# US 10,318,960 B2 · Method and system for improving recycling through the use of financial incentives > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,318,960 B2 - Document ID: US10318960B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/100,384 - Filed: 2011-05-04 - Published: 2011-10-27 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2005-02-07 - Assignees: Recyclebank LLC - Applicants: Patrick K. FitzGerald; Ron Gonen - Inventors: Patrick K. FitzGerald; Ron Gonen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10318960B2 ## CPC - G06Q 30/00: Commerce - G06Q 20/26: Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now" - G06Q 30/0207: Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates - G06Q 30/0208: Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards - G06Q 30/0235: constrained by time limit or expiration date - G07F 7/0609: {by fluid containers, e.g. bottles, cups, gas containers} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the identifier is obtainable from any of an optically readable bar code, radio frequency transponder, radio frequency identification tag and geographic identification code. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the quantity of the recyclable materials in the receptacle is determinable by weighing the receptacle prior to collecting the recyclable materials for recycling, and subtracting the weight of the receptacle after collection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the quantity of the recyclable materials in the receptacle is determinable by measuring a volume of the recyclable materials of the receptacle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the credits are dependent on the recycling event and on the quantity of recyclable materials in the receptacle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first record is obtainable via a computational platform disposed aboard a vehicle adapted to collect the recyclable materials. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one record is obtainable via a handheld device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second record is stored in memory at the computer database, and accessible via a network, and wherein enabling the entity to convert the credits into rewards redeemable from third party providers comprises: receiving, from a computational platform associated with the entity via the network, a request to redeem the at least a portion of credits from the at least one second record; providing to the computational platform via the network, a response having an indication of the rewards available to the entity, wherein the rewards available to the entity are a function of a value associated with the credits. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising disseminating the rewards to the entity. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the computing platform comprises a portion, wherein the portion is adapted to: receive the at least one first record via at least one communication link; apply the reward rate to at least a portion of the at least one first record to form credits; and store, in memory in at least one second record, the credits. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the computing platform comprises first and second portions, wherein the first portion is adapted to: communicate the at least one first record to the second portion via at least one communication link, and wherein the second portion is adapted to: receive the at least one first record via the at least one communication link; apply the reward rate to at least a portion of the at least one first record to form credits; and store, in memory in at least one second record, the credits. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, wherein the first portion is further adapted to communicate the at least one first record at a given time, wherein the given time comprises the time of collection or a time thereafter.