Systems and methods for indicating a quality of grouped items

1. A computer-implemented method for determining a relative quantity of recyclable items in a total number of items:

receiving by the computer a number of identifiers associated with the recyclable items;

receiving at the computer the total number of items;

computing the relative quantity of recyclable items by dividing the number of identifiers associated with the recyclable items by the total number of items; and

receiving a specification of items of interest to define the recyclable items in the total number of items.

2. The computer-implemented of claim 1 , further comprising communicating instructions for removing at least a portion of the total number of items when the relative quantity is less than a predetermined threshold.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the identifiers comprise radio frequency identifier tags.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising communicating instructions for removing at least a portion of the total number of items when the relative quantity is less than a predetermined threshold.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:

accessing a data repository to calculate an expected weight of the recyclable items as a function of the number of identifiers associated with the recyclable items;

receiving a weight of the total number of items; and

computing the relative weight of the recyclable items by dividing the expected weight of the recyclable items by the weight of the total number of items.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising accessing a data repository by the computer to determine the number of identifiers associated with the recyclable items.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising generating an alert if an identifier is associated with a banned waste item.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising generating an alert if an identifier is associated with a banned waste item.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a sorting process of the total number of items as a function of the relative quantity of recyclable items.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing a data repository to calculate an expected weight of the recyclable items as a function of the number of identifiers associated with the recyclable items;

receiving a weight of the total number of items; and

computing the relative weight of the recyclable items by dividing the expected weight of the recyclable items by the weight of the total number of items.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating instructions for returning the total number of items to a sorting station in isolation from all other items when the relative quantity is less than a predetermined threshold.

12. A system for determining a relative quantity of recyclable items in a total number of items, comprising

a computer configured for:

determining a number of identifiers associated with the recyclable items;

determining the total number of items;

computing the relative quantity of recyclable items by dividing the number of identifiers associated with the recyclable items by the total number of items; and

receiving a specification of items of interest to define the recyclable items in the total number of items.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a data repository accessible by the computer for determining the number of identifiers associated with the recyclable items.

14. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a reader for reading an identifier respectively associated with at least some of the total number of items.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the identifiers comprise radio frequency identifier (RFID) tags, and wherein the reader is an RFID reader.

16. The system of claim 12 , further comprising one or more sorting stations for separating the total number of items from a respective input stream.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the respective input stream for at least one of the sorting stations comprises a returned portion of the total number of items when the computer determines that the relative quantity is less than a predetermined threshold.

18. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a sensor for sensing each item of the total number of items;

a counter in communication with the sensor and accessible by the computer for counting each sensed item to define the total number of items; and

a scale for weighing the total number of items.