Techniques for managing information relating to recyclable containers

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for managing information relating to recycling activities. In one embodiment, a method is provided in which a consumer returns beverage containers to a redemption kiosk offering a significantly improved consumer experience. Rather than having to wait for an attendant to count the containers and provide value in exchange, an account is maintained for the consumer to which the containers' value is ascribed. The redemption kiosk projects a neat and sanitary appearance, and is designed to be situated in a parking lot outside a retail location so as not to occupy valuable floor space. Information on consumer recycling activities is captured and analyzed to support marketing activities.

1 . A method of managing information relating to consumer recycling activities comprising acts of: 
 (A) performing a recycling transaction with each of a plurality of consumers, each consumer being identifiable via a consumer identifier, each recycling transaction comprising an exchange of at least one recyclable container returned by a consumer for value;    (B) assigning a transaction identifier to each recycling transaction;    (C) storing, in electronic file storage, an indication of each recycling transaction, the indication including the transaction identifier and consumer identifier.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act (C) further comprises storing, for each recycling transaction, information relating to the at least one recyclable container.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the information relating to the at least one recyclable container comprises information on a beverage stored in each container.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the information relating to the at least one recyclable container comprises information on a material from which each recyclable container is formed.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act (C) further comprises storing a date and time of each recycling transaction in the electronic file storage.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act (C) further comprises storing information personally identifying each consumer.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act (C) further comprises storing information relating to an account to which the value is transferable.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act (A) further comprises processing the at least one container returned by the consumer to recover a material from which each container is formed, and the act (C) further comprises storing information relating to the material.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the act (A) further comprises processing the at least one container using an automated apparatus, and the act (C) further comprises storing information relating to the apparatus.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the consumers performs a plurality of recycling transactions, and wherein the method further comprises an act of: 
 (D) accessing the information in the electronic file storage to determine information on the recycling transactions performed by the consumer.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of consumers performs a recycling transaction involving a plurality of recyclable containers, and wherein the method further comprises an act of: 
 (E) accessing the information in the electronic file storage to determine information on the containers returned by the consumers.    
     
     
         12 . At least one computer-readable medium having instructions encoded thereon, which instructions, when executed, perform a method of managing information relating to consumer recycling activities, the method comprising acts of: 
 (A) performing a recycling transaction with each of a plurality of consumers, each consumer being identifiable via a consumer identifier, each recycling transaction comprising an exchange of at least one recyclable container returned by a consumer for value;    (B) assigning a transaction identifier to each recycling transaction;    (C) storing, in electronic file storage, an indication of each recycling transaction, the indication including the transaction identifier and consumer identifier.    
     
     
         13 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the act (C) further comprises storing, for each recycling transaction, information relating to the at least one recyclable container.  
     
     
         14 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the information relating to the at least one recyclable container comprises information on a beverage stored in each container.  
     
     
         15 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the information relating to the at least one recyclable container comprises information on a material from which each recyclable container is formed.  
     
     
         16 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the act (C) further comprises storing a date and time of each recycling transaction in the electronic file storage.  
     
     
         17 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the act (C) further comprises storing information personally identifying each consumer.  
     
     
         18 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the act (C) further comprises storing information relating to an account to which the value is transferable.  
     
     
         19 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the act (A) further comprises processing the at least one container returned by the consumer to recover a material from which each container is formed, and the act (C) further comprises storing information relating to the material.  
     
     
         20 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the act (A) further comprises processing the at least one container using an automated apparatus, and the act (C) further comprises storing information relating to the apparatus.  
     
     
         21 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein one of the consumers performs a plurality of recycling transactions, and wherein the method further comprises an act of: 
 (D) accessing the information in the electronic file storage to determine information on the recycling transactions performed by the consumer.    
     
     
         22 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of consumers performs a recycling transaction involving a plurality of recyclable containers, and wherein the method further comprises an act of: 
 (E) accessing the information in the electronic file storage to determine information on the containers returned by the consumers.    
     
     
         23 . A system for managing information relating to consumer recycling activities comprising: 
 a transaction controller operable to perform a recycling transaction with each of a plurality of consumers, each consumer being identifiable via a consumer identifier, each recycling transaction comprising an exchange of at least one recyclable container returned by a consumer for value;    an assignment controller operable to assign a transaction identifier to each recycling transaction;    an electronic file storage;    a storage controller operable to store, in the electronic file storage, an indication of each recycling transaction, the indication including the transaction identifier and consumer identifier.    
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the storage controller is further operable to store, for each recycling transaction, information relating to the at least one recyclable container.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the information relating to the at least one recyclable container comprises information on a beverage stored in each container.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the information relating to the at least one recyclable container comprises information on a material from which each recyclable container is formed.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the storage controller is further operable to store a date and time of each recycling transaction in the electronic file storage.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the storage controller is further operable to store information personally identifying each consumer.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the storage controller is further operable to store information relating to an account to which the value is transferable.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the transaction controller is further operable to process the at least one container returned by the consumer to recover a material from which each container is formed, and the storage controller is further operable to store information relating to the material.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the transaction controller is further operable to process the at least one container using an automated apparatus, and the storage controller is further operable to store information relating to the apparatus.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein one of the consumers performs a plurality of recycling transactions, and wherein the system further comprises: 
 an access controller operable to access the information in the electronic file storage to determine information on the recycling transactions performed by the consumer.    
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein each of the plurality of consumers performs a recycling transaction involving a plurality of recyclable containers, and wherein the system further comprises: 
 an access controller operable to access the information in the electronic file storage to determine information on the containers returned by the consumers.