REC CREDIT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100070358A1
• Filed: 09/16/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RE Community Energy LLC
• Original Assignee: Casella Waste Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Olson, Robert A., Bohlig, James W.
• Application Number:
  US12/561,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20100070358A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.170
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0609 by fluid containers, e.g. bottles, cups, gas containers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/90 Financial instruments for climate change mitigation, e.g. environmental taxes, subsidies or financing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/12 Billing, invoicing, buying or selling transactions or other related activities, e.g. cost or usage evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

A method for promoting recycling from a fund established with revenue generated from the sale of environmental and/or power generation attributes by an entity producing renewable energy. The method comprises providing a point system by which a recycling consumer is credited for recycled materials collected. Further, the method provides for a reward system for redemption of points accumulated by the recycling consumer, the reward system including redeemable fund certificates drawn against the fund. The method further includes collecting recyclable materials from the recycling consumer and crediting an account in the name of the recycling consumer based on the quantity and/or quality of the recyclable material collected. Then the method provides for awarding fund certificates to the recycling consumer upon the accumulation of a sufficient point level.

Claims

1. A method for promoting recycling from a fund established with revenue generated from the sale of environmental and/or power generation attributes by an entity producing renewable energy, the method comprising:

a) providing a point system by which a recycling consumer is credited for recycled materials collected;

b) providing a reward system for redemption of points accumulated by the recycling consumer, the reward system including redeemable fund certificates drawn against the fund;

c) collecting recyclable materials from the recycling consumer and crediting an account in the name of the recycling consumer based on the quantity and/or quality of the recyclable material collected; and

d) awarding fund certificates to the recycling consumer upon the accumulation of a sufficient point level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fund certificates are created when the entity

producing renewable energy generates electricity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity producing renewable energy captures energy from a natural process or phenomenon selected from a group consisting of sunshine, wind, wave power, flowing water, tidal energy, biomass, biomass-based waste products and geothermal heat flow.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity producing renewable energy captures energy from biomass for the production of one of bio-diesel, ethanol and methanol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity producing renewable energy is a biomass facility that generates electricity through the burning of methane gas produced in a landfill to power a generator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fund certificates are created when a entity producing energy generates electricity from one or more resource that is defined by a government policy process as a government labeled renewable resource.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the government labeled renewable resource includes one of forest biomass and wood.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the point system includes one of a weight-based system and a volume-based system or some combination thereof

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the point system includes a quality rating system with one of a weight-based system, a volume-based system or some combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the point system includes a point tier system including one or more tier levels that are based on the quantity and quality of recycled materials collected by each recycling consumer for a specific periodic period.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the fund certificates are redeemable as a credit to a bill from a power supplier.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the fund certificates are redeemable as a coupon for use in the purchase of goods or services.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the fund certificates are deliverable to the recycling consumer through a recycling consumer account.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the fund certificates are deliverable via an email address associated with the recycling consumer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the fund certificates are directly deposited on one of a key fob and magnetic swipe card associated with the recycling consumer.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the fund certificates are directly deposited on one of a debt card, a credit card and a bank account associated with the recycling consumer.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the fund certificates are one of a coupon, a rebate in a third party service.

18. A system for promoting recycling from fund certificates drawn against a fund established with revenue generated from selling environmental and/or power generation attributes by a entity producing renewable energy, the system comprising:

a) a registry that stores redeemable point information for collected recyclable material from participants in a recycling program, and fund certificate data in a reward program; and

b) a transfer platform communicatively coupled to the registry, the transfer platform being configured to enable the redemption of accumulated points in the recycling program for fund certificates in the reward program.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the fund certificate is created when the entity producing renewable energy generates electricity.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the entity producing renewable energy is selected from a group consisting of solar power, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydropower, hydrogen fuel and non-conventional energy producing technologies.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the biomass is selected from a group consisting of bio-diesel, ethanol and methanol.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the entity producing renewable energy is a biomass entity that generates electricity through the burning of methane gas produced in a landfill to power a generator.

23. A computer-based system for facilitating the trade of points and fund certificates such that the fund certificates are established with revenue generated from the sale of environmental and/or power generation attributes by an entity producing renewable energy, the method comprises:

a) means for establishing a rewards system for the redemption of points accumulated by a recycling consumer, such that the points are credited to the recycling consumer for recycled materials collected;

b) means for determining credits of points for each recycling consumer in order to award fund certificates to the recycling consumer upon the accumulation of a sufficient point level.

24. A method of increasing recycling of materials by creating a demand for tradable fund certificate, such that the fund certificate is established with revenue generated from the sale of environmental attributes and/or power generation by an entity producing renewable energy, the method comprises:

a) providing recycling consumer point data based on recycling materials and associated with points;

b) applying a factor for converting the recycling consumer point data to the fund certificate, in which the factor is based on the amount of points credited to compute the fund certificate;

c) computing the fund certificate for the recycling consumer based on points credited for recycled materials collected;

d) enabling the recycling consumer to acquire the fund certificate in an amount that is at least equivalent to the computed fund certificate so as to increase the recycling of materials.