Waste recycling system using tagged, bar coded or other distinctively marked containers, method of recycling, and container device

• US 20110060451A1
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ben Thorp, David Borowski, William Huddleston
• Original Assignee: Ben Thorp, David Borowski, William Huddleston
• Inventors: Thorp, Ben, Huddleston, William, Borowski, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,459,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/224
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/0006 Flexible refuse receptables, e.g. bags, sacks
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1484 relating to the adaptation of receptacles to carry identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/1123 Bar-codes

Abstract

A waste recycling system and method for collecting, maintaining the custody of, and tracking targeted waste from collection to recycling. The system and method utilizes tagged containers, preferably electronically tagged plastic bags containing the targeted waste to allow sorting of the targeted waste from a general waste stream or recyclable waste stream.

Claims

1. A waste recycling system for collecting targeted store waste and maintaining a chain of custody of said targeted waste from collection to recycling, said system comprising:

collecting targeted waste in tagged containers at a store location;

transporting said tagged containers containing said targeted waste together with other waste or recyclables to a processing center;

sorting said tagged containers containing said targeted store waste from said other waste or recyclables at said processing center; and

recycling said targeted store waste into one or more products containing material recycled from said targeted waste.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said containers are plastic bags.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said containers are electronically tagged.

4. A systems according to claim 3, wherein said containers are electronically tagged by using at least one unique RF tag to electronically tag said containers.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said tagged containers are associated with a unique bar code to graphically tag said containers.

6. A system according to claim 3, wherein multiple RF tags are associated with each said containers.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said targeted store waste is shredded at said store location.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said targeted store waste is shredded and bagged as the targeted store waste is being discarded by customers into a shredding machine.

9. A system according to claim 4, wherein said at least one RF tag is associated with each said container by placing said at least one RF tag inside each said container.

10. A system according to claim 4, wherein said at least one RF tag is associated with each said plastic bags or other container by attaching said at least one RF tag to each said plastic bag or other container.

11. A systems according to claim 4, wherein said at least one RF tag is associated with said containers during manufacturing of said containers.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said targeted waste is used paper cups.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said used paper cups are recycled into paper cups having recycled material content.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein said containers are collected and co-mingled with other waste or recyclables from said store waste and transported together to said processing center as a general waste stream or alternatively collected and transported with other recycled material.

15. A waste recycling method for collecting and maintaining a chain of custody of a targeted waste from collection to recycling, said system comprising the steps of:

placing said targeted waste into electronically tagged plastic bags each having at least one RF tag associated each said plastic bags to electronically tag said plastic bags.

16. A waste recycling method according to claim 15, wherein said RF tag allows said electronically tagged plastic bags containing said targeted waste to be identified and sorted from other waste or recyclables.

17. A waste recycling method according to claim 16, wherein said plastic bags containing said targeted waste is collected and transported together from the store as a general waste stream or with recyclables to later be sorted to recover said electronically tagged plastic bags containing said targeted waste.

19. A plastic bag device according to claim 17, wherein said at least RF tag is located inside said plastic bag.

20. A plastic bag device according to claim 17, including multiple RF tags associated with said plastic bag device to provide electronic tagging redundancy.

18. An electronically tagged plastic bag device, said device comprising:

a plastic bag; and

at least one electronic RF tag associated with said plastic bag for electronically tagging said plastic bag.