Method and apparatus for monitoring waste removal and administration
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for a municipality to track the condition, pick-up, and general use of a large number of refuse containers among its citizens and businesses, the method comprising the steps of:
- permitting use of a multi-use waste receptacle among a plurality of residents of a municipality wherein the multi-use waste receptacle is of a type filled and emptied on multiple occasions;
establishing a plurality of multi-use receptacle use types;
associating a passive radio frequency identification tag having a unique identifier associated therewith with each multi-use waste receptacle;
associating a use type with each passive radio frequency identification tag;
establishing an electronically accessible database external to the passive radio frequency identification tag comprising an association of the plurality of unique identifiers with biographical information associated with a corresponding member of the plurality of residents;
requiring attachment of the passive radio frequency identification tag to a receptacle associated with a resident wherein the passive radio frequency identification tag remains attached to the receptacle subsequent to several loadings and empties of refuse within the receptacle;
making a determination whether use of a multi-use receptacle is in compliance or non-compliance based on the use type associated with the passive radio frequency identification tag attached thereto; and
operating a handheld device for communicating information regarding the determination, the handheld device comprising a reader for reading the unique identifier from the passive radio frequency identification tag, a means for wireless communication with the database wherein the handheld device receives information from and transmits information to the electronically accessible database, and a display for displaying information to a user.
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Abstract
A method for a municipality to control, track, and monitor waste or refuse receptacles requires a permit for use of a waste receptacle. An issuing organization issues a permit associated with a discreet receptacle identifier. An RFID tag is provided with the permit and attached to a discreet receptacle. The RFID tag transmits a signal carrying data associated with the discreet receptacle identifier. The signal may be read by a portable reader carried by municipal personnel to record violations of municipal code associated with the use of the discreet receptacle.
108 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for a municipality to track the condition, pick-up, and general use of a large number of refuse containers among its citizens and businesses, the method comprising the steps of:
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permitting use of a multi-use waste receptacle among a plurality of residents of a municipality wherein the multi-use waste receptacle is of a type filled and emptied on multiple occasions; establishing a plurality of multi-use receptacle use types; associating a passive radio frequency identification tag having a unique identifier associated therewith with each multi-use waste receptacle; associating a use type with each passive radio frequency identification tag; establishing an electronically accessible database external to the passive radio frequency identification tag comprising an association of the plurality of unique identifiers with biographical information associated with a corresponding member of the plurality of residents; requiring attachment of the passive radio frequency identification tag to a receptacle associated with a resident wherein the passive radio frequency identification tag remains attached to the receptacle subsequent to several loadings and empties of refuse within the receptacle; making a determination whether use of a multi-use receptacle is in compliance or non-compliance based on the use type associated with the passive radio frequency identification tag attached thereto; and operating a handheld device for communicating information regarding the determination, the handheld device comprising a reader for reading the unique identifier from the passive radio frequency identification tag, a means for wireless communication with the database wherein the handheld device receives information from and transmits information to the electronically accessible database, and a display for displaying information to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification