# US 12,008,640 B1 · Methods and apparatus for managing information in connection with an account-based recycling program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,008,640 B1 - Document ID: US12008640B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/129,805 - Filed: 2023-03-31 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2006-01-20 - Assignees: Count & Crush Systems, LLC - Applicants: Count & Crush Systems, LLC - Inventors: William Hunscher; Frank Whittier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12008640B1 ## CPC - G06Q 40/02: Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance (credit or loans G06Q40/03) - G06F 16/245: Query processing - G06K 7/1417: {2D bar codes} - G06Q 10/30: Administration of product recycling or disposal - G06Q 20/10: specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems - G06Q 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass - G07F 7/0609: {by fluid containers, e.g. bottles, cups, gas containers} - G06Q 50/26: Government or public services (business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40) - Y02W 90/00: Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation - 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 - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - 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}) - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract Methods and apparatus for managing information relating to recycling activities are described. One embodiment described herein is directed to a method for accessing aggregated recycling information for use and/or display in connection with an account-based recycling program. The method comprises receiving first and second container information, the first container information concerning a plurality of first containers for a first recycling transaction and the second container information concerning a plurality of second containers for a second recycling transaction. The first and second container information is stored and associated account information concerning at least one consumer account. The method further comprises accessing, in response to receiving a query relating to a plurality of recycling transactions, information relating to at least the first and second containers so as to enable the use and/or display of aggregated recycling information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A recycling information management method, the method comprising: transporting a first bag associated with a first consumer, the first bag holding a first plurality of recyclable objects, and a second bag associated with a second consumer, the second bag holding a second plurality of recyclable objects, from a retail location recycling return center to a processing center; receiving, from a scanning system located at the processing center, a first set of information for the first bag representing a first recycling transaction, the first set of information including information about individual recyclable objects of the first plurality of recyclable objects, selected from: a redemption value for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects; a material for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects; a color for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects; a Universal Product Code (UPC) for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects; a container identifier for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects; or a type for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects; receiving, from the scanning system located at the processing center, a second set of information for the second bag representing a second recycling transaction, the second set of information including information about individual recyclable objects of the second plurality of recyclable objects, selected from: a redemption value for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects; a material for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects; a color for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects; a Universal Product Code (UPC) for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects; a container identifier for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects; or a type for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects; establishing correspondence, in at least one computing device, between the first set of information, stored in the at least one computing device, and a first consumer account associated with the first consumer; establishing correspondence, in at least one computing device, between the second set of information, stored in the at least one computing device, and a second consumer account associated with the second consumer; and in response to receiving a query relating to at least two recycling transactions from at least one input device, accessing in the at least one computing device information relating to at least the first and second sets of information. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising scanning the first and second pluralities of recyclable objects using the scanning system to determine the first and second sets of information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the scanning system comprises a barcode scanner. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of information comprises a redemption value for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects, and the second set of information comprises a redemption value for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of information comprises a material for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects, and the second set of information comprises a material for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of information comprises a Universal Product Code (UPC) for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects, and the second set of information comprises a UPC for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of information comprises a container identifier for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects, and the second set of information comprises a container identifier for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of information comprises a type for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects, and the second set of information comprises a type for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each recyclable object of the first plurality of recyclable objects has a deposit refund amount associated therewith, and wherein the method further comprises refunding to the first consumer the deposit refund amount based on the first set of information. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the accessed information relating to at least the first and second sets of information comprises a value corresponding to at least the first and second pluralities of recyclable objects, and wherein the plurality of recycling transactions correspond to a plurality of consumers.