Charitable donation of proceeds from recycling activity

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention enable an organization to nominate itself to receive proceeds from consumer recycling activity. For example, some embodiments enable an organization to request that an account be established to which proceeds from recycling activity are to be directed. Upon the account being established, the organization may be provided with a set of receptacles (e.g., beverage container collection bags), which the organization may hand out to potential donors. Each receptacle may include an identifier that allows the account to be identified. Donors may collect recyclable beverage containers in his/her receptacle over time, and bring the receptacle to a return center when it becomes full, at a designated time (e.g., to meet a suggested deadline set by the organization), or at any other suitable time. The recyclable containers in the receptacle may be processed, and a value to be provided in exchange for the containers may be determined. Some or all of that value may be deposited to the organization's account, rather than being provided to the consumer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 (A) allowing an organization to request that an account be established;   (B) establishing an account for the organization;   (C) receiving at least one recyclable container and information enabling the account to be identified;   (D) processing the at least one recyclable container, the processing comprising determining a value to be provided in exchange for the at least one recyclable container; and   (E) depositing the value determined in (D) into the account.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act (A) comprises providing an online facility enabling a representative of the organization to request that an account be established. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organization includes a plurality of groups, and the act (B) includes establishing an account for the organization and at least one sub-account, associated with the account, for one of the plurality of groups in the organization. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act (B) includes providing to the organization a receptacle comprising the information enabling the account to be identified, and the act (C) comprises receiving the receptacle, the receptacle storing the at least one recyclable container. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the receptacle is part of a set of receptacles that is provided to the organization for distribution to donors. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information enabling the account to be identified comprises an identifier of the account. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the identifier is printed on a tag to be affixed to a receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising an act of:
 (F) issuing a statement to the organization providing information on activity relating to the account.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising an act of:
 (G) distributing value held in the account to the organization.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the act (G) comprises making a periodic distribution. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the act (A) comprises allowing nomination of a representative of the organization, and the act (G) comprises issuing a distribution to the nominated representative. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising an act of:
 (H) providing a facility enabling the organization to monitor activity relating to account.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organization is a charitable organization. 
     
     
         14 . At least one computer-readable storage device having instructions recorded thereon which, when executed, perform a method comprising:
 (A) providing a facility enabling an organization to request that an account be established;   (B) in response to receiving a request received via the facility, establishing an account for the organization;   (C) receiving information enabling the account to be identified and an indication that at least one recyclable container is submitted for recycling;   (D) determining a value to be provided in exchange for the at least one recyclable container; and   (E) depositing the value determined in (D) into the account.   
     
     
         15 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the act (A) comprises providing an online facility enabling a representative of the organization to request that an account be established. 
     
     
         16 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the organization includes a plurality of groups, and the act (B) includes establishing an account for the organization and at least one sub-account, associated with the account, for one of the plurality of groups in the organization. 
     
     
         17 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the information enabling the account to be identified received in the act (C) comprises an identifier of the account. 
     
     
         18 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises an act of:
 (F) issuing a statement to the organization providing information on activity relating to the account.   
     
     
         19 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises an act of:
 (G) distributing value held in the account to the organization.   
     
     
         20 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the act (G) comprises making a periodic distribution.