Radio-frequency tags for sorting post-consumption items
An apparatus and method of selectively sorting post-consumption items that are associated with radio-frequency tags based on data received from the RF tag. One embodiment includes a conveyor, a picker arm, and an RF reader. Another embodiment includes an RF reader and a receptacle for selectively holding post-consumption items based on data retrieved from the associated RF tag.
1. A system comprising:
a container of an item to carry a content;
a radio frequency tag attached to the container or the content, the radio frequency tag storing machine-readable code comprising first data and second data, wherein the first data which, when read by a tag reader, provides information as to how the item was consumed, wherein the first data comprises at least two of: information relating to a previous location of the item, a recall indicator to indicate whether the item or the content is subjected to a recall, a date, a shelf life for the item or the content, a composition for the item or the content, or an identification number of a device that last updated the first data or the second data, wherein the second data which, when read by the tag reader interacting with a sorting apparatus, causes the sorting apparatus to sort the item as a post-consumption item in accordance with a type of action to be taken, the second data comprising information for identifying a retrieval company for providing a retrieval service for the post-consumption item and the type of action to be taken for the post-consumption item as one or more of: for recycling, for treatment as a hazardous waste, or for disposal as a biodegradable material; and
the sorting apparatus to sort the container in accordance with the type of action to be taken.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a battery for powering the radio frequency tag.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency tag is an active radio frequency tag.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency tag is a passive radio frequency tag.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the tag reader.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sorting apparatus comprises a pushing arm for pushing the container into a bin in accordance with the type of action to be taken.