Methods and apparatus for managing information in connection with an account-based recycling program
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.
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 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 first plurality of recyclable objects;
a material 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;
establishing a correspondence, in at least one computing device, between the first set of information, stored in the at least one computing device, with a first consumer account associated with the first consumer and the second set of information, stored in the at least one computing device, with 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.
2. 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.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the scanning system comprises a barcode scanner.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.