Periodical recycling and reward distribution systems and methods

Abstract

Methods and systems for recycling a periodical are described. The methods may include the step of providing periodical information about the periodical to a recycling device, where the periodical is deposited with the recycling device. The methods may further include calculating one or more of discount offers based on the periodical information, and displaying the one or more of discount offers at the recycling device. One or more of the discount offers may be selected at the recycling device, and the selected offers may be printed into a ticket, coupon, or some other printed material at the recycling device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of recycling a periodical, the method comprising:
 receiving a periodical at a recycling device, the recycling device located at a retail merchant location;   providing periodical information about the periodical to the recycling device in response to the periodical being received at the recycling device, wherein the periodical information defines subject matter of the periodical;   determining, by one or more processors, the subject matter of the periodical from the periodical information;   calculating, by one or more of the processors, one or more marketing offers based on the subject matter of the periodical and that relate to a product or service sold at the retail merchant location; and   providing, by one or more of the processors, the one or more marketing offers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the periodical comprises a newspaper or a magazine. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing periodical information to the recycling device comprises scanning a barcode printed on the periodical. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing periodical information to the recycling device comprises manually inputting the periodical information using a keypad or touch screen display. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject matter of the periodical comprises a product, item, service or advertisement featured in the periodical. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the item featured in the periodical is an article in the periodical. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying, by one or more of the processors, the one or more of marketing offers at the recycling device; and   selecting, by one or more of the processors, one or more of the marketing offers at the recycling device; and   wherein providing the one or more marketing offers comprises printing and dispensing the selected one or more marketing offers.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein selecting one or more of the marketing offers comprises receiving, at an input device at the recycling device, input from a user for selecting one or more of the marketing offers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating one or more marketing offers based on the periodical information comprises:
 transmitting the periodical information from the recycling device to a processor that is removed from the recycling device, wherein the processor calculates the one or more marketing offers; and   receiving at the recycling device the one or more marketing offers calculated by the processor.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the one or more marketing offers comprises printing a coupon for a discount on a new periodical, good, or service. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises verifying that the periodical is deposited with the recycling device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calculating one or more marketing offers based on the subject matter of the periodical further comprises basing the one or more marketing offers on a type of the periodical and on readers associated with the type of periodical. 
     
     
         13 . A method of recycling a periodical from a consumer, the method comprising:
 receiving a periodical at a recycling device, the recycling device located at a retail merchant location;   providing periodical information about the periodical to the recycling device in response to the periodical being received at the recycling device, the periodical information defining subject matter of the periodical rather than providing personal information concerning the consumer recycling the periodical;   determining, by one or more processors, the subject matter of the periodical from the periodical information;   calculating, by one or more of the processors, one or more marketing offers based on the subject matter of the periodical and that relate to a product or service sold at the retail merchant location; and   providing, by one or more of the processors, the one or more marketing offers for the consumer.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the periodical comprises a newspaper or a magazine. 
     
     
         15 . A system to recycle a periodical from a consumer, the system comprising:
 a scanning device located at a retail merchant location to collect periodical information from the periodical, the periodical information defining subject matter of the content of the periodical rather than providing personal information concerning the consumer recycling the periodical;   a processor to calculate one or more marketing offers based on the subject matter of the content of the periodical and that relate to a product or service at the retail merchant location;   a display device at the merchant location to display the one or more marketing offers;   an input device at the merchant location to select one or more of the displayed marketing offers;   a printing device at the merchant location to print the one or more selected marketing offers; and   a receptacle at the merchant location to hold the recycled periodical.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the system further comprises an opening in a surface of the receptacle through which the periodical is inserted. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the system further comprises a verification device to verify that the periodical has been deposited in the receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is located at a site that is remote from the receptacle to hold the recycled periodical. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the system further comprises a wired or wireless data transceiver for transmitting periodical information to a computer network, and wherein the data transceiver receives data about the one or more marketing offers from a site that is remote from the receptacle to hold the recycled periodical. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the periodical comprises a newspaper or a magazine.