SYSTEM FOR MANAGING RECYCLABLE AND NON-RECYCLABLE MATERIALS

• US 20060235808A1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Matthew P. Berry
• Original Assignee: Matthew P. Berry
• Inventors: Berry, Matthew P.
• Application Number:
  US11/422,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20060235808A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/414
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A systematic method for managing recyclable and non-recyclable waste. The method includes the step of identifying an amount of recyclable waste. The method also includes the step of determining a credit amount based on the amount of recyclable waste. The method further includes the step of reporting the credit amount to the customer. A container for use in a recycling system is also described. The container may include a structure for containing recyclable waste; and indicia may be disposed on the structure. The indicia identify the value of the recyclable waste contained by the structure.

Claims

1. ) A system for managing recyclable and non-recyclable materials, comprising:

(a) at least one customer;

(b) at least one source of recyclable materials of at least one type;

(c) a system for sorting the recyclable materials by type;

(i) wherein the system for sorting the recyclable materials by type further includes a plurality of individual containers for temporarily storing the recyclable materials; and

(ii) wherein each container further includes identifying indicia relating to the materials in the container; and

(d) a system administrator, wherein the system administrator further includes;

(i) means for creating and managing a customer account for each of the at least one customers;

(ii) means for collecting the recyclable materials from the source;

(iii) means for measuring at least one physical property of a filled container;

(iv) means for determining a current market value for the recyclable materials;

(v) means for using the identifying indicia to associate the contents of each container with the current market value for a particular recyclable material and using the at least one measured physical property of each container to determine a per unit value for each filled container; and

(vi) means for crediting at least a portion of each determined per unit value to the appropriate user account.

2. ) The system of claim 1, further comprising a purchasing entity for purchasing the recyclable materials from the system administrator.

3. ) The system of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) at least one source of non-recyclable materials; and

(b) wherein the system administrator further comprises;

(i) means for collecting the non-recyclable materials from the source;

(ii) means for separating the non-recyclable materials from the recyclable materials;

(iii) means for determining a cost for disposing of the non-recyclable materials collected from the source; and

(iv) means for debiting the cost of disposing of the non-recyclable materials against the appropriate user account.

4. ) The system of claim 3, further comprising an entity for disposing of the non-recyclable materials.

5. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one source of recyclable materials is selected from the group consisting of a home or business.

6. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the recyclable materials are selected from the group consisting of metal, glass, paper, plastic and combinations thereof.

7. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the containers for storing recyclable materials are selected from the group consisting of plastics bags, paper bags, and combinations thereof.

8. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying indicia is selected from the group consisting of computer-readable storage media, printed text, different colors, printed instructions, and combinations thereof.

9. ) The system of claim 8, wherein the computer-readable storage medium includes information about at least one of the size of the container, the volume or the contents of the container, the user account, and the customer.

10. ) The system of claim 8, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is a bar code.

11. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the system administrator is a single public, private, or governmental entity.

12. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the system administrator further comprises a plurality of separate business entities and governmental entities.

13. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the system administrator further comprises at least one computer system, at least one database, and at least one computer network.

14. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the system administrator is a purchaser of the recycled materials.

15. ) A method for managing recyclable and non-recyclable materials, comprising:

(a) identifying at least one customer;

(b) providing at least one source of recyclable materials of at least one type;

(c) providing a system for sorting the recyclable materials by type;

(i) wherein the system for sorting the recyclable materials by type further includes a plurality of individual containers for temporarily storing the recyclable materials;

(ii) wherein each container further includes identifying indicia relating to the contents of the container; and

(d) creating and managing a user account for each of the at least one customers;

(e) collecting the recyclable materials from the source;

(f) measuring the weight of a filled container;

(g) determining a current market value, by weight, for the recyclable materials;

(h) using the identifying indicia to associate the contents of each container with the current market value for a particular recyclable material and using the measured weight of each container to determine a per unit value for each filled container; and

(i) crediting at least a portion of each determined per unit value to the appropriate user account.

16. ) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of identifying a purchaser for the recyclable materials.

17. ) The method of claim 15, further comprising:

(a) providing at least one source of non-recyclable materials, wherein the source of the non-recyclable materials is substantially the same as the at least one source of recyclable materials;

(b) separating the non-recyclable materials from the recyclable materials;

(c) collecting the non-recyclable materials from the source;

(d) determining a cost for disposing of the non-recyclable materials collected from the source; and

(e) debiting the cost of disposing of the non-recyclable materials against the appropriate user account.

18. ) The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of identifying an entity for disposing of the non-recyclable materials.

19. ) The method of claim 15, wherein the recyclable materials are selected from the group consisting of metal, glass, paper, plastic and combinations thereof.

20. ) The method of claim 15, wherein the containers for storing recyclable materials are selected from the group consisting of plastics bags, paper bags, and combinations thereof.

21. ) The method of claim 15, wherein the identifying indicia are selected from the group consisting of computer-readable storage media printed text, different colors, printed instructions, and combinations thereof.

22. ) The method of claim 21, wherein the computer-readable storage medium includes information about at least one of the size of the container, the volume or the contents of the container, the user account, and the customer.

23. ) The method of claim 21, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is a bar code.

24. ) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of providing instructions, wherein the instructions are provided on the inside of the containers.

25. ) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of printing information on the exterior of the containers, wherein the information further includes advertising.