Patent ID: 8640300

Claim:
A recyclable material collection apparatus comprising: a conduit having an inlet configured for engagement with a storage container of recyclable material and an exit opposite the inlet; a movable element configured to create a suction force to draw ambient air through the inlet, thereby drawing the recyclable material through the conduit, the movable element having a rotatable support plate with a plurality of blades mounted thereon, the movable element positioned in a housing in communication with the exit of the conduit, the movable element positioned in relation to the exit of the conduit so that the recyclable material contacts the plurality of blades which are configured to weaken the recyclable material upon impact, wherein the movable element is resiliently mounted within the housing with a resilient mounting configured so that the movable element is movable away from an at-rest position in the housing by impact with the recyclable material but is biased to return to the at-rest position by the resilient mounting; and a compactor for reducing a volume occupied by the recyclable material after weakening.