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US 10,318,960 B2Granted
Method and system for improving recycling through the use of financial incentives
AssigneeRecyclebank LLC
InventorsPatrick K. FitzGerald, Ron Gonen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for improving recycling and participation rates by providing financial incentives to households engaged in recycling. Certain embodiments of the invention relate to reduction of costs associated with waste collection and the enhancement of collection efficiency. Other embodiments of the invention relate to opening a marketing channel for participating retailers to build value from responsible corporate citizenship.
Claims13
A method comprising:
- obtaining, at a computer database, at least one first record of a recycling event, wherein the at least one first record comprises:
- a first indication of the recycling event, wherein the first indication is indicative of a time of collection of recyclable materials;
- and
- an identifier indicative of a source of recyclable materials and a quantity of recyclable materials, wherein:
- the identifier is associated with a receptacle containing the recyclable materials and obtained at the time of collection of recyclable materials;
- the source of the recyclable materials is indicative of an entity associated with the receptacle;
- and
- the quantity of recyclable materials is determined from a first amount of the recyclable materials contained in the receptacle at the time of collection;
- obtaining, at the computer database, a second indication of the recycling event, wherein the second indication comprises a quantitative indication of a weight of the receptacle after collection, the weight determined by a weighing mechanism;
- adjusting the quantity of recyclable materials of the at least one first record as a function of the second indication;
- applying at least one reward rate, selected from a number of different reward rates, to at least a portion of the at least one first record to form credits of a single type for accrual to the source of the recyclable materials, the at least one reward rate being based on at least one demographic to which the entity is a member;
- storing, in at least one second record, the credits earned by the entity;
- and
- enabling the entity to select, from the computer database, at least a portion of the credits of a single type from a total of credits accrued of a single type, and to convert the at least a portion of the credits of a single type into rewards redeemable from any one or more of a plurality of third party providers, wherein the rewards comprise any one of a good, a service, coupon for a good, coupon for a service, and other economic benefit, from the one or more of a plurality of third party providers chosen by the entity, wherein the third party providers comprise different vendors, service providers and retailers, and wherein the rewards are generated at the computer database and are retrievable by the entity.
11 more elements
A system comprising a computing platform adapted to:
- obtain, and store in memory, at least one first record of a recycling event, wherein the at least one first record comprises:
- a first indication of the recycling event, wherein the first indication is indicative of a time of collection of recyclable materials;
- and
- an identifier indicative of a source of recyclable materials and a quantity of recyclable materials, wherein:
- the identifier is associated with a receptacle containing the recyclable materials and obtained at the time of collection of recyclable materials;
- the source of the recyclable materials is indicative of an entity associated with the receptacle;
- and
- the quantity of recyclable materials is determined from a first amount of the recyclable materials contained in the receptacle at the time of collection;
- obtain a second indication of the recycling event, wherein the second indication comprises a quantitative indication of a weight of the receptacle after collection, the weight determined by a weighing mechanism;
- adjust the quantity of recyclable materials of the at least one first record as a function of the second indication;
- applying at least one reward rate, selected from a number of different reward rates, to at least a portion of the at least one first record to form credits of a single type for accrual to the source of the recyclable materials, the at least one reward rate being based on at least one demographic to which the entity is a member;
- store, in memory in at least one second record, the credits of a single type;
- and
- enabling the entity to select, from the memory, at least a portion of the credits of a single type from a total of credits accrued of a single type, and to convert the at least a portion of the credits of a single type into rewards redeemable from any one or more of a plurality of third party providers, wherein the rewards comprise any one of a good, a service, coupon for a good, coupon for a service, and other economic benefit, from the one or more of a plurality of third party providers chosen by the entity, wherein the third party providers comprise different vendors, service providers and retailers, and wherein the rewards are generated at the memory and are retrievable by the entity.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.