DROP-OFF RECYCLING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20090014363A1
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RecycleBank LLC (RecycleRewards, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RecycleBank LLC (RecycleRewards, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yang, Frank C., Croke, Bridget, Lamb, Scott, GONEN, RON
• Application Number:
  US12/189,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20090014363A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/559
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method of providing incentive to recycle recyclable materials by providing financial incentives to consumers for recycling at a central drop-off recycling facility. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of providing incentive to recycle recyclable materials comprises creating an account for at least a first entity, providing a drop-off recycling center for receiving a plurality of recyclable materials from at least the first entity, receiving the recyclable materials at the drop-off center for processing, measuring and recording quantitative or qualitative data for the recyclable materials, calculating a reward correlating to the quantitative or qualitative data recorded for the recyclable materials and crediting the account for the first entity with the reward.

Claims

1. A method of providing incentive to recycle recyclable materials comprising:

creating an account for at least a first entity;

providing a drop-off recycling center for receiving a plurality of recyclable materials from at least the first entity;

receiving the recyclable materials at the drop-off center for processing;

measuring and recording quantitative or qualitative data for the recyclable materials;

calculating a reward correlating to the quantitative or qualitative data recorded for the recyclable materials; and

crediting the account for the first entity with the reward.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the recyclable materials further comprises obtaining unique identification data from the first entity.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the unique identification data is embedded within a bar code or RFID tag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring and recording quantitative or qualitative data for the recyclable materials is conducted by a load determining device.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

uploading unique identification data to a central database.

6. A method of recycling recyclable materials comprising:

supplying a recyclable container to and creating an account for at least a first entity;

providing a drop-off recycling center for receiving a plurality of recyclable materials from at least the first entity;

receiving the recycling container having recyclable materials therein at the drop-off center;

scanning unique identification data from the recycling container;

validating the unique identification data received from the recycling container;

measuring and recording quantitative or qualitative data for the recyclable materials in the recycling container;

calculating a reward correlating to the quantitative or qualitative data recorded for the recyclable materials;

uploading unique identification data and the reward to a central database; and

crediting the account for the first entity with the reward.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein scanning unique identification data from the recycling container comprises utilizing a deciphering device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the quantitative or qualitative data for the recyclable materials in the recycling container comprises at least one of the weight of the recyclable materials or the volume of the recyclable materials.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of calculating a reward correlating to the quantitative or qualitative data recorded for the recyclable materials comprises applying the quantifiable measure data to a predetermined algorithm directly correlating to a value of the quantitative or qualitative data.

10. A system for providing incentive to recycle recyclable materials comprising:

a drop-off center for receiving recyclable materials for processing;

a load determining device for determining a quantifiable measurement of the recyclable materials;

an account management system; and

a reward calculating device for determining a reward value correlating to the quantifiable measurement of the recyclable materials;

wherein the reward value is communicated to the account management system via a computer network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the account management system comprises a database for storing a plurality of information relating to individual accounts.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a device for obtaining identification of an entity associated with the recyclable materials.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the device for obtaining identification comprises one of a barcode reader or a RFID reader.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the load determining device comprises a weight measuring means.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the drop-off center further comprises at least a storage container for storing received recyclable materials.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising a fraud detection system configured to monitor activities within the drop-off center.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the fraud detection system comprises video surveillance equipment.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein quantifiable measurement of the recyclable materials comprises at least one of the weight of the recyclable materials or the volume of the recyclable materials in a recycling container.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein determining a reward value correlating to the quantifiable measurement of the recyclable materials comprises applying the quantifiable measurement of the recyclable materials to a predetermined algorithm, directly correlating to the value of the quantifiable measurement.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the account management system is hosted on a remote server.