WO2023001799A1

WO2023001799A1 - System, methods, software application, and servers for facilitating disposal of waste

Info

Publication number: WO2023001799A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/070154
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ronald Jan Pieter BIJL; Bob GOEDKOOP; Jacob Joost LUINSTRA; Theo KIK
Original assignee: Mr. Fill Holding B.V.; Itransact B.V.
Priority date: 2021-07-19
Filing date: 2022-07-19
Publication date: 2023-01-26
Also published as: NL2028774B1

Abstract

A system for waste (2) disposal by users (3) in waste bins includes user identification. Data relating to each of the waste bins (1) is stored on a server (4), and a software application run on mobile communication devices (5) of the users is provided for communicating to the server at least the identification of each respective user and, optionally, data relating to a waste bin for an intended waste disposal. A waste disposal by the user is either permitted or prohibited based on data stored on the server, at least including the user identification. The permission or optionally the prohibition is communicated to a control unit of the waste bin. The control unit controls the operation of the waste bin in accordance with the permission or the prohibition at least including enabling access to an insert opening in case of permission.

Description

SYSTEM, METHODS, SOFTWARE APPLICATION, AND SERVERS FOR FACILITATING DISPOSAL OF WASTE

The present invention relates to disposing waste, e.g. domestic waste, by multiple authorized users in dedicated centralized receptacles, i.e. waste bins, based on identification of the user. Such waste bins are commonly owned by municipalities and the emptying of the bins is done regularly by a waste collection service. The waste bins may e.g. employ large underground waste containers such as disclosed in WO2021013555. However, they may e.g. also be in the form of a refuse collector of the type disclosed in WO2019221605, or even be in the form of a reverse vending machine for separate returnable items.

Conventionally, collection of waste in such centralized waste bins involves the use of a card system, usually associated with the municipality of residence of the user. Each user owns a card given out by the municipality, which card comprises a readable identification means in the form of an RFID- or NFC-tag. The waste bins which are assigned to the user, often the waste bins located in the district of residence, comprise a reader configured to read out the identification means. In order to return waste into an assigned bin, the user must bring the card, and have the card read by the reader of the waste bin. After a control unit of the bin verifies the right of the user to dispose waste into the bin, the waste bin is opened for access. The user may dispose the waste. The user is for example pay regularly invoiced for maintaining the right to dispose waste, e.g. monthly or yearly. This may be a fixed amount, or an amount dependent on the number of weight of the waste disposals by the user over a certain period. For example, a server connected to the bins may communicate with the control unit to keep track of the number of waste disposals by the user.

For example, DE4413034 discloses a prior art receptacle for automated domestic waste collection and invoicing.

For example, EP1225137 discloses a system wherein the waste bin has a card reader. The user inserts a personal card into the reader to identify the user. Upon authorization the controller of the bin unlocks the door to the insert opening. The system comprises a server in communication with the bin. This document also discloses a cardless system wherein the user operates the bin using a cell phone, in particular by sending an SMS message. For example, EP3321215 discloses a system wherein the waste bin is provided with a controller and a remote communication interface. Identification of the user when desiring to access the bin is initiated by the user via a software application that is run on a mobile communication device of the user. Herein communication is established between the communication interface of the waste bin and the mobile communication device of the user. Identification data, which can include the identification of the user as well as of the bin, is then transferred to a server, either directly from the mobile communication device of the user or via the communication interface of the bin. A server of the system determines whether or not to grant access. If access is granted, a corresponding signal is sent from the server to the bin in order to unlock the door for the introduction opening.

The prior art systems may be seen as cumbersome, user-unfriendly, and/or restricted in multiple ways. Furthermore, some prior art systems may be prone to misuse and may provoke unintentional behavior.

The present invention aims to provide measures which allow to reduce one or more of these disadvantages, or at least forms an alternative.

The invention provides a system according to claim 1, and a method according to claim 17. In this system and method, each user has a digital user account kept on at least one server. The user identification is done by means of a software application on a mobile communication device of the user, which has an input for the user identification. Through the software application the identification is communicated to the at least one server, where the identifications of the users are stored and in association with other user-related data. The verification is done on the at least one server, and the ability of the at least one server to communicate with the control units of the bins, enables to provide the control unit with instructions on whether to grant or prohibit access for the user to the device - for example by unlocking, e.g. opening, the door or keeping it locked.

The system and method according to the invention may obviate the use of a card system. Therefore, preferably, the inventive system and method is devoid of any card to be held by the user to operate the bin and of any card reader associated with the waste bin. This may provide a number of advantages.

First of all, the user does not need to keep a card anymore, so that the risk of the card being lost or broken and thus, the possibility to return waste being lost, is eliminated. Furthermore, the need for the user to bring along the card to the waste bin upon for waste disposal is eliminated, and thus, the risk of forgetting to bring along the card, is eliminated. Furthermore, in a conventional card system, the authorization involves a physical object, the card, which usually have to be sent by regular mail, or have to be picked up at a central location by persons to be authorized. Mostly, the authorization process takes multiple workdays. With the current invention, the authorization can be as simple as making a digital account for a user. In all, the invention may provide a more user-friendly solution.

Second, the risk for unwanted behavior may be eliminated. After all, with a card system, a user accidentally ending up not having brought along his card when arriving at the waste bin, may be inclined to leave his waste next to the container, as a proper disposal would require much more effort. It would require the user to retrieve his card, which may involve for example an extensive search in case of a lost card, a request for a new card in case of a broken card, or a long travel back to the card’s storage location and forth to the waste bin again in case of a forgotten card.

To the municipality, cleaning up such left behind waste is generally a time-consuming and costly affair, so that reducing the risk of such to be necessary, may be a significant advantage.

Third, the solution may be less cumbersome than the described prior art practice. The need to produce and give out cards is eliminated, which saves costs and materials for production, distribution, and administration thereof. Furthermore, the need to provide waste bins with readers for the cards, and other involved necessary electronics, is eliminated, again saving costs and materials.

Fourth, the risk for misuse may be eliminated. Whereas users may be inclined to lend his or her card to an unauthorized person, other than the owner, they may be less inclined to lend his or her mobile device to an unauthorized person, as such mobile device is generally a valuable asset, or to give his or her credentials of the user account to an unauthorized person, as it may be possible for an operator or authority to check for example whether these are unlawfully used on other devices than the one owned by the user - any consequences of which the user may want to avoid.

Fifth, the solution according to the invention may be less limited, e.g. geographically, in possibilities of system management, and in the number and locations of users and waste bins. Whereas a card system commonly extends over a municipality, that is, over its limited number of residents and its limited amount of waste bins that are geographically within the municipality, to keep it practicable, the invention is much more suitable to be used across larger areas, for instance a whole country or even multiple countries. After all, the authorization - and identification - takes place digitally, and is managed on a server. Such server is generally practically unlimited in the data on number of users and waste bins that can be stored thereon, in a number of identifications at the same time, and in the specific waste bins for which authorization can be given to specific users. The authorization and identification does not involve a physical object alike in a prior art card system. This makes that geographical arrangements of, and distances between, the waste bins, users, one or more operators, may be less of a factor. It may enable that users are authorized to use all waste bins within the system across a larger area, e.g. across a whole country, or, possibly in multiple countries. The invention may be beneficial, e.g. for holiday travelers, lorry drivers, sailors entering various ports, etc. It may enable to extend the number of authorizations and identifications to be managed, and across a larger area, by the same operator(s) or by cooperating operators (e.g. in multiple countries). It may enable an authorization to be temporarily or definitively be stopped by an operator by merely a digital action, without involving a physical authorization card. It may enable additional organizational possibilities, e.g. specific arrangements of groups of users, groups of waste bins, and manipulation of user behavior, e.g. by reward and/or punishment systems, e.g. price reductions or increases for specific behavior of users, or by providing them with specific information on the state of use or location of the bins.

In the system and method according to the invention, there is a data communication between the at least one server which communicates with the bins, and the mobile communication device of the user, so that the identification can advantageously take place by means of the mobile communication device as an identifier object. The communication path from user to bin omits a direct communication path between the identifier object and the bin, which may advantageously obviate electronics in the bin for establishing this communication path. This may contribute to savings in materials and a reduced complexity of the bins, facilitate production of the bins, make the bins less prone to interference, error and damage considering the sensitivity of electronic parts, and reduce maintenance. It may also allow to save energy, e.g. of relevance for waste bins that have a solar power charged battery as power supply, with the solar power being derived from solar cells/panels fitted on the waste bin.

In the system and method according to the invention, the permission or prohibition for a waste disposal by a user is determined by the at least one server - contrary to some of the prior art systems, wherein this is determined by the electronics of the waste bin. This may further reduce electronics in the bin, with the mentioned possible advantages. Furthermore, this configuration enables to regulate the permission or prohibition centrally on the server, e.g. by an operator, e.g. per user, which may provide advantages for example in case of special exceptions or policy changes. Data on the users and/or waste bins which may influence the permission or prohibition, may be stored on the server. For example, a previous invoice not having been paid by a user, leading to a temporary or definitive loss of his or her authorization, or a waste bin being full, idle and/or in maintenance.

Furthermore, only a minimum of information may suffice to effectuate the desired control of the parts of the waste bin. For example, after determination of permission or prohibition of access, the server may simply send a signal to the respective control unit of the waste bin, that access should or should not be given. The control unit can be based already only on this single piece of information control the door - for example unlock or lock the door - or e.g. keep it locked/unlocked if already locked/unlocked, and/or automatically open or close the door - or e.g. keep it opened/closed if already opened/closed.

The waste bin may be embodied so simply collect waste deposited therein, but may also be configured to subject the deposited waste to a treatment of some kind before it is collected in some type of container. For example, deposited waste is compacted by compressing the waste and/or is cut into pieces, e.g. using a cutter device, a shredder, etc. The waste bin may also be embodied to sort to the deposited waste, e.g. the type of waste determining into which container of the waste bin the waste is to be collected. In embodiments, the container is an underground container, a wheeled container, e.g. a Kliko-container, etc.

In a preferred embodiment of the system, each waste bin has an identification, indicated at the exterior of the waste bin, and the software application provides, when run on the mobile communication device of a user, an input section for entry of the waste bin identification by a user. For example, the waste bin has a unique number that is visible on the outside thereof, which the user can enter, e.g. by typing, on his/her mobile communication device.

In a preferred embodiment of the system, each waste bin has at an exterior thereof an image containing coded information, which is scannable by any of the mobile communication devices of the users, e.g. a QR-code. This scanning then causes on the respective device the activation of the software application or, if not yet installed on the device, the appearance of an option to install and activate the software application. In a preferred embodiment, the coded information includes the identification of the waste bin.

In an embodiment, the software application on the mobile communication device of the user is configured to connect to a GPS-sensor of the respective device, and to retrieve the GPS- coordinates of the device from the GPS-sensor, wherein the input indicating the waste bin as communicated to the at least one server by the user communication interface, comprise, e.g. are, the GPS-coordinates of the device. Herein, the data relating to the waste bin as stored in the one or more memories of the at least one server includes for each of the waste bins at least the respective GPS-coordinates of the waste bins, and the at least one server is configured to associate the waste bins with the communicated GPS-coordinates based on the stored GPS-coordinates. The at least one server is configured to via the remote communication interface, communicate with the local communication interface of the waste bin associated with the communicated GPS-coordinates, e.g. after confirmation by a user.

So, in one embodiment, the GPS-coordinates serve to identify the waste bin. In another embodiment, the GPS-coordinates may serve as a check for the user inputted identification of the waste bin. For example, the server can check whether the inputted waste bin identification indeed relates to a waste bin that is present at the GPS-coordinates. If not, the server can ask, via the software, the user to check the inputted waste bin identification.

In an embodiment, the permission or prohibition determined by the at least one server for the waste disposal is furthermore based on the data associated with the waste bin stored in the one or more memories of the at least one server, e.g. an active or idle state of the waste bin.

In an embodiment, the data relating to each of the waste bins stored in the one or more memories of the at least one server comprises actual sensor measurements by one or more sensors of the respective bins, measuring one or more states of the bin, the one or more sensors being connected to the control unit of the waste bin, wherein the control unit is configured to communicate via the respective local communication interface the sensor measurements to the remote communication interface of the at least one server, and the at least one server is configured and operated to update the stored sensor measurements to the sensor measurements as communicated by the control unit. For example, the sensor measurements in the data relating to the waste bins stored in the one or more memories comprises filling levels of the respective waste bins, wherein the respective waste bins of the system comprise one or more sensors for measuring the filling level of the waste bin.

In an embodiment, the at least one server is furthermore configured and operated to communicate the data relating to one or more of the waste bins to the user communication interfaces, and the software application is furthermore configured to display the data in association with the waste bins, e.g. the GPS-coordinates, and/or e.g. the sensor measurements, e.g. the filling level, of the respective waste bins.

In an embodiment, the at least one server is configured and operated to, in case it determines to prohibit access to the waste bin corresponding to the received indication based on stored data associated with the bin, e.g. the measured filling level thereof, provide, in the software application on the mobile communication device, a suggestion to the user of another one of the waste bins to which access would be granted as determined by the server, e.g. the suggestion being provided in the form of a pop-up, e.g. therein indicating the identification and/or location of the other one of the waste bins. For example, the data relating to the waste bin as stored in the one or more memories of the at least one server includes for each of the waste bins at least the respective GPS-coordi nates of the waste bins, e.g. wherein the GPS-coordi nates of the other one of the waste bins are indicated in the suggestion. For example, the at least one server is configured to determine a distance of the waste bin to which access is prohibited to the one or more other waste bins of the system to which access would be granted, wherein the suggestion for the other one of the waste bins, and the suggested other one of the waste bins has the smallest distance from the waste bin to which access is prohibited.

In an embodiment, the stored data relating to the users in the one or more memories of the server comprises an indication of, e.g. the identification of, an assigned, preferred, or a commonly used one of the waste bins. For example, the at least one server is configured to provide, e.g. upon activation of the software application on the mobile communication device of a user, e.g. after providing the user identification, in case it determines to prohibit access to the assigned, preferred, or commonly used waste bin of the user, based on data relating to the waste bin, e.g. based on the measured filling level thereof, provide, in the software application, a suggestion to the user of another one of the waste bins to which access would be granted as determined by the at least one server, e.g. the suggestion being provided in the form of a pop up, e.g. therein indicating the identification of the other one of the waste bins. For example, the data relating to the waste bin as stored in the one or more memories of the at least one server includes for each of the waste bins at least the respective GPS-coordi nates of the waste bins, e.g. wherein the GPS-coordinates of the other one of the waste bins are indicated in the suggestion. For example, the at least one server is configured to determine a distance of the waste bin to which access is prohibited to other waste bins of the system to which access would be granted, wherein the suggestion for the other one of the waste bins, and the suggested other one of the waste bins has the smallest distance from the waste bin to which access is prohibited.

In embodiments, the at least one server is configured to provide a reward, e.g. a reduction of the amount to be paid, for a waste disposal by the same user in the suggested other one of the waste bins.

In embodiments, in the data associated with the users stored in the one or more memories of the server, a number of specific users are indicated to belong to the same group, the data associated with these users furthermore indicating an amount of waste disposed in the waste bins, e.g. in a particular assigned waste bin, by each user of the group, wherein the at least one server is configured to provide a reward, e.g. in the form of a cashback, to one or more users in the group based on the indicated amount of waste disposed by these one or more users in the group. For example, the group is a household, employees of a company working at a certain location, etc.

The invention furthermore relates to a method according to claim 17.

The invention furthermore provides a software application according to claim 21 and to the server according to claim 25. These parts of the system may, as such, provide the respective advantages as discussed above that are applicable thereto. The same applies to the server according to claim 31 , and the server according to claim 32.

The invention furthermore provides a method for controlling a mobile communication device according to claim 24, which may provide the same advantages as the software application. The methods according to claims 33 - 35 making use of the system and its parts may provide the same advantages as the system and the respective parts.

The invention furthermore relates to the general idea of facilitating waste disposal by users in waste bins, based on user identification, wherein data relating to each of the waste bins is stored on a server, and a software application is provided for communicating to the server at least the identification of each respective user and, optionally, data relating to a waste bin for an intended waste disposal. A waste disposal by the user is either permitted or prohibited based on data stored on the server, at least including the user identification. The permission or optionally the prohibition is communicated to a control unit of the waste bin. The control unit controls the operation of the waste bin in accordance with the permission or the prohibition at least including enabling access to an insert opening in case of permission.

The invention will be further explained in relation to the appended figure 1, which schematically illustrates a possible embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a system and method of disposing waste 2 based on identification of, and payment by, a user 3. In the figure, the waste 2 is in the form of a garbage bag filled with domestic waste. In other embodiments however, the waste may have another form, for example separate items, for example beverage containers, e.g. made of plastic, e.g. PET-bottles, or metal, e.g. cans, or paper, glass, or plastic items. In the system or method according to the invention, multiple waste bins 1 are provided. The figure shows a single user 3 who just arrived at one of these waste bins 1 , for disposal of his waste 2.

As is shown in the figure, the waste bins 1 each comprise a housing with an insert opening for receiving the waste 2 to be disposed, a door 12 for granting or blocking access to the insert opening, and an electronic control unit 13. The control unit 13 has a local communication interface for sending and receiving data, and is configured to control the operation of one or more parts of the waste bin 1. This operation at least includes the operation of the door 12 of the waste bin 1.

The shown waste bin 1 employs a large underground waste container, which corresponds to the one disclosed in WO2021013555. However, other embodiments are possible in accordance with the invention, as discussed in the introduction. For example, the waste bin has a housing that accommodates a wheeled container, e.g. a Kliko-container.

The system and method provide at least one server 4, for example a single server 4 or two separate servers which are in data communication with each other, and together form the at least one server 4. The at least one server has a remote communication interface for receiving and sending data, as is well known in the art for servers in general. The at least one server 4 has one or more memories 43 for storing therein data 42 relating to each of the waste bins 1 , and identifications of users 3 in association with data 41 relating to the respective users 3, e.g. including data relating to payments made thereby for waste disposal. The memories 43 are generally in the form of databases, although other forms are possible as well. The one or more memories may be embodied as a single memory 43, or multiple memories, on a single server 4, however may also be embodied as multiple memories 43 which are distributed over multiple servers 4, for example a first memory with the data 42 on the waste bins 1 on a first server, and a second memory with the data 41 on the users 3 on a second server which is in data communication with the first server. This possibility is denoted with a dashed line in the figure.

The invention provides a software application which is configured to be run on processors of respective mobile communication devices 5 of the users 3. The application is configured to bring a respective communication device 5 of a respective user into communication with the remote communication interface, when run on the device 5 - in a manner well-known in the art.

The at least one server 4 is configured to, via the remote communication interface, at least when the application is run on a communication device 5, of a user 3, be in data communication with the user communication interface of the respective communication device 5, and configured to, via the remote communication interface, communicate with the local communication interfaces of the waste bins 1 corresponding to the stored data 42 relating to the waste bins 1. This is denoted in the figure by the back and forth arrows between the device 5 and the at least one server 4. In figure 1, the communication device 5 is a smartphone.

The user 3 intending to make a waste disposal in the waste bin 1 , can identify himself through the software application on his device 5. This may be done by manually entering a personal user identification, for example a username or number which corresponds to his account that is stored at the at least one server - e.g. the second server if present. However the user identification may also be stored locally using cookies, so that manual entry is not necessary, e.g. no longer necessary after a first use of the application. The entry may be in the form of typing characters, or for example scanning a fingerprint, facial recognition, or other similar means known in the art. The figure 1 illustrates the identification as an example by a manual input in the form of characters in the input field 51. The shown user 3 has entered his user identification ‘214’.

Optionally, the software application may enable the user 3 to indicate one of the waste bins 1 as well, e.g. by means of an identification of the respective one of the waste bins 1. In the shown embodiment this is possible by manually entering characters in the input field 52, namely a serial number of the waste bin. The shown user 3 has entered the serial number 14. Other forms are also possible, for example by scanning an identification at the exterior of the waste bin 1 , for example a QR-code, entering GPS-coordinates, or retrieval of the GPS-coordinates of the device 5 which will, if the user is near the waste bin 1 , substantially correspond to those of the bin 1.

The software application is configured to, after the input in the application of the user identification, cause the communication of the respective user identification to the remote communication interface of the at least one server 4, via the user communication interface of the communication device 5. The inputting can be done manually or automatically.

As a note, inherently, the user account must have already been created at this point, in order to perform a successful identification by the user 3. In embodiments the software application provides the function of creating such an account. In embodiments the operator can create the account and store it at the at least one server 4. The software application is in the shown embodiment configured to, if provided, communicate the respective input indicating the waste bin 1 to the remote communication interface after the input, namely at the same time as the user identification.

The at least one server 4 is configured to determine whether to permit or prohibit a waste disposal by the user 3. Thereto, the at least one server 4 comprises one or more programs 44 which has access to the data 41,42 in the database(s) 43, and executes the determination. The permission or prohibition is, firstly, based on the received user identification. For example, one condition for permission is that the user identification corresponds to a user identification stored in the one or more memories 43, that is, that the user 3 has an account. Additionally, the permission or prohibition may be based on stored data 41 associated with the received user identification. For example, the number of disposals previously made by this user 3 over a certain period of time, the summed costs of disposals made by this user 3 over a period of time yet to be paid, whether the authentication of the user 3 is for a reason temporary or definitively stopped, and/or a particular waste bin 1 associated with the user 3, for example which is assigned to the user 3, or is the most used waste bin 1 of the user 3. For example, a condition is that the number of disposals or outstanding costs does not exceed a certain amount. For example, a condition is that the authorization is in force and not currently stopped. For example, a condition is that the bin 1 which was indicated through the software application, or the bin 1 at which the user 3 is located according to the GPS-coordinates of his device 5, corresponds to the bin 1 assigned to the user 3.

The figure illustrates, as an example, a few options for possible user-associated data in the data 41 relating to the users 3. The first column of the database 41 is a list of the user identifications, the second column the summed costs of disposals made over the last six months by the respective user, and the third column whether the authorization is currently in force (1) or stopped (0), and the fourth column the serial number of the waste bin 1 which is associated with the user 3. For the shown user 3 identified as 214, the summed amount to still be paid is in this example 0,07 monetary units, his authorization is currently in force, and the waste bin 1 associated with the user has serial number 14, which here corresponds to the serial number of the bin 1 the shown user 3 has indicated on the device 5.

Optionally, the permission or prohibition is additionally based on the stored data 42 relating to the waste bin 1. For example, a condition for permission is that the waste bin 1 is in an active state, and not in an idle or maintenance state. For example, a condition is that the waste bin 1 has sufficient storage space left for the waste - and is thus not already full. For example, a condition is that the waste bin 1 has a sufficient energy availability in order to power its parts, e.g. the control unit, any drives for moving parts, and any user interface. In the illustrated example, the data 42 relating to the waste bins 1 contain in the first column the serial number of the bin 1 , in the second column the filling level relative to the total volume of the bin 1 , and the GPS-coordi nates of the location of the bin 1. For the bin 14 at which the user intends to do a waste disposal, the filling level is 43% and the GPS-coordi nates are 52.104292, 5.122463.

Optionally, the permission or prohibition is based on additional data from the device 5, for example the GPS-coordinates. For example, the at least one server 4 is configured, by the program(s) 44, to give permission only if the user 3 is within a certain distance from the bin 1 , which may be determined based on the stored GPS-data of the bins 1 and the received GPS- coordinates of the device 5. Since the user 3 is near the bin 1 in the illustrated case, these coordinates here will substantially correspond to the coordinates of the mobile communication device 5 - so that this condition for permission will be determined by the program(s) 44 as being fulfilled.

The at least one server 4 is configured to communicate to the local communication interface of the control unit 13 of a waste bin 1 a signal corresponding to the permission, or optionally, the prohibition. This waste bin 1 may be the one of the bins 1 that is indicated through the software application, e.g. through manual entry, scanning of an identification, or through retrieval of the GPS-coordinates of the device 5, or one of the waste bins that is associated with the user 3 in the stored data 41.

In embodiments, if the user identification received by the at least one server 4 does not correspond to any stored user identification in the database 41 , the at least one server 4 will determine to prohibit a waste disposal. For example it will communicate to the user 3 via the software application that no account corresponding to the entered user identification is found. Optionally, it will communicate a signal to the respective waste bin 1 corresponding to the prohibition - however in practical cases the bin 1 will already be blocked for access - so that no signal needs to - and will - be sent to maintain the blocked state.

In embodiments, if one of the programmed conditions for permission is not fulfilled, for example any of possible conditions mentioned above, the at least one server 4 will, by means of the program(s) 44, determine to prohibit a waste disposal. For example it will communicate to the user 3 via the software application that, and possibly also which of, one or more conditions are not fulfilled. Optionally, it will communicate a signal to the respective waste bin 1 corresponding to the prohibition. If the bin is already blocked for access, which will generally be the case as this will be the ‘standard’ state of the bin 1, no signal is sent to maintain the blocked state. If all programmed conditions are fulfilled, the at least one server 4 communicates data to the respective waste bin 1 corresponding to the permission.

The control unit 13 is configured to control the operation of the waste bin 1 in accordance with the data corresponding to the permission, or prohibition, as communicated to it by the at least one server 4. The operation at least includes operating the door such as to enable access to the insert opening in case of permission, when not already accessible, and, blocking access to the insert opening in case of prohibition, when not already blocked, for example if no permission is received within a certain time limit, or if a prohibition is explicitly communicated.

The software application preferably comprises a payment function, configured to initiate a payment for waste disposal, e.g. a single or multiple disposals, by means of an online payment method 6 for deducting an amount of money from a payment account of the user 3, and to update the data 41 associated with the user 3 according to the payment. In embodiments the payment may relate to an actual disposal, for example initiated directly after a waste disposal. For example, the server 4 communicates the amount to be paid for a disposal directly after the disposal to the device 5, to be displayed in the software application. In embodiments, the payment may, alternatively or additionally, be a payment of an invoice, for example relating to waste disposals made by the user 3 over a certain time period, e.g. a month or a number of months. In additional or alternative embodiments the payment may be an advance payment, e.g. a fixed amount for an upcoming period, or an amount for covering a certain number of upcoming disposals, e.g. an amount chosen by the user, or an amount prescribed by the operator.

Optionally, the server 4 is configured, by means of the program(s) 44, to update the stored data associated with user identification and/or with the waste bin 1 in accordance with the waste disposal. For example, a number, or e.g. type, or weight, or other property, of waste disposals associated with the user 3 and/or the respective waste bin 1 may be updated, an amount to be paid for waste disposals associated with the user 3, and/or a state of the bin 1. For example, an authorization may be updated, for example if the user 3 has reached a maximum number and/or weight of, or unpaid costs related to, waste disposals. For example, a waste bin 1 associated with the user 3 may be updated, for example if the lastly used waste bin 1 has become the waste bin 1 most used by the user 3. Or, if an assigned waste bin 1 cannot or no longer be used, e.g. by the specific user 3, or all the users 3. In an embodiment each waste bin 1 is configured to, in case of given permission by the at least one server 4 for the waste disposal by the user 3, detect a waste disposal by the user 3 through the insert opening thereof. Therein the control unit 13 of the waste bin 1 is configured to communicate the detection to the remote communication interface of the at least one server 4 via the local communication interface. The at least one server 4 is configured to update the stored data 41 associated with the user 3, and optionally also the data 42 relating to the waste bin 1 , to include the detected waste disposal to the at least one server 4 by the control unit 13 of the waste bin 1. Possible updates to include the detected waste disposal have been mentioned before. Optionally, a time-out function is provided: if no waste disposal is detected within a certain time limit, the access is prohibited again - that is, the waste bin 1 is blocked for access again and/or the access is blocked either way after a certain time limit after having been made accessible and/or the access is blocked directly after detection of a waste disposal.

Optionally the at least one server 4 determines an amount to be paid for the disposal by the user based on the detection, wherein the amount is zero if no disposal is detected, e.g. within a certain time limit, e.g. wherein the amount to be paid is communicated by the at least one server 4 to the device 5 and displayed in the software application after the detection. This may prevent that a user 3 has to pay for a disposal he did not end up making. Optionally, the payment function of the software application is configured to initiate the payment of the amount to be paid for the disposal by the online payment method, directly after the detection. Optionally, the amount to be paid is stored in the one or more memories 43 of the at least one server 4 in the data associated to the user, e.g. added up to an amount to still be paid by this user for one or more previous disposals, e.g. for monthly invoicing.

In an embodiment each waste bin 1 has an identification, indicated at the exterior of the waste bin 1, and the software application provides, when run on the mobile communication device 5 of a user 3, an input section 52 for entry of the waste bin identification by a user 3. In the figure, the serial number is printed at the exterior of the waste bin 1. In an embodiment the waste bin 1 provides at an exterior thereof an image containing coded information, which is scannable by any of the mobile communication devices 5 of the users 3, e.g. a QR-code, which scanning causes on the respective device 5 the activation of the software application or, if not yet installed on the device 5, the appearance of an option to install and activate the software application, e.g. wherein the coded information includes the identification of the waste bin 1. These options may provide a user-friendly, and efficient way for identifying the waste bin 1 which the user 3 intends to use to the at least one server 4. In particular employing a QR-code could omit both the manual start of the software application on the device 5, and the entering of the identification of the waste bin 1.

In an embodiment, the software application is configured to connect to a GPS-sensor of the respective device 5 onto which it runs, and to retrieve the GPS-coordinates of the device 5 from the GPS-sensor, wherein the input indicating the waste bin 1 as communicated to the at least one server 4 by the user communication interface, comprise, e.g. are, the GPS- coordinates of the device 5. Based on these GPS-coordinates the at least one server 4 can identify which waste bin 1 the user 3 intends to use, if the data relating to the waste bin 1 as stored in the memory of the at least one server 4 includes for each of the waste bins 1 at least the respective GPS-coordinates of the waste bins 1 , and the at least one server 4 is configured to associate the waste bins 1 with the communicated GPS-coordinates based on the stored GPS-coordinates. The at least one server 4 can then set up the communication with this waste bin 1 - the at least one server 4 being programmed to via the remote communication interface, communicate with the local communication interface of the waste bin 1 associated with the communicated GPS-coordinates. For example, after confirmation by a user 3 in the software application that the at least one server 4 has indeed identified the correct bin 1. For example, a the at least one server 4 may first send a command to the bin 1 to visually or audially signal to the user 3 that the bin 1 has been selected in association with the user 3.

In an embodiment the data 42 relating to each of the waste bins 1 stored in the one or more memories 43 of the at least one server 4 comprises actual sensor measurements by one or more sensors of the respective waste bins 1 , measuring one or more states of the respective bin 1. Thereto the sensor(s) is/are connected to the control unit 13 of the respective waste bin 1. The control unit 13 is configured to communicate via the respective local communication interface the sensor measurements to the remote communication interface of the at least one server 4, and the at least one server 4 is configured to update the stored sensor measurements to the sensor measurements as communicated by the control unit 13. For example, the sensor measurements are updated at regular time intervals, and/or upon waste disposals. In an example, the sensor measurements in the data 42 relating to the waste bins 1 stored in the one or more memories 43 comprises filling levels of the respective waste bins 1. Thereto, the respective waste bins 1 of the system may comprise one or more sensors for measuring the filling level of the waste bin 1 , for example ultrasonic or laser detection.

In an embodiment, the at least one server 4 is furthermore configured to communicate one or more entries of the data 42 relating to one or more of the waste bins 1 to the user communication interfaces, and the software application is furthermore configured to display the data in association with the waste bins 1, e.g. the GPS-coordinates, and/or e.g. the sensor measurements, e.g. the filling level, of the respective waste bins 1. For example, the software application may be configured such that the user 3 is presented a number of waste bins 1, for example nearby bins 1 and/or bins 1 with an active, usable state, e.g. having sufficient filling space left, or simply all waste bins 1. For example, the waste bins 1 may be presented on a map, e.g. of the neighborhood of the user 3, e.g. based on the GPS- coordinates of his device 5, e.g. the indications including a state of the waste bins 1.

In an embodiment, the at least one server 4 is configured to, in case it determines to prohibit access to the waste bin 1 corresponding to the received indication, for example based on stored data associated with the bin 1, e.g. the measured filling level thereof, provide, in the software application, a suggestion to the user of another one of the waste bins 1 to which access would be granted, e.g. in the form of a pop-up. For example, the identification of the other one of the waste bins 1 is indicated and/or other stored data relating thereto. For example, the data relating to the waste bin 1 as stored in the memory of the at least one server 4 includes for each of the waste bins 1 at least the respective GPS-coordinates of the waste bins 1 - for example the GPS-coordinates of the other one of the waste bins 1 being indicated in the suggestion. In an example, the at least one server 4 is configured to determine a distance of the waste bin 1 to which access is prohibited to other waste bins 1 of the system to which access would be granted. The suggestion for the other one of the waste bins 1, and the suggested other one of the waste bins 1 may in particular be the one which has the smallest distance from the waste bin 1 to which access is prohibited, or the one which has the smallest distance from the current location of the device 5 of the user 3, e.g. based on the GPS-coordinates of the device as communicated to the at least one server. The suggestion may be given for example, in case a commonly used or assigned waste bin 1 is associated with the user 3, when starting the application, after providing the user identification, and/or as a push-notice. Or, it may be given upon an intended waste disposal, for example after the indication of the waste bin 1 to which access is prohibited. This embodiment may be particularly advantageous as it may reduce unintentional or undesired behavior, e.g. dumping the waste next to the bin 1 as a consequence of the waste disposal being unsuccessful.

In an embodiment, the at least one server 4 is configured to provide a reward, e.g. a reduction of the amount to be paid, for a waste disposal by the same user 3 in the suggested other one of the waste bins 1 , following the suggestion. This embodiment may further reduce the unintentional or undesired behavior. In an example, the data 41 associated with the users 3 is stored in the one or more memories 43, and a number of specific users 3 are indicated to belong to the same group.

The data 41 associated with these users 3 may furthermore indicate an amount of waste disposed in the waste bins 1 , e.g. in a particular assigned waste bin 1 , by each user of the group, and the at least one server 4 may be configured to provide a reward, e.g. in the form of a cashback, to one or more users 3 in the group based on the indicated amount of waste disposed by these particular one or more users 3 in the group. This embodiment is envisaged to be applied for situations wherein groups of people are together responsible for waste disposal by the whole group, for example a club, society, association, company, organization, etc., or for example attendees of an event such as a festival. In this way, disposing waste can be encouraged.

In an embodiment, as briefly mentioned already before, the at least one server 4 comprises a first and a second server, and the remote communication interface comprises a first and a second communication interface. In a particular example, the first server has the first remote communication interface, and is configured to communicate via the first remote communication interface with local communication interfaces of the waste bins 1 associated with the data 42 relating to the waste bins 1. The first server has stored thereon the data 42 relating to each of the waste bins 1 in association therewith, and is configured to, via the remote communication interface, communicate with local communication interfaces of the waste bins 1 associated with the data relating to the waste bins 1. The first server is optionally configured to determine whether to permit or prohibit a waste disposal in the waste bin 1 which corresponds to the indication, if received, or in a waste bin 1 which is associated with the user in the stored data, based in particular on the stored data associated with the waste bin 1 on the first server. The second server has the second remote communication interface and is configured to, via the second remote communication interface, be in data communication with a user communication interface of a respective communication device 5 of the user 3, including receiving from the communication device 5 data identifying the user 3, the second server having stored thereon the data 41 relating to the respective users, e.g. including data relating to payments made thereby for waste disposal. The second server is configured to determine whether to permit or prohibit a waste disposal by the user 3, at all, or in the waste bin 1 which corresponds to the indication, if received, or in a waste bin 1 which is associated with the user in the stored data, based on the stored data associated with the received user identification. Thus, in this embodiment, the data relating to the users and the data relating to the waste bins are on different servers. Furthermore, the communication with the users’ devices 5 and the communication with the waste bins take place by means of different servers. This may provide significant advantages in terms of privacy of the users and sharing information, for example when the bins are managed by a different operator than the user accounts and user data, e.g. including payment data. In an embodiment, the control unit 13 of the respective waste bins 1 is configured to, based on a state of the bin 1, e.g. as determined by measurements by sensors of the bin 1 in communication with the control unit 13, determine whether or not to communicate with the at least one server 4. For example, the control unit 13 is configured to stop communication with the at least one server 4 in case the energy level, e.g. battery charge, is below a certain level, for example after one last communication to the at least one server 4 indicating that the energy level is low. The at least one server 4 may then store this information in the data 42 relating to the waste bins 1, in association with the particular waste bin 1. The control unit 13 may be configured to start communicating with the at least one server 4 again as soon as the energy level is above a certain level for the first time after the stopping of the communication. For example, to firstly communicate to the at least one server 4 an indication that the energy level is recovered and/or that communication is resumed. Similar arrangements are possible with other states or properties of the bin 1 , for example a measured filling level, a maintenance state, or a temporary unavailability e.g. on a certain date, for example around New Year’s Eve.

Claims

C LA I M S

1. Waste return system for disposing waste (2) based on identification of a user (3), comprising: multiple waste bins (1), each comprising: o a housing with an insert opening for receiving the waste to be disposed, o a door (12) for granting or blocking access to the insert opening, and o an electronic control unit (13) which has a local communication interface for sending and receiving data, the control unit (13) being configured to control the operation of one or more parts of the waste bin (1), at least including the door (12) of the waste bin (1), at least one server (4), having a remote communication interface for receiving and sending data, and one or more memories (43) for storing therein: o data (42) relating to each of the waste bins, and o identifications of users in association with data (41) relating to the respective users, e.g. including data relating to payments made thereby for waste disposal, a software application configured to be run on processors of respective mobile communication devices (5) of the users (3), and configured to bring a respective communication device (5) of a respective user into communication with the remote communication interface, when run on the device (5), wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to, via the remote communication interface, at least when the application is run on a communication device (5), e.g. a smartphone, of a user (3), be in data communication with the user communication interface of the respective communication device (5), and configured to, via the remote communication interface, communicate with the local communication interfaces of the waste bins (1) corresponding to the stored data relating to the waste bins (1), wherein the software application is configured to, after an input in the application of a user identification and, optionally, an input indicating one of the waste bins (1), e.g. an identification of the respective one of the waste bins (1), cause the user communication interface of the communication device (5) to communicate the respective user identification and, if provided, the respective input indicating the waste bin (1) to the remote communication interface of the server (4), wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to determine whether to permit or prohibit a waste disposal by the user (3) in the waste bin (1) which corresponds to the indication according to the user input, if provided, or a waste bin (1) which is associated with the user in the stored data on the one or more memories (43), and to based thereon communicate to the local communication interface of the control unit (13) of the respective waste bin (1) data corresponding to the permission, or, optionally, the prohibition, wherein the permission or prohibition by the at least one server (4) is based on the received user identification and optionally, additionally on the stored data associated with the received user identification, and, optionally, additionally on the stored data relating to the waste bin (1), wherein the control unit (13) is configured to control the operation of the waste bin (1) in accordance with the data corresponding to the permission or prohibition as communicated to it by the at least one server (4), the operation at least including operating the door such as to enable access to the insert opening in case of permission, when not already accessible, and, optionally, blocking access to the insert opening in case of communicated prohibition, when not already blocked.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein each waste bin (1) has an identification, indicated at the exterior of the waste bin (1), and the software application provides, when run on the mobile communication device (5) of a user (3), an input section (52) for entry of the waste bin identification by a user (3).

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the waste bin (1) provides at an exterior thereof an image containing coded information, which is scannable by any of the mobile communication devices (5) of the users (3), e.g. a QR-code, which scanning causes on the respective device (5) the activation of the software application or, if not yet installed on the device (5), the appearance of an option to install and activate the software application.

4. System according to claim 3, wherein the coded information includes the identification of the waste bin (1).

5. System according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the software application is configured to connect to a GPS-sensor of the respective mobile communication device (5) onto which it runs, and to retrieve the GPS-coordinates of the device (5) from the GPS-sensor, wherein the input indicating the waste bin (1) as communicated to the at least one server (4) by the user communication interface, comprise, e.g. are, the GPS-coordinates of the device (5), and wherein the data relating to the waste bin (1) as stored in the one or more memories of the at least one server (4) includes for each of the waste bins (1) at least the respective GPS- coordinates of the waste bins (1), and the at least one server (4) is configured to associate the waste bins (1) with the communicated GPS-coordinates based on the stored GPS- coordinates, wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to via the remote communication interface, communicate with the local communication interface of the waste bin (1) associated with the communicated GPS-coordinates, e.g. after confirmation by a user.

6. System according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the software application comprises a payment function, configured to initiate a payment for waste disposal by means of an online payment method (6) for deducting an amount of money from a payment account of the user (3), and to update the data associated with the user according to the payment.

7. System according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein each waste bin (1) is configured to, in case of given permission by the at least one server (4) for the waste disposal by the user (3), detect a waste disposal by the user (3) through the insert opening thereof, the control unit (13) of the waste bin (1) being configured to communicate the detection to the remote communication interface of the at least one server (4) via the local communication interface, and the at least one server (4) being configured to update the stored data associated with the user (3), and optionally also the data relating to the waste bin (1), to include the detected waste disposal communicated to the server (4) by the control unit (13) of the waste bin (1).

8. System according to claims 6 and 7, wherein the at least one server (4) determines an amount to be paid for the disposal by the user based on the detection, wherein the amount is zero if no disposal is detected, e.g. wherein the amount to be paid is communicated by the at least one server (4) to the device (5) and displayed in the software application after the detection, for example, wherein - the payment function of the software application is configured to initiate the payment of the amount to be paid for the disposal by the online payment method, and/or

- the amount to be paid is stored in the one or more memories (43) of the at least one server (4) in the data associated to the user, e.g. added up to an amount to still be paid by this user for one or more previous disposals, e.g. for monthly invoicing.

9. System according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the permission or prohibition determined by the at least one server (4) for the waste disposal is furthermore based on the data associated with the waste bin (1) stored in the one or more memories (43) of the at least one server (4), e.g. an active or idle state of the waste bin (1).

10. System according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the data (42) relating to each of the waste bins (1) stored in the one or more memories (43) of the at least one server (4) comprises actual sensor measurements by one or more sensors of the respective bins, measuring one or more states of the bin, the sensors being connected to the control unit (13) of the waste bin (1), wherein the control unit (13) is configured to communicate via the respective local communication interface the sensor measurements to the remote communication interface of the at least one server (4), and the at least one server (4) is configured to update the stored sensor measurements to the sensor measurements as communicated by the control unit (13).

11. System according to claim 10, wherein the sensor measurements in the data (42) relating to the waste bins (1) stored in the one or more memories (43) comprises filling levels of the respective waste bins (1), wherein the respective waste bins (1) of the system comprise one or more sensors for measuring the filling level of the waste bin (1).

12. System according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one server (4) is furthermore configured to communicate the data relating to one or more of the waste bins (1) to the user communication interfaces, and the software application is furthermore configured to display the data in association with the waste bins (1), e.g. the GPS-coordinates, and/or e.g. the sensor measurements, e.g. the filling level, of the respective waste bins (1).

13. System according to claim 9 and optionally any one or more of claims 10-12, wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to, in case it determines to prohibit access to the waste bin (1) corresponding to the received indication based on stored data associated with the bin (1), e.g. the measured filling level thereof, provide, in the software application, a suggestion to the user of another one of the waste bins (1) to which access would be granted as determined by the server (4), e.g. the suggestion being provided in the form of a pop-up, e.g. therein indicating the identification of the other one of the waste bins (1), e.g. wherein the data relating to the waste bin (1) as stored in the one or more memories of the at least one server (4) includes for each of the waste bins (1) at least the respective GPS- coordinates of the waste bins (1), e.g. wherein the GPS-coordinates of the other one of the waste bins (1) are indicated in the suggestion, e.g. wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to determine a distance of the waste bin (1) to which access is prohibited to other waste bins (1) of the system to which access would be granted, wherein the suggested other one of the waste bins (1) has the smallest distance from the waste bin (1) to which access is prohibited.

14. System according to claim 9 and optionally any one or more of the claims 10-13, wherein the stored data relating to the users in the one or more memories (43) comprises an indication of, e.g. the identification of, an assigned, preferred, or a commonly used one of the waste bins (1), and wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to provide, e.g. upon activation of the software application on the mobile device (5) of a user, e.g. after providing the user identification, in case it determines to prohibit access to the assigned, preferred, or commonly used waste bin (1) of the user, based on data relating to the waste bin (1), e.g. based on the measured filling level thereof, provide, in the software application, a suggestion to the user of another one of the waste bins (1) to which access would be granted as determined by the at least one server, e.g. the suggestion being provided in the form of a pop-up, e.g. therein indicating the identification of the other one of the waste bins (1), e.g. wherein the data relating to the waste bin (1) as stored in the one or more memories of the at least one server (4) includes for each of the waste bins (1) at least the respective GPS- coordinates of the waste bins (1), e.g. wherein the GPS-coordinates of the other one of the waste bins (1) are indicated in the suggestion, e.g. wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to determine a distance of the waste bin (1) to which access is prohibited to other waste bins (1) of the system to which access would be granted, wherein the suggested other one of the waste bins (1) has the smallest distance from the waste bin (1) to which access is prohibited.

15. System according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to provide a reward, e.g. a reduction of the amount to be paid, for a waste disposal by the same user in the suggested other one of the waste bins (1).

16. System according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein in the data associated with the users stored in the one or more memories, a number of specific users are indicated to belong to the same group, the data associated with these users furthermore indicating an amount of waste disposed in the waste bins (1), e.g. in a particular assigned waste bin (1), by each user of the group, and wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to provide a reward, e.g. in the form of a cashback, to one or more users in the group based on the indicated amount of waste disposed by these one or more users in the group.

17. Method for facilitating waste disposal by users (3) in any of multiple waste bins (1), based on user identification, comprising: providing a data communication between at least one server (4) and each of the waste bins (1), storing, on the at least one server (4), data relating to each of the waste bins (1), establishing, by a software application run on processors of respective mobile communication devices (5) of the users (3), a data communication between the at least one server (4) and the respective device (5), and communicating by the software application to the at least one server (4) at least the identification of each respective user (3) and, optionally, input data relating to any one of the waste bins (1), receiving, by the server (4), a respective identification of a user (3), and optionally, the input data indicating the one of the waste bins (1), from the software application running on the mobile communication device (5) of the user (3), permitting or prohibiting, by the at least one server (4), a waste disposal by the user (3), based on the received user identification and, optionally, stored data associated with the received user identification and optionally, additionally, data relating to the one of the waste bins (1) which corresponds to the input data and/or which is associated with the received user identification according to data that is stored on the at least one server (4), the data associated with the user identification e.g. including data on payments by the user (3) for waste disposal, and the data relating to the waste bin e.g. including actual measurement data on a state, e.g. a filling level, thereof, communicating by the at least one server data corresponding to the permission, or, optionally, the prohibition, to a control unit (13) of the one of the waste bins (1), controlling, by the control unit (13) of the waste bin, the operation of the waste bin (1) in accordance with the permission or the prohibition by the at least one server (4), at least including enabling access to an insert opening in case of permission, if not already enabled, and blocking access thereto in case of prohibition, if not already blocked, optionally, updating, by the at least one server (4), the stored data associated with the user identification and/or with the waste bin (1) in accordance with the waste disposal.

18. Method according to claim 17, further comprising, in case of given permission by the at least one server (4) for the waste disposal by the user (3): detecting, by the waste bin (1), a waste disposal by the user (3) through the insert opening thereof, communicating, by the control unit (13) of the waste bin (1), the detection to the at least one server (4), and updating, by the at least one server (4), the stored data associated with the user (3) and optionally also the data associated with the waste bin (1), to include the detection of the waste disposal to the at least one server (4) by the control unit (13) of the waste bin (1).

19. Method according to claim 18, further comprising: determining, by the at least one server (4), an amount to be paid for the disposal by the user based on the detection, wherein the amount is zero if no disposal is detected, optionally, communicating, by the at least one server (4), the amount to be paid to the device (5), e.g. and displaying the amount in the software application after the detection.

20. Method according to claim 19, further comprising: initiating, in the software application, a payment of the amount to be paid for the disposal by an online payment method for deducting an amount of money from a payment account of the user (3), and/or storing the amount to be paid on the at least one server (4) in the data associated to the user, e.g. by adding the amount up to an amount to still be paid by this user for one or more previous disposals, e.g. for monthly invoicing, e.g. wherein the payment is initiated by the at least one server (4) after a corresponding input command given by the user in the software application, or is initiated automatically by the at least one server (4) after detection and communication, of the waste disposal.

21. Software application for a mobile communication device (5) for facilitating waste disposal by users (3) in any of multiple waste bins, which software application, when run on the mobile communication device (5) of a user (3): establishes a data connection of the device (5) with at least one associated, external server (4), provides an input (51) for entry of a user identification by a user (3), and, optionally, an input (52) for providing an indication of any one of the multiple waste bins (1), causes a communication by the device (5) of the user identification and, if provided, the indication of the waste bin (1) to the at least one server (4), provides a payment function configured to initiate a payment for waste disposal by means of an online payment method (6) for deducting an amount of money from a payment account of the user (3).

22. Software application according to claim 21 , furthermore being configured to retrieve detected GPS-coordinates from a GPS-sensor of the communication device (5), wherein the indication of the one of the waste bins (1) communicated to the at least one server (4) comprises the GPS-coordinates.

23. Software application according to claim 21 or 22, for use in a system according to any one or more of claims 1-16 or in a method according to any one or more of claims 17 - 20.

24. Method for controlling a mobile communication device (5), for facilitating waste disposal by users (3) in any of multiple waste bins, the method comprising: establishing a data connection of the device (5) with at least one associated, external server (4), providing an input (51) for entry of a user identification by a user (3), and, optionally, an input (52) for providing an indication of any one of the multiple waste bins (1), causing a communication by the device (5) of the user identification and, if provided, the indication of the waste bin (1) to the server (4), if provided, providing a payment function, configured to initiate a payment for waste disposal by means of an online payment method (6) for deducting an amount of money from a payment account of the user (3).

25. At least one server (4) configured for communicating with multiple waste bins (1) for disposing waste (2) based on identification of, and payment by, a user (3), the at least one server (4) having a remote communication interface for receiving and sending data, and one or more memories (43) for storing therein: o data (42) relating to each of the waste bins, and o identifications of users in association with data (41) relating to the respective users, e.g. including data relating to payments made thereby for waste disposal, wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to, via the remote communication interface, communicate with local communication interfaces of the waste bins (1) associated with the data relating to the waste bins (1), wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to, via the remote communication interface, be in data communication with a user communication interface of a respective communication device (5) of the user (3), including receiving from the communication device (5) data identifying the user (3) and optionally data indicating any one of the waste bins (1), wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to determine whether to permit or prohibit a waste disposal by the user (3) in the waste bin (1), e.g. which corresponds to an indication received from the device (5), if received, or in a waste bin (1) which is associated with the user in the stored data on the one or more memories (43), if provided, wherein the permission or prohibition by the at least one server (4) is based on the stored data associated with the received user identification, and optionally, on the stored data relating to the waste bin (1), wherein the at least one server (4) is furthermore configured to communicate to the local communication interface of the control unit (13) of the respective waste bin (1), data corresponding to the permission, or optionally, the prohibition.

26. The at least one server according to claim 25, wherein the permission or prohibition determined by the at least one server (4) for the waste disposal is at least based on the data relating to the waste bin (1) stored in the one or more memories (43) of the at least one server (4), wherein the data associated with the waste bins (1) comprises an actual state of the bins (1), the at least one server (4) being configured to receive data on such state from the bins (1), e.g. an active or idle state of the waste bins (1), and/or one or more actual sensor measurements on the state of the bin, e.g. a filling level of the bins (1).

27. The at least one server according to claim 25 or 26, furthermore configured to communicate the data relating to one or more of the waste bins (1) to the user communication interfaces, e.g. a state of the respective waste bin (1), e.g. an active, idle, or maintenance state thereof, the GPS-coordinates of the respective waste bin (1), and/or e.g. sensor measurements of the respective waste bin (1), e.g. the filling level thereof.

28. The at least one server according to any one or more of claims 25 - 27, furthermore configured to initiate, in case it determines to prohibit access to the waste bin (1) based on stored data associated with a bin (1) corresponding to a received indication of the bin (1) from the user device (5), e.g. the measured filling level of the bin (1), on the user device (5), a suggestion to the user of another one of the waste bins (1) to which access would be granted as determined by the at least one server (4), e.g. the suggestion being provided in the form of a pop-up, e.g. therein indicating the identification of the other one of the waste bins (1), e.g. wherein the data relating to the waste bin (1) as stored in the one or more memories of the at least one server (4) includes for each of the waste bins (1) at least the respective GPS- coordinates of the waste bins (1), e.g. wherein the GPS-coordinates of the other one of the waste bins (1) are indicated in the suggestion, e.g. wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to determine a distance of the waste bin (1) to which access is prohibited to other waste bins (1) of the system to which access would be granted, wherein the suggested other one of the waste bins (1) has the smallest distance from the waste bin (1) to which access is prohibited.

29. The at least one server according to any one or more of claims 25 - 28, wherein the stored data relating to the users in the one or more memories (43) comprises an indication of, e.g. the identification of, an assigned, preferred, or a commonly used one of the waste bins (1), and wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to provide, e.g. upon activation of the software application on the mobile device (5) of a user, e.g. after providing the user identification, in case it determines to prohibit access to the assigned, preferred, or commonly used waste bin (1) of the user, based on stored data relating to the waste bin (1), e.g. based on the measured filling level thereof, initiate, on the user device (5), a suggestion to the user of another one of the waste bins (1) to which access would be granted as determined by the at least one server (4), e.g. the suggestion being provided in the form of a pop-up, e.g. therein indicating the identification of the other one of the waste bins (1), e.g. wherein the data relating to the waste bin (1) as stored in the one or more memories of the at least one server (4) includes for each of the waste bins (1) at least the respective GPS- coordinates of the waste bins (1), e.g. wherein the GPS-coordinates of the other one of the waste bins (1) are indicated in the suggestion, e.g. wherein the at least one server (4) is configured to determine a distance of the waste bin (1) to which access is prohibited to other waste bins (1) of the system to which access would be granted, wherein the suggested other one of the waste bins (1) has the smallest distance from the waste bin (1) to which access is prohibited.

30. The at least one server according to any one or more of claims 25 - 29, comprising a first and a second server, wherein the remote communication interface comprises a respective first and a second communication interface, wherein the first server has the first remote communication interface and is configured to communicate via the first remote communication interface with local communication interfaces of the waste bins (1) corresponding to the data relating to the waste bins (1), the first server having stored thereon the data (42) relating to each of the waste bins in association therewith, and being configured to, the first server optionally being configured to, based on the data associated with the waste bin (1) stored on the first server, determine whether to permit or prohibit a waste disposal by the user (3) in the waste bin (1) which corresponds to the indication, if received, or in a waste bin (1) which is associated with the user in the stored data, and wherein the second server has the second remote communication interface and is configured to, via the second remote communication interface, be in data communication with a user communication interface of a respective communication device (5) of the user (3), including receiving from the communication device (5) data identifying the user (3), the second server having stored thereon the data (41) relating to the respective users, e.g. including data relating to payments made thereby for waste disposal, and being configured to, based on the data associated with the received user identification stored on the second server, determine whether to permit or prohibit a waste disposal by the user (3) in the waste bin (1) which corresponds to the indication, if received, or in a waste bin (1) which is associated with the user in the stored data.

31. The first server of claim 30.

32. The second server of claim 30.

33. Method for facilitating waste disposal by users (3) in any of multiple waste bins (1), wherein use is made of the system according to any of claims 1 - 16.

34. Method for facilitating waste disposal by users (3) in any of multiple waste bins (1), wherein use is made of the software application according to any of claims 21 - 23.

35. Method for facilitating waste disposal by users (3) in any of multiple waste bins (1), wherein use is made of the at least one server according to any of claims 25 - 30.

36. Method for facilitating waste disposal by users (3) in any of multiple waste bins (1), wherein use is made of the first server according to claim 31 , and/or the second server according to claim 32.