Method and apparatus for monitoring waste removal and administration

A system comprising:

• a) a tag in the form of a passive radio frequency identification tag, the tag having a unique identifier associated with the tag, wherein the tag is configured to be affixed to a receptacle;
• b) a database external to the tag and comprising a plurality of unique identifiers and biographical information associated with a plurality of users;
• c) a scanner for communicating information regarding the unique identifier associated with the tag, the scanner comprising a reader for reading the unique identifier from the tag at a pickup location of the receptacle, a transmitter for communicating selectively with the database wherein the scanner receives information from and transmits information to the database, and a display for displaying information to a user;
• d) an antenna for sending the unique identifier associated with the tag read by the scanner to the database;
• e) an internet connection to the database, wherein the database correlates the unique identifier associated with the tag with the biographical information associated with at least one user of the plurality of users to create identification information to be published via the internet connection, and wherein the internet connection provides service status information, including an account status for the receptacle based upon identification information provided from the database;
• and
• f) a controller configured to:
• in response to the status information indicating that the account status is not current, automatically preclude pickup of the receptacle by changing a capability of pickup equipment on a vehicle to prevent transfer of the receptacle from a first position at which the pickup equipment is temporarily retaining the receptacle to a second position at which the pickup equipment empties the receptacle, and
• in response to the status information indicating that the account status is current, automatically allow pickup of the receptacle by changing the capability of the pickup equipment on the vehicle to cause the pickup equipment to transfer the receptacle from the first position to the second position.