Patent ID: 8366996

Claim:
A method of disinfecting refuse products, comprising the steps: providing at least one refuse container having an inner chamber defined by a closed bottom, upwardly extending sidewalls, an open top, and a hinged lid for selectively covering the open top, said inner chamber being configured for retaining refuse products therein during a disinfecting process; providing a sparger assembly mounted adjacent the bottom of said at least one refuse container and configured to admit steam into the inner chamber; providing a first temperature sensor configured for detachable mounting in the inner chamber near the bottom of said at least one refuse container; depositing refuse products and a disinfecting medium into said inner chamber; providing a second temperature sensor configured for detachable mounting in the inner chamber at a level above the refuse products retained in the inner chamber; and providing a means for recording time and temperature of the disinfection process, said recording means being operationally connected to said first and said second temperature sensors; initiating the disinfecting process by admitting steam into the sparger assembly; recording temperature inside the inner chamber detected by the first and the second temperature sensors, while also recording time of the disinfecting process.