System And Method For Managing Recyclable Materials

• US 20120029985A1
• Filed: 11/17/2010
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neptune Rewards LLC
• Original Assignee: Neptune Rewards LLC
• Inventors: Wilson, Chad Scott, Magagnini, John
• Application Number:
  US12/948,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20120029985A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.11
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1426 Housings, cabinets or enclosures for refuse receptacles B65F1/006, B65F1/1452 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/128 Data transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/172 Solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/184 Weighing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0208 Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a system and method for receiving recyclable materials, associating the materials with a specific user, capturing data specific to that user and the materials, and providing reward points to the user based on the materials.

Claims

1. A system for collecting and measuring recyclable material and providing reward points, comprising:

a recycling apparatus comprising a chassis that contains a receptacle for receiving recyclable material, an input device for receiving a unique identifier for a user, a weighing mechanism for determining the weight of material placed in the receptacle by the user, and a network interface card; and

a network coupled to the network interface card to enable communication with a server,

wherein the server is configured to assign reward points to the user based on the weight of material placed in the receptacle by the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is configured to send an alert when the total weight of material in the receptacle exceeds a predetermined threshold.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the server contains or is coupled to a database.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the reward points are provided to the user through a closed-loop reward system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the reward points are provided to the user through an open-loop reward system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the recycling apparatus further comprises a GPS unit to enable the system to determine the location of the recycling apparatus.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the server is configured to generate a graphical map showing the location of the recycling apparatus.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the graphical map shows status information for the recycling apparatus.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the status information indicates if the recycling apparatus is full.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the status information indicates if the recycling apparatus is in operational condition.

11. A method for collecting and measuring recyclable material in a recycling apparatus and providing reward points, comprising:

receiving a unique identifier for a user through an input device on a chassis of a recycling apparatus;

receiving recyclable material in a receptacle in the chassis from the user through an opening in the chassis;

determining the weight of the recyclable material using a weighing mechanism in the chassis;

transmitting the unique identifier and weight to a server using a network interface card contained in the recycling apparatus coupled to a network; and

assigning reward points to the user based on the weight of material placed in the receptacle by the user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the step of sending an alert when the total weight of material in the receptacle exceeds a predetermined threshold.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the server contains or is coupled to a database.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the assigning step comprises providing reward points to the user through a closed-loop reward system.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the assigning step comprises providing reward points to the user through an open-loop reward system.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the recycling apparatus further comprises a GPS unit to enable the system to determine the location of the recycling apparatus.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises the step of the server generating a graphical map showing the location of the recycling apparatus.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the graphical map shows status information for the recycling apparatus.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the status information indicates if the recycling apparatus is full.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the status information indicates if the recycling apparatus is in operational condition.