Waste Recovery Systems and Methods

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a system may include at least one optical sensor configured to capture optical data associated with a waste product and a processor coupled to the at least one optical sensor. The processor may be configured to determine information about the waste product based on the optical data and to selectively direct the waste product to a selected destination in response to determining the information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 an optical sensor configured to capture optical data associated with a container of a waste product;   a processor coupled to the optical sensor and configured to:
 automatically identify the waste product based on the optical data; 
 determine a disposal bin of a plurality of disposal bins based on the identified waste product; and 
 present a graphical interface to an operator for verification. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a memory configured to store data corresponding to a plurality of waste products; and   a processor configured to automatically identify the waste product by searching the data corresponding to the plurality of waste products based on the optical data.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a network interface coupled to the processor and configured to communicate with one or more computing devices through a communications network. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor comprises a barcode scanner. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a scale coupled to the processor and configured to determine a weight of the container; and   wherein the graphical interface includes the weight.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a printer coupled to the processor; and   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine when the disposal bin of the plurality of bins is full when a number of waste products in the bin is greater than or equal to a threshold number of waste products; and 
 in response to determining the disposal bin is full, automatically generate a shipping manifest using the printer to send the disposal bin to a selected destination. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 a printer coupled to the processor; and   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine the disposal bin is full when a weight of the disposal bin determined from weights of each of a plurality of waste products within the disposal bin exceeds a threshold weight; and 
 in response to determining the disposal bin is full, automatically generate a shipping manifest using the printer to send the disposal bin to a selected destination. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, when the waste product is not identified, the processor is configured to:
 automatically generate a report based on the optical data;   automatically determine a manufacturer of the waste product based on the optical data; and   send the report to the manufacturer to request information about the waste product.   
     
     
         9 . A device comprising:
 an optical sensor configured to capture optical data associated with a container of a waste product;   a memory configured to store a database of waste product data; and   a processor coupled to the optical sensor and the memory, the processor configured to:
 automatically identify the waste product by searching the database based on the optical data to identify a match; 
 determine a disposal bin of a plurality of disposal bins based on the identified waste product; and 
 present a graphical interface to an operator for verification. 
   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a network interface coupled to the processor and configured to communicate with one or more computing devices through a communications network. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a scale coupled to the processor and configured to determine a weight of the container; and   wherein the graphical interface includes the weight.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a printer coupled to the processor; and   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine when the disposal bin of the plurality of bins is full when a number of waste products in the bin is greater than or equal to a threshold number of waste products; and 
 in response to determining the disposal bin is full, automatically generate a shipping manifest using the printer to send the disposal bin to a selected destination. 
   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 a printer coupled to the processor; and   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine the disposal bin is full when a weight of the disposal bin determined from weights of each of a plurality of waste products within the disposal bin exceeds a threshold weight; and 
 in response to determining the disposal bin is full, automatically generate a shipping manifest using the printer to send the disposal bin to a selected destination. 
   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein, when the waste product is not identified, the processor is configured to:
 automatically generate a report based on the optical data;   automatically determine a manufacturer of the waste product based on the optical data; and   send the report to the manufacturer to request information about the waste product.   
     
     
         15 . A device comprising:
 a plurality of optical sensors;   a memory including a database of waste product data; and   a processor coupled to the plurality of optical sensors and to the memory, the processor configured to:
 receive optical data associated with a container of a waste product from the plurality of optical sensors; 
 automatically identify the waste product by searching the database based on the optical data; 
 determine a disposal bin of a plurality of disposal bins based on the identified waste product; and 
 present a graphical interface to an operator for verification. 
   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a network interface coupled to the processor and configured to communicate with one or more computing devices through a communications network. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a scale coupled to the processor and configured to determine a weight of the container; and   wherein the graphical interface includes the weight.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a printer coupled to the processor; and   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine when the disposal bin of the plurality of bins is full when a number of waste products in the bin is greater than or equal to a threshold number of waste products; and 
 in response to determining the disposal bin is full, automatically generate a shipping manifest using the printer to send the disposal bin to a selected destination. 
   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 a printer coupled to the processor; and   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine the disposal bin is full when a weight of the disposal bin determined from weights of each of a plurality of waste products within the disposal bin exceeds a threshold weight; and 
 in response to determining the disposal bin is full, automatically generate a shipping manifest using the printer to send the disposal bin to a selected destination. 
   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein, when the waste product is not identified, the processor is configured to:
 automatically generate a report based on the optical data;   automatically determine a manufacturer of the waste product based on the optical data; and   send the report to the manufacturer to request information about the waste product.