Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RECYCLING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of United States Patent
Application
Serial No. 11/854,387, filed September 12, 2007, entitled "Method and System
for
Managing Recycling of Recyclable Material," which claims the benefit of United
States
Patent Application Serial No. 60/825,383, filed September 12, 2006. This
application is
also a continuation-in-part of United States Patent Application Serial No.
11/345,867,
filed February 2, 2006, entitled "Method and System for Improving Recycling
Through
the Use of Financial Incentives," which claims the benefit of United States
Patent
Application Serial No. 60/650,610, filed February 7, 2005. This application
claims the
benefit of United States Patent Application Serial No. 60/892,852, filed March
3, 2007.
This application also claims the benefit of United States Patent Application
Serial No.
60/892,849, filed March 3, 2007. Each of the aforementioned applications is
hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a recycling
system and
method thereof. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate
to a
method of implementing an incentive-based recycling system which rewards
clients for
recycling recyclable goods via financial or other incentives.
Description of the Related Art
[0003] The recycling industry has become more and more active over the course
of time,
each year being more active than the last. Fueled by rising energy costs and
diminishing supplies of natural resources, a great deal of time, money, and
research has
been put into the study of recycling processes, techniques, and methods.
However, in
order to install and conduct these recycling operations, the companies or
individuals
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conducting these operations rely on a constant inflow of recyclable materials
from
environment-conscious consumers.
[0004] Currently, in the United States, a great deal of money is spent in
setting up
programs and facilities which attempt to encourage consumers to recycle
recyclable
material. However, these programs and facilities utilize simple persuasive
techniques
in order to convince consumers to recycle; that is, the programs fail to
provide
consumers with incentive to properly recycle recyclable materials. As such,
much
recyclable material, some of which is difficult or impossible to regenerate,
such as
aluminum, glass, and polymeric material, is being dumped into landfills,
costing
taxpayer money and the opportunity cost of saving energy by recycling.
[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a system of implementing an incentive-
based
recycling system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a recycling
system
and method thereof. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention
relate to
a method of implementing an incentive-based recycling system which rewards
clients
for recycling recyclable goods via financial or other incentives.
[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, A method of implementing a
system of incentive-based recycling comprises 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
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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.
[0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, a system for providing
an
incentive-based recycling system comprises a mobile collection apparatus, 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, a weighing device disposed on the mobile
collection
apparatus, a radio frequency identification tag-reading device disposed on the
mobile
collection apparatus, and a storage receptacle for holding collectable
recyclable
material.
[0009] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, A method of
implementing a system of incentive-based recycling comprises dispatching a
vehicle on
a route, 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, uploading the data
to a central
database, generating at least one report from the data uploaded to the central
database,
and allocating financial rewards to a customer corresponding to a unique set
of
identification data.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] So the manner in which the above recited features of the present
invention
can be understood in detail, a more particular description of embodiments of
the
present invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to
embodiments,
which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however,
the
appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of embodiments
encompassed
within the scope of the present invention, and, therefore, are not to be
considered
limiting, for the present invention may admit to other equally effective
embodiments,
wherein:
[0011] Figure 1 depicts a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method in
accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention; and
[0012] Figure 2 depicts a portion of an incentive-based recycling system in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are
not
meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used
throughout
this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning
having the
potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must).
Similarly, the
words "include", "including", and "includes" mean including but not limited
to. To
facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where
possible, to
designate like elements common to the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a recycling
system and
method thereof. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate
to a
method of implementing an incentive-based recycling system which rewards
clients for
recycling recyclable goods via financial or other incentives.
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[0015] As used herein, the term "recyclable material" refers to any material
which can
be processed, treated, or otherwise altered in order to recover spent, used,
or
deteriorated material. "Recyclable material" may include, but is not limited
to, metal,
glass, plastics, polymers, paper, cardboard, batteries, oil, tires, textiles,
timber, concrete,
and any other recyclable material which is feasible in the context of the
present
invention.
[0016] As used herein, the term "record" and any derivative term thereof
(i.e.,
"records," "recording," "recordable," "recordation," etc.) refers to any
manner of
logging data points. Recordation may be physical (e.g., written down using a
writing
implement in conjunction with paper), electronic (e.g., entering data into a
database), or
by any other method feasible in the context of the present invention.
[0017] As used herein, the term "database" may refer to any organized
collection of
data and/or any method of collecting such data. A database may take the form
of a
physical organization of data (e.g., a written document), an electronic
organization of
data (e.g., a computer database such as Microsoft Access), or any other
organizational
system feasible in the context of the present invention.
[0018] As used herein, the term "download" and any derivative term thereof
(i.e.,
"downloads," "downloading," "downloadable," etc.) refers to the act, or the
product, of
receiving a set of data from a database. Additionally, as used herein, the
term "upload"
and any derivative thereof (i.e., "uploads," "uploading," "uploadable," etc.)
refers to
the act, or the product, of sending a set of data to a database.
[0019] Figure 1 depicts a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method in
accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 depicts a portion of an
incentive-based recycling system in accordance with one embodiment of the
present
invention. As discussed herein, reference may be made between both Figures 1
and 2,
whereas the former represents exemplary method steps provided by novel
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embodiments of the present invention, and the latter depicts an exemplary
system in
which such novel embodiments are implemented.
[0020] The method 100 begins at step 101. In one embodiment, at step 102, a
vehicle
202 adapted for collection of recyclable materials is dispatched on a
predetermined,
planned route. The vehicle 202 may be any vehicle suitable for embodiments of
the
present invention. In many embodiments, the vehicle has been adapted for
collection,
optionally featuring such components as a storage bin, compactor, fork,
shovel, scoop,
or any other component suitable for embodiments of the present invention or
any
combination thereof. One exemplary type of vehicle is a "garbage truck," such
as the
type disclosed by U.S. Patent No. 4,242,311, which is incorporated herein by
reference in
its entirety.
[0021] Along the route, the vehicle 202 stops at a series of collection points
to collect
recyclable material. The collection points may comprise residences, places of
business,
farms, or any other location feasible in the context of the present invention.
At each
collection point, the vehicle 202 collects a volume of recyclable material to
be
transported to a recycling facility, treatment plant, or other such processing
facility.
[0022] In one embodiment, the vehicle 202 is equipped with a lifting device
204, such as
an elevator, a lifting arm, or any other such means for lifting feasible in
the context of
the present invention. In one embodiment, the lifting device is a rotary
actuator lifter.
In one embodiment, a lifting device is commercially available from Cascade
Engineering, Inc. of Grand Rapids, MI under the CTB designation. In another
embodiment, a lifting device is commercially available from Barker Products of
Greenville, SC under the BPH15 designation.
[0023] At step 104, the lifting device 204 lifts a pickup cart 206 containing
a volume of
collectable recyclable material. At step 106, the cart 206 is placed onto a
weighing
device 214. The weighing device 214 may be a scale, a balance, or any other
weighing
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device feasible in the context of the present invention. The weighing device
214 may
operate in a digital or analog manner. One exemplary weighing and lifting
device is
disclosed in United States Patent No. 5,119,894, issued June 9, 1992 to
Crawford et al.,
the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. At step 108,
once the
pickup cart 206 containing collectable recyclable material is placed on the
weighing
device, the gross weight - that is, the weight of the pickup cart 206 and the
collectable
recyclable material - is obtained and recorded.
[0024] The pickup cart 206 may comprise a storage bin, a trash can, a mobile
garbage
bin (such as those sold under the Dumpster trademark), or any other waste
receptacle
feasible in the context of the present invention. In one embodiment of the
present
invention, the pickup cart 206 comprises a trash storage bin having a bar 216
disposed
thereon, which the lifting device is able to grasp, thereby enabling the
lifting device 204
to effectively maneuver the bin.
[0025] In many embodiments of the present invention, pickup carts 206 are
equipped
with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags 208. In such embodiments,
pickup cart
206 comprises at least a RFID tag 208, each being programmed with a unique
identification value. The RFID tag 208 may be passive, active, or semi-
passive. In one
embodiment of the present invention, the RFID tag 208 is active.
[0026] In step 110, after the gross weight of the pickup cart 206 and the
collectable
recyclable material is obtained and recorded, the recyclable material is
transferred to a
storage receptacle 212 for ease of transport. In one embodiment of the present
invention, the storage receptacle 212 is located on-board the vehicle. In
another
embodiment of the present invention, the storage receptacle 212 is a generally
stationary storage receptacle, such as a garbage bin. Optionally, the storage
receptacle
212 serves as a temporary holding area for recyclable material collected
during a route.
[0027] At step 112, once the recyclable material has been emptied into the
storage
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receptacle 212, the lifting device 204 replaces the pickup cart 206, now empty
of
collectable recyclable material, onto the weighing device 214. At step 114,
the weighing
device 214 calculates the tare weight - that is, the weight of the pickup cart
206 which is
free of collectable recyclable material - and records this value. At step 116,
in one
embodiment of the present invention, the tare weight can then be subtracted
from the
gross weight to determine the net weight of the collectable recyclable
material obtained
from each collection point.
[0028] At step 118, in one embodiment, a radio frequency identification (RFID)
tag
reader 210 reads a passive RFID tag 208 on the pickup cart 206 to obtain a
unique
identification value corresponding to a customer. In one embodiment, the
unique
identification value is a 16-digit numerical value. The unique identification
value can
then be recorded in a database. Other data may also be obtained from the
collection
point which is then associated with a unique identification value.
[0029] At step 120, the pickup cart 206 is then removed from the weighing
device 214
and replaced to its original position. The collectable recyclable material may
then be
transported to a recycling facility or other processing or treatment facility
feasible in the
context of the present invention.
[0030] In many embodiments of the present invention, after the recyclable
material is
collected by the vehicle from a collection point, the vehicle 202 may continue
to visit
additional collection points along the route. Generally, once the material
from the final
collection point has been collected, or once the storage receptacle 212
becomes full of
recyclable material, the vehicle 202 enters a drop-off facility, where it can
unload the
recyclable material for further processing, as shown at decision 121.
[0031] In one embodiment of the present invention, the measurements and other
data
points collected by the vehicle or data collection system are then validated,
at step 124.
In one embodiment of the present invention, if necessary, the validation
process first
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converts the raw data collected along the route to a format which is readable
by a
central database system. Then, the validation process ensures that there are
no
duplicate points and no incomplete points (that is, points with data missing
in required
fields). If any duplicate or incomplete points exist, the validation process
removes these
points from the data series.
[0032] At step 126, after all of the data has been converted (if necessary)
and validated,
the data is uploaded to a central database. Measurements and data points may
be
analyzed and organized according to any number of analytical methods. The data
may
include the identification data obtained from each collection point, the
amount of
recyclable material collected at each collection point (reported as a weight,
mass,
volume, or any other quantitative, qualitative, or colligative property
feasible in the
context of the present invention), the amount of rewards to be allocated for
each
collection point, and any other measurement, data point, or calculation
feasible in the
context of the present invention.
[0033] At step 128, when the data has been uploaded to the central database,
at least one
report is generated from the uploaded data, in accordance with one embodiment
of the
present invention. The at least one report may present the data points and/or
analysis
of such points. The at least one report may include all or some of the data
points and
measurements uploaded to the central database.
[0034] In one embodiment of the present invention, the report or reports may
include a
plurality of measurements and data, such as RFID identification value, date of
collection, time of collection, gross weight, tare weight, net weight, level
indicator,
contamination indicator, scale identification value, sequence identification
value, and
any other measurement or value feasible in the context of the present
invention. Any of
these values may be input manually or generated automatically by one or more
data
enterers.
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[0035] At step 130, a set of rewards is allocated to a customer or client
associated with a
unique set of identification data collected from a collection point. The
rewards may be
financial in nature (e.g., monetary rewards) or any other type of rewards
feasible in the
context of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention,
rewards
may comprise cash. In another embodiment, the rewards may comprise a credit,
such
as a gift certificate. In another embodiment, the rewards may comprise points
or tokens
which are redeemable for financial rewards.
[0036] The rewards may be allocated electronically (e.g., a transaction
between two
bank accounts, an entry into an electronic database), physically (e.g., a
check or money
order, a certificate), or by any other type of method feasible in the context
of the present
invention.
[0037] In one embodiment of the present invention, rewards are allocated to a
customer
in an amount which is proportionate to the amount of recyclable material
collected from
a collection point associated with that customer. In such an embodiment, the
amount of
rewards allocated to any customer or client may be calculated or otherwise
determined
using an algorithm. The algorithm may take as input any of the measurements
made or
data points recorded before, during, or after collection of recyclable
material from
collection points. The output of the algorithm may be a specific currency
amount, an
amount of points or tokens, a credit amount, any other output feasible in the
context of
the present invention, or any combination thereof.
[0038] In another embodiment of the present invention, rewards are allocated
to a
customer in a fixed amount. In such an embodiment, the central database may be
queried to determine if a vehicle collected recyclable material from a
collection point
corresponding to a customer. If so, the customer may be credited with a fixed
amount
of currency, points, tokens, or any other reward type feasible in the context
of the
present invention, hereinafter referred to as "units." In another embodiment,
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customer may be credited with a fixed amount of units regardless of the
collection of
recyclable material.
[0039] In another embodiment of the present invention, rewards are allocated
to a
customer in an amount based on the total amount of recyclable material
collected from
a series of collection points. In one embodiment, each of a series of
customers, each
corresponding to one or more collection points, may be allocated a fixed
amount of
units. In another embodiment, each of a series of customers, corresponding to
one or
more collection points, may be allocated an amount of units which is
proportionate to
the amount of recyclable material collected at the collection point or
collection points
which correspond to the customer. In another embodiment, each of a series of
customers, corresponding to one or more collection points, may be allocated an
amount
of units based on an algorithmic calculation, as described above. The method
100 ends
at step 132.
[0040] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present
invention, other
and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from
the
basic scope thereof.
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