Recycling system and method thereof

• US 8,602,298 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTS Recyclebank LLC
• Original Assignee: RecycleBank LLC (RecycleRewards, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gonen, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M
• Assistant Examiner(s): LY, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US12/041,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20080169342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,108 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1484 relating to the adaptation of receptacles to carry identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/184 Weighing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A method of implementing an incentive-based recycling system is provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method of implementing an incentive-based recycling system includes dispatching a vehicle on a route, lifting a pickup cart comprising a volume of collectable recyclable material and having a radio frequency identification (RFID) readable tag disposed thereon, weighing the collectable recyclable material on a weighing device, using a radio frequency identification reader to obtain a unique set of identification data from the pickup cart, removing the pickup cart from the weighing device, transporting a volume of collectable recyclable material to a drop-off facility, validating collected weight data and identification data, uploading the data to a central database, generating at least one report from the data uploaded to the central database, and allocating rewards to a customer corresponding to a unique set of identification data.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a system of incentive-based recycling comprising:

dispatching a vehicle on a route having a series of collection points to collect recyclable material;

lifting, with a lifting device, a pickup cart comprising (i) a volume of collectable recyclable material and (ii) a radio frequency identification (RFID) readable tag disposed on the pickup cart;

weighing the collectable recyclable material on a weighing device;

transferring the collectable recyclable material into a storage receptacle;

using a radio frequency identification reader to obtain a unique set of identification data from the pickup cart;

removing the pickup cart from the weighing device;

transporting a volume of collectable recyclable material to a drop-off facility;

validating collected weight data and identification data;

wherein the validating comprises removing duplicate and incomplete points in the collected weight data and identification data, wherein the data is selected from a group consisting of;

identification data obtained from each collection point, the amount of recyclable material collected at each collection point, and the amount of rewards to be allocated for each collection point;

uploading the data to a central database;

generating at least one report from the data uploaded to the central database; and

allocating rewards as incentives to a customer corresponding to the unique set of identification data based on total amount of recyclable material collected from the series of collection points, in order to implement an incentive-based recycling system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the weighing device comprises a scale.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the lifting device comprises a rotary actuator lifter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage receptacle is located on-board the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pickup cart comprises a lid for securing the recyclable materials in a volume therein.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is a passive RFID tag.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a unique identification data programmed on the RFID tag is a 16-digit numerical value.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the rewards allocated are financial rewards.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one report comprises at least one of radio frequency identification value, date of collection, time of collection, gross weight, tare weight, net weight, level indicator, contamination indicator, scale identification value, sequence identification value, or any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein rewards are allocated to a customer in an amount equal to at least one of a proportionate value to the amount of recyclable material collected from a collection point associated with that customer, or a fixed amount.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the validating comprises converting raw data collected along the route to a format readable by the central database.

12. A system for providing an incentive-based recycling system comprising:

a mobile collection apparatus to collect recyclable material from a series of collection points;

a lifting device disposed on the mobile collection apparatus capable of lifting a pickup cart comprising a volume of collectable recyclable material and a radio frequency identification readable (RFID) tag, wherein the radio frequency identification readable tag is disposed on the pickup cart;

a weighing device disposed on the mobile collection apparatus and configured to produce a measured weight of collectable recyclable material, wherein the measured weight of collectable recyclable material is used to calculate an incentive;

a radio frequency identification tag-reading device disposed on the mobile collection apparatus to obtain a unique set of identification data from the pickup cart;

a storage receptacle for holding collectable recyclable material;

a validation module for validating collected weight data and identification data;

wherein the validation module comprises removing duplicate and incomplete points in the collected weight data and identification data, wherein the data is selected from a group consisting of;

identification data obtained from each collection point, the amount of recyclable material collected at each collection point, and the amount of rewards to be allocated for each collection point; and

a central database system configured to allocate rewards as incentives to a customer corresponding to the unique set of identification data based on total amount of recyclable material collected from the series of collection points;

wherein the mobile collection apparatus, the lifting device, the weighing device, the radio frequency identification tag-reading device, the storage receptacle, and the central database system comprise the incentive-based recycling system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the weighing device is a scale.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the lifting device and the weighing device comprise a single unit.

15. A method of implementing a system of incentive-based recycling comprising:

dispatching a vehicle on a route having a series of collection points to collect recyclable material;

lifting with a lifting device a pickup cart comprising a volume of collectable recyclable material, a graspable bar, and an active radio frequency identification readable tag;

placing the pickup cart containing a volume of collectable recyclable material on a scale;

obtaining a gross weight for the pickup cart containing a volume of collectable recyclable material;

transferring the collectable recyclable material into an on-board storage receptacle;

obtaining a tare weight for the pickup cart;

calculating a net weight of the collectable recyclable material;

using a radio frequency identification reader to obtain a unique set of identification data;

removing the pickup cart from the scale;

transporting a volume of collectable recyclable material to a drop-off facility;

validating collected weight data and identification data;

validating collected weight data and identification data;

wherein the validating comprises removing duplicate and incomplete points in the collected weight data and identification data, wherein the data is selected from a group consisting of;

identification data obtained from each collection point, the amount of recyclable material collected at each collection point, and the amount of rewards to be allocated for each collection point

uploading the data to a central database;

generating at least one report from the data uploaded to the central database; and

allocating financial rewards as incentives to a customer corresponding to a unique set of identification data based on total amount of recyclable material collected from the series of collection points, in order to implement an incentive-based recycling system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one report comprises at least one of radio frequency identification value, date of collection, time of collection, gross weight, tare weight, net weight, level indicator, contamination indicator, scale identification value, sequence identification value, or any combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein rewards are allocated to a customer in an amount equal to at least one of a proportionate value to the amount of recyclable material collected from a collection point associated with that customer, or a fixed amount.