Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
  • G07F7/06—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
  • G07F7/0609—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles by fluid containers, e.g. bottles, cups, gas containers
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
  • Y02W90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Definitions

• the invention relates to a system for collecting and recycling empty containers made of plastic or metal, for containing liquids, in particular beverages.
• the first one is the deposit model that allows consumers of plastic bottles to get refunds when the containers are collected into reverse vending machines (RVMs) which has proven its efficiency in terms of circular economy.
• RVMs reverse vending machines
• This recycling model typically is organized as follows.
• the consumer pays the container deposit, such as a fee, to the retailer when buying a beverage.
• the container deposit is refunded in various manners. If the consumer does not return the container for recycling and disposes of the container as waste, the deposit is paid by the retail store to the State to contribute to cover the costs of public waste collection.
• RVM reverse vending machine
• the term “distributor” globally refers to a product maker or brand owner (e.g., the company producing the beverage) or to a bottler or entity which distributes products from a product maker to retailers.
• RVMs generally are automated machines accepting used beverage containers and return container deposits in the form of a receipt to be redeemed at the retail store where the RVM is located. RVMs are generally controlled by an electronic circuit which is isolated from any network and do not communicate remotely any information to a central system or server.
• the user places an empty beverage container into a receiving aperture of the reverse vending machine.
• the reverse vending machine automatically identifies the beverage container, such as by scanning the container's bar or QR code. Eligible containers are accepted, and the user is paid back. Accepted containers are generally crushed or broken within the RVM to reduce their size and are then transported to the recycling plant.
• the incentives related to the deposit model allow it to be a viable model that delivers from far the best quality of post-consumer recycled plastics. However, it is the most expensive model.
• the second recycling model broadly used in many countries is the kerbside collection model that aims to collect recyclable waste from consumers directly near their homes and recycle them in sorting plants.
• the kerbside collection model depends a lot on the education and sensitivity of the consumer with respect to the protection of the environment.
• the most common technologies used to sort the different type of plastics disposed of in the waste such as near infrared and floatation techniques for separating PET from other plastic packaging waste have some limits so that the quality of post-consumer recycled plastic is somehow impacted. Therefore, the use of means to incentivize consumers and to recog nize/identify the product throughout the kerbside collection model would reinforce the education of consumers and improve the quality of the postconsumer recycled plastics.
• a mobile recycling validation system is known from W02020/123660A1 , which includes a mobile recycling application operating on a user’s mobile device, at least one remote server from the mobile device, where the mobile recycling application may receive image data related to an image captured by a camera of the mobile device, identify a unique code printed on a recyclable item depicted in the image, determine unique code data related to the unique code, determine recycling deposit confirmation data, and send the unique code data and the recycling deposit confirmation data to the server.
• the server may receive the unique code data and the recycling deposit confirmation data, determine whether the unique code is valid, determine whether the recycling deposit confirmation data indicates that the recyclable item has been deposited in the recycling stream, and send validation data to the mobile recycling application, which may credit an incentive credit a user’s account.
• This system does not sufficiently incentivize consumers to recycle empty containers and does not take advantage of the large investments made for installing reverse vending machines in several European countries.
• Publication US2011/0055059 discloses a system for automatically making reimbursements for recyclable items deposited at RVM’s which consists of creating a user recycling record accessible by users by means of computer, receiving data in real time at the computer from RVM’s over a telecommunications network.
• the data relating to deposits of recyclable items by users at the RVM’s like the data for each deposit and information on the recyclable items deposited are recorded in the user recycling record.
• the user recycling record is credited with the deposit value of the recyclable items deposited. For each deposit by a user, a request to have a financial institution to make a specified electronic payment based on the recyclable items deposited by the user is made.
• the quantity of containers that are collected at kerbside in those places where this is the most common recycling model does not generate any incentive for the consumers to increase efforts for collecting recyclable containers, as the recyclable containers disposed of through the kerbside system do not offer any direct incentive to the consumers.
• Another important objective of the invention is to improve sorting accuracy of the containers to achieve a better quality of recycled PET (also referred to as rPET in this description).
• This object is achieved by a system for recycling empty containers for containing liquids, in particular for beverages, comprising
• At least one server computer system storing a database containing information relating to the recycling system, to the empty containers and to the liquids therein contained and to users registered in the recycling system, configured to process information stored in said first information storage means associated to empty containers and to the liquids therein contained, and located at a distance from the containers vending machines, cash desks, reverse vending machines and/or recycling plants and/or bins, and communicating with the containers vending machines, cash desks, reverse vending machines and/or recycling plants and/or bins, by means of telecommunications means,
• the object of the invention is achieved by a method for recycling containers having the features of claim 7.
• the system of the invention contributes to the solution of the problem of lack of availability of rPET for beverage bottles which have a strong appeal on environmentally conscious consumers and incentivize more consumers to recycle a larger amount of single-use disposable bottles, which are the largest part of the production of containers in PET.
• the system can also be integrated without major technical difficulties into the household recycling schemes of those countries which are forerunners in their environmental policies and already have large amounts of RVM’s and apply kerbside collecting models or apply the latter without using RVM’s on a large scale.
• the integration of the system of this invention into existing household recycling schemes can help to spread globally a new approach of digitizing how deposits paid for the purchase of beverage containers are credited back to consumers either when they are recycled by means of kerbside collecting systems or by bringing them at RVMs and allow for a more active participation of beverage distributors in the global recycling system, thus making it more attractive to consumers and resulting in a greater commitment to use the recycling system.
• the recycling system of the invention organizes the recycling of beverage containers made of recyclable materials, in particular of PET bottles.
• PET is mainly mentioned because nowadays the larger part of the beverages are filled in PET containers.
• PET is not the unique plastic used as recyclable material for containers, and the system of the invention can utilize every type of recyclable containers and materials as the current state of technique allows, thus in this description when the reference is made to PET, as a material for recyclable containers, it is intended any other material currently used for containers that can be recycled.
• bottles any other appropriate container for beverages or other liquids can be used, if it is designed to belong to the recycling system of the invention.
• each single bottle In order to link the buyer to a single specific bottle throughout the complete supply chain till the recycling stage, the marking of each single bottle with an individual code identifies each bottle and links each bottle to any other digital entities such as a secondary packaging code and/or a buyer account/digital ID.
• This individual code can be a bar code, a QR code, a watermark code or any other equivalent means to store information known to the skilled person.
• the individual code can be located on any suitable part of the bottle: neck finish, support ring, body, base, shoulder, on the label, the closure or others.
• the technique used to write the individual code can be laser printing, ink jet printing, embossing or other equivalent techniques adapted for the specific material of the bottle or of the label, etc.
• a code is physically printed on a receipt or digitally displayed on a display screen listing all the individual codes of each product that have been purchased by the buyer and whose container is recyclable and belongs to the recycling system of the invention.
• this generated code by means of a device like a mobile phone, a tablet or a PC, etc., the buyer can link each individual code of each bottle to his/her digital personal ID and registered user account so that the buyer and each individual bottle remain linked till the recycling stage at the end of the supply chain, without the possibility for another end user to be mistakenly considered as the buyer.
• each buyer is identified when the containers are in turn scanned and recycled whatever and wherever the recycling plant belonging to the recycling system of the invention is located.
• the recycling plants belonging to the recycling system of the invention are equipped with a scanning equipment capable to read the individual code of each container and are connected by means of known telecommunications networks to the server computer system of the recycling system.
• the recycling system of the invention allows to better organize the triage of the recycled containers and since detailed information such as product datasheet can be associated to the bottle ID, this allows a precise identification during the sorting operation of all materials used in the containers.
• dark coloured PET bottles or multilayer PET systems with layers that are known to be difficult to be separated from each other, can be separated from transparent and clear PET bottles, that are targeted for a better consistency of the bottle-to-bottle recycling stream.
• figure 1 shows a basic diagram of the data flow in the recycling system according to the invention
• figure 2 shows a flow chart showing how the recycling system according to the invention is operated.
• FIG. 3 shows an illustrative scheme of the main components and steps followed by the process of recycling system of the invention.
• the system for collecting and recycling of the invention comprises a network of RVMs, consumers or users’ mobile telephones, a software application loaded on the mobile telephone, a telecommunications network, a digital marketplace implemented via the Internet, computers and server computer systems of appropriate storage capacity, containers specifically designed for the recycling system of the invention like intelligent waste bins, recycling plants equipped with triage systems and scanners for detecting and/or separating recyclable containers belonging to the system of the invention from those containers not belonging to it or for separating the containers according to other criteria, like types of material of which the bottles are made.
• the recycling system also provides for a database stored on a server computer system of the platform which forms part of the digital marketplace which is designed to sort, structure and organize data received from the RVM’s, from the consumers or users’ mobile telephones, from the recycling plants and to process it to produce statistical data or compilations for distributors.
• a server computer system of the platform which forms part of the digital marketplace which is designed to sort, structure and organize data received from the RVM’s, from the consumers or users’ mobile telephones, from the recycling plants and to process it to produce statistical data or compilations for distributors.
• the recycling system of the invention may not need some components.
• the RVM’s, the recycling plants and the intelligent bins are equipped with at least an optical reading device capable of reading barcodes, QR codes, or a specific reading device for reading electronic tags, digital watermarks, etc., depending on the means employed to store the information on the bottles.
• the RVMs also have at least one display of known type used for displaying information to the users or operators when they need to perform maintenance on the RVM. They are designed so that the information displayed on the display screen is a code, such as a barcode, a QR code or the like, and such that the user’s smartphone, by means of an appropriate software application loaded on the smartphone, can “read” the amount of the deposit fee and/or any other information considered necessary for implementing the recycling system.
• a code such as a barcode, a QR code or the like
• the information displayed on the RVM display screen is at least the “deposit fee” code, bottle data and consumer data, such the mobile telephone number or any other information considered as appropriate or necessary.
• the recycling plants and the intelligent bins comprise a telecommunications device, which operates via network cable or via wireless communication, e.g. connection to a LAN or WAN, and capable of communicating with the database of the platform in a well-known manner for sending the information about all the containers or only a part thereof or any additional information considered necessary.
• a telecommunications device which operates via network cable or via wireless communication, e.g. connection to a LAN or WAN, and capable of communicating with the database of the platform in a well-known manner for sending the information about all the containers or only a part thereof or any additional information considered necessary.
• the RVM’s can comprise telecommunication means like those connecting recycling plants and the intelligent bins in addition or instead of the local display screen on the machine itself.
• the bottles especially designed to work within the recycling system of the invention have a support, such as a barcode, for containing relevant information to identify them automatically by means of the optical reader of the RVMs or of the recycling plants or of the intelligent bins.
• This barcode enables the serialization of each individual container by means of a unique ID code, placed e.g. on the support ring or on the base or on the body of the bottle.
• ID tags for storing information are also possible, such as QR codes, bar code watermarks, curve code watermarks on a bottle or RFID tags, and they can be selected as a function of the amount of data to be stored and of the cost of the identification system.
• the printing or marking of the codes can be made by any suitable printing or marking technique known to the skilled person for the specific recyclable material of the containers, e.g. laser printing.
• Tags or codes can also be printed or fixed on a label attached to the bottle in a manner well known in the art.
• the association of the individual ID code to a product database is stored in the computer or server of the platform of the digital marketplace.
• serialization of each label and, if any, of secondary packaging with a unique code allows the scanning operation made at payment stage when purchased.
• the mass serialization for high production numbers of beverages can be handled preferably with the use of compressed QR codes (GS1 digital link) or any other means that allow recording of much information.
• each individual ID code to the barcode of each product and, if any, to the bar code of the secondary packaging that are both scanned when the payment is made and stored in databases in computers or servers.
• each individual bottle can be univocally identified when reading the barcode either on the product or on the secondary packaging.
• tags which are fixed to the bottle are used, appropriate reading systems for the specific tags are installed on the RVMs or in the recycling plants for reading the information on the bottle.
• the system of the invention provides for the use of mobile telephones belonging to the consumer, which have a software application loaded thereon configured to read the information displayed on the RVM display screen and transfer the relevant data to a platform database using the normal data transmission capabilities of the mobile telephone network.
• the downloading and installation of a suitable software application can be performed upon reading a barcode with the mobile telephone or by accessing the known software libraries of the operating systems installed on the mobile telephones.
• the mobile telephone can use a wireless network instead of, or in combination with, the data transmission capability of the mobile telephone network.
• the system of the present invention works in the manner hereafter described.
• a registration of each user is carried out, by providing personal information and any other appropriate information required and associating it to a user’s account in the digital market place, e.g. a number of a store fidelity or loyalty card.
• This can be made by means of the dedicated software application loaded on the smartphone, but it can also be made by using an Internet site of the system.
• the consumer can access the digital marketplace platform using his/her personal login credentials. Access to the platform can take place via the Internet site or the dedicated software application loaded on the mobile telephone.
• the individual code of each bottle is scanned and a scannable code is generated at the end of the purchase and printed on the receipt.
• This scannable code can be also displayed on the vending machine display screen (e.g. barcode, QR code etc.) and it contains the identification code of each product that has been scanned when the purchase of the products is made.
• the association of the buyer to the purchased products is made by means of scanning the code on the purchase receipt or on the screen of the vending machine and sending this information to the server computer system of the platform of the digital marketplace via the mobile phone software application associated to the user’s own account.
• this information can be sent to the server computer system by means of the loyalty card.
• This operation can be made also directly by the RVM, without passing through the use of the of the mobile phone software application, if the RVM is connected by telecommunications means directly to the database of the digital marketplace, or by the recycling plants, which are mainly directly connected with the database of the digital marketplace by conventional telecommunication links.
• RVMs reverse vending machines
• the bottles are inserted into the RVM and the QR code placed on the bottle, or any other ID tag accepted by the system, is read by the optical reading device or by the appropriate sensors of the RVM’s, respectively.
• the code on the bottle preferably, but not exclusively, contains information such as the brand name, the bottle size, the content type, e.g. sparkling or still water, and possibly the special “brand recycling fee” which should be applied, the composition of the material used for making the bottle, which information can be managed however in the digital platform directly, etc.
• the internal microprocessor on which an appropriate software is loaded processes the information and the user/buyer who is associated to the bottle ID is then identified and the information on the containers delivered during the return operation is transferred to the user's account in the database of the server computer system of the platform of the digital marketplace, thus updating the account with the number of credits and the event history.
• the RVM displays a QR code on the display screen of the RVM or prints it on the paper receipt, which is then read by the QR reader of the user’s smartphone and the software application on the mobile telephone.
• the information on the containers delivered during the return operation is transferred by reading the bar or QR code issued by the RVMs at the end of the container return, using the dedicated software application on the mobile phone, which sends the information into the user's account, thus updating the number of credits and the event history.
• the data captured by the RVM’s are for example the consumer’s mobile number and all bottle data contained in the QR code, the amount of bottles, and possibly, if necessary, the monetary value which is credited on the consumer account associated with the mobile telephone number.
• the second collection manner in the recycling of empty containers relates to cases where they are disposed by using the kerbside collection system.
• the recyclable containers are generally disposed in a bin or in a bag mixed together with other plastic and metal containers and other containers or items that are not eligible for reimbursement of the deposit.
• the collected waste is then transported to the recycling plants that are equipped with means for reading the individual codes on the bottles, processing means, like a computer, which is connected by conventional telecommunication means to the database on the digital marketplace server computer system.
• the data associated with the deposit operation in the RVM’s or collected in reading the codes of the containers in the recycling plants by scanning the empty containers are transferred to the database on the server of the digital marketplace by means of the software application of the mobile telephone or directly to the server of the digital marketplace by the software of the computer contained in the RVM via the known telecommunication channels used by mobile telephones and other electronic devices: telephone or data transfer means, for example, as well as any other wireless telecommunication system, LAN, WAN, etc., available in the location where the RVM is placed, thus updating the number of credits in the user’s account and recording the event history.
• At least the following data are preferably transferred from the mobile telephone to the server, but not exclusively: bottle brand, bottle size, application type, RVM location, consumer’s mobile telephone number, number of recycled bottles, and the server will specifically differentiate the information according to the brands participating in the recycling system. However, any other information of interest for the distributors can be transmitted.
• the software application In organizing the transmission of data read from the RVMs display or from the recycling plant, the software application is arranged so as to ensure that personal data privacy and security are protected according to laws, bylaws and regulations of the countries where the system is used.
• the RVMs and the recycling plants can work ‘offline’ and the information collected when consumers return empty bottles could be sent in batches to the digital platform server at a delayed time and likewise the information could be sent to the consumer’s mobile telephone at a later time.
• the interaction of the consumer with the digital marketplace e.g. reading the credit on the consumer’s account and any other information related to the consumers’ account, could occur not simultaneously with the return of the empty bottles and made available to the consumer and/or distributors and/or system with some delay, depending on the system design.
• Known means are provided for the transmission of data from the platform database to the distributors, such as cryptography, firewalls, etc., in order to ensure privacy and data transfer security, especially for consumers personal data.
• the digital marketplace is an online marketplace where service information is provided by multiple third parties, such as distributors.
• the focus is preferably on services and nothing is sold online to the consumer or user, but only a service is provided.
• the user can access his/her account, where he/she can find the account information and an history of the activities performed, such as the number and type of containers delivered, the history and position of deliveries, the bonuses received, and the current status of credits, e.g. a score.
• the user Based on the type and amount of containers delivered, the user receives a number of credits, defined by the recycling system, which are converted into cash prizes and/or even into prize items periodically or upon reaching pre-established thresholds.
• the user has also access to offers and promotions from distributors, possibly customized according to the user’s profile, news, forums, initiatives, games, and activities which can also contribute to increasing the user’s score.
• the system manager In organizing the digital marketplace, the system manager, such as a specific distribution company, verifies the data transfer accuracy and the type, selection, and amount of data that the distributors will receive, i.e. some distributors receive consumer data of those consumers buying selected brands, but also other type of aggregated data can be distributed.
• the system for collecting and recycling of the invention is associated to a kerbside waste collecting system which operates through a recycling plant equipped with scanners for reading the identification ID of each container that is delivered, the identification ID of each bottle is read by the scanners and the information about the recycled container is sent to the platform database .
• a comparison is made with the information in the platform database and there is a verification whether the identification ID of the bottle matches with the information contained in a customer account. In case of positive match the amount of the deposit is credited to the user’s account and then the container follows the known recycling route.
• the container identification ID is associated to the money transaction once the user’s account is credited in order to prevent more than one crediting transaction to be carried out on the same container.
• a consumer or a household is equipped with an intelligent bin.
• On collection of the content of the bin a scan of all the products that have been put inside the intelligent bin is performed by the collector just before the kerbside collection.
• all the recyclable containers belonging to the system of the invention are identified and the user’s account is credited during the kerbside collection by means of the same data transfer procedure described above for the RVM’s connected directly with the database of the digital market place.
• devices belonging to the collecting system are the only one capable to initiate the scan of the content and to unlock the intelligent bin.
• a deposit system can be put in place by the reseller, as it is commonly done e.g. with plastic glasses in a stadium during a football match, in order for the consumer to return the emptied containers to the reseller.
• the reseller can introduce the recyclable containers into the recycling system of the invention in order that his account be credited with the deposit. If the recyclable container is not returned to the reseller the deposit is lost by the user, but it can be credited to the reseller’s account if the introduction of the bottle into the recycling system is performed nonetheless.
• the data transferred from the platform database to the distributors consists of aggregated data, such as data referring to every bottle linked to the user’s account, i.e. to the user’s mobile number, so that each distributor can find every mobile number, i.e. every consumer, how many bottles have been brought back to the RVMs or have been inserted in the kerbside system, inserted in intelligent bins or used during an event, etc. when, where, the type of beverage, etc.
• the distributors can thus survey and understand each consumer’s consumption habits.
• the distributors can perform “targeted/focused” marketing actions, and in return, the distributor pays a “brand or premium recycling fee” to the consumer for each bottle that the consumer has recycled, and the payments will be processed through the digital platform and credited to the users’ accounts in accordance with predetermined agreed prices between the digital marketplace managers and the distributors.
• the system of the invention allows consumers to play games and gain rewards through discounts on next purchases or through gifts or payback systems.
• the recycling system also provides data exchange operations between distributors and consumers, through which promotional messages and offers are sent to consumers and messages for seeking larger consumer’s engagement, e.g. by submitting surveys. This can be made by exchanging data through text messages, videos, by sending promotional codes on smartphones, etc. Other services are also possible.
• PET Core data dated December 2017, 1.750.000 tons of PET bottles are recycled yearly in Western Europe. Considering an average weight of 40g for each bottle, this results in about 40 billion bottles/year going through the mechanical recycling systems. Conservatively assuming that an additional 0,1 % of those 40 billion bottles would be deposited via the recycling system of the invention, it would mean an increase of 40 million bottles per year of available recycled material.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
• Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
• Sorting Of Articles (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Citations (5)

• 2021
  • 2021-08-25 IT IT102021000022280A patent/IT202100022280A1/it unknown
• 2022
  • 2022-08-24 WO PCT/EP2022/073621 patent/WO2023025859A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2022-08-24 GB GB2401904.4A patent/GB2623717A/en active Pending
  • 2022-08-24 EP EP22769899.0A patent/EP4392950A1/en active Pending

Patent Citations (5)

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