fill level to at least one preset fill level threshold;
• and
• to set a state of the waste collection receptacle based upon the comparison of the received measured fill level to the at least one preset fill level threshold.

A method of securely collecting waste using a waste collection receptacle including a locking waste collection door, comprising:

• electronically measuring a fill level of a waste-collection container within the waste collection receptacle;
• comparing the fill level of the waste-collection container to a preset full threshold;
• and
• electronically locking the waste collection door when the fill level of the waste-collection container exceeds the preset full threshold.