Embodiments described herein relate to hardware and software for waste item detection and recognition, along with an education or feedback system. Embodiments described herein use artificial intelligence, which embodies machine learning and computer vision, to detect waste items and generate feedback to nudge the user to dispose the waste items into appropriate receptacles while generating smart operational insights of a designated premise.

The system enables one to securely recycle an electronic device in a publicly accessible location. In particular, the embodiment described may be used by a mobile phone owner to submit his/her mobile phone for recycling via an electronic kiosk and receive compensation in some form. The compensation might be dispersed via cash, voucher, credit or debit card, or other magnetic or electronic transaction methods.

According to one embodiment, a POS device includes a housing, a cover, a first detector, and a first driving mechanism. The housing includes an accommodation chamber configured to accommodate a product to which an RFID tag is attached, an opening portion for putting the product into the accommodation chamber being formed in the housing. The cover is configured to open and close the opening portion. The first detector is configured to detect whether a person is present near the housing. The first driving mechanism is configured to transition the cover from a closed state in which the cover closes the opening portion to an open state in which the cover opens the opening portion, based on the detection of the person by the first detector.

A system for depositing of recyclable articles includes an internally-compartmented structure. The compartments are accessed through hatches which are selectively closed with covers. The system includes a user-operated kiosk which controls operation of the covers in response to user information and the degree to which the compartments are filled with recyclable articles. The kiosk includes a display for directing the user to deposit the articles into specific compartments and a user interface for entry and display of user-specific information.

Systems and methods for self-service recycling are provided. In particular, some embodiments include graphical user interfaces and backend systems that allow users to engage in remote inquiries of available salvage automotive parts in salvage yards. A user makes a request for a type of recyclable assembly. Examples of types of recyclable assemblies include, but are not limited to, automobiles, tractors, electronic devices, home appliances, and vending machines. The request is compared to a database of end-of-life vehicles across a number of salvage yards. When a salvage yard is identified as having the specified end-of-life vehicle, local parts pullers who are on site are notified and a communication channel between the parts puller and the user is initiated. This is facilitated through geofencing and location aware devices. Using this information, the user can determine if any of the identified parts remain on the vehicle and may purchase the parts from the SSAR facility for resale. The system then assists the user in creating descriptions for postings on the Internet and/or otherwise connecting the user with potential purchasers.

A system is disclosed for managing waste services. The system may have a locating device configured to generate a signal indicative of a location of a service vehicle on a roadway, a communication device, and a controller in communication with the locating and communication devices. The controller may be configured to determine a side of the roadway at which a first target location is currently being serviced by the service vehicle, and to determine based on the signal from the locating device a proximity of the service vehicle to a second target location at which the waste services are to be performed. The second target location may be on the same side of the roadway as the first target location. The controller may also be configured to automatically provide via the communicating device an estimated time of arrival to a customer corresponding to the second target location, based on the proximity.

The present disclosure includes a device for recycling a payment card, which can include a payment card receiver for receiving a payment card that has a substrate and an information-saving component, an image capture device configured to identify a location of the information-saving component on the substrate, a separating device configured to remove the information-saving component from the substrate, and a storage portion configured receive the substrate and the information-saving component.

A management system is disclosed for use with a vehicle configured to receive waste from a residential receptacle. The management system may have a source of customer consumption data, a communication device, and a controller in communication with the source and the communication device. The controller may be configured to utilize a correlation stored in memory to anticipate a service need of the residential receptacle based on the customer consumption data and information known about the residential receptacle. The controller may also be configured to selectively dispatch the vehicle via the communication device and based on the service need.

A method for waste management, including recording an image of content within a waste container; extracting a set of content parameters from the image; characterizing the content within the waste container based on the set of content parameters; and routing a waste removal vehicle based on the content characterization.

A container having a compactor and bin for waste is disclosed permitting on-premises and remote monitoring of the system and collection is disclosed. The system can also detect non-complaint materials placed therein and act thereon. Methods are further disclosed for inventorying identification tags for tracking packages, merchandise and tags disposed of.