A raw material and/or recycling system, including at least one tagging unit configured to provide at least one recyclable material element with at least one identifier. The system also includes at least one first peer-to-peer module assigned to the tagging unit and at least one peer-to-peer network having at least one peer-to-peer application. The first peer-to-peer module is configured to provide the provided identifier and at least one status parameter data set related to the recyclable material element to the peer-to-peer application. The peer-to-peer application includes at least one registering means executable upon provision of the provided identifier by at least a part of the nodes of the peer-to-peer network. The registering means is configured to register at least the recyclable material element by storing at least the provided identifier and the provided status parameter data set in at least one registry storage.

The present application and the resultant patent provide a merchandiser. The merchandiser may include an ambient compartment with at least one ambient product therein, a temperature controlled compartment with at least one temperature controlled product therein, and a rotary internal transport system within the temperature controlled compartment so as to dispense a temperature controlled product in response to an ambient product being placed therein.

User identification system of a beverage dispensing machine have a beverage recipient sleeve, the sleeve having a base and a lateral surface to cover the bottom of the recipient, and an RFID tag on the inside of one of the walls of the sleeve.

Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to, among other things, methods, systems, apparatuses, and devices that are or configured for reuse, and promotion of reuse. While embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to devices, apparatus, systems and methods for reuse of cups (or other product which can be reused), at least some of the embodiments can be used for recycling products (which may be reused, or, materials thereof used to produce new products).

A pallet comprising: a plurality of container seats wherein each seat is adapted to carry a fluid container; a data obtainer arranged to obtain container data from a data provider carried by a fluid container to be carried; a processor coupled to the data obtainer and configured to provide a signal based on the container data.

A reverse vending machine to be utilized as a recycled material collection device. The reverse vending machine is comprised of a housing having an aperture disposed therethrough, the aperture configured to receive a plurality of recyclable materials from a user. A ducting system is in fluid communication with the aperture and a vacuum system to draw the plurality of recyclable materials to an auger system configured to compact the recyclable materials and dispose the recyclable materials into a reservoir.

An incentive-based waste reduction system and method thereof are disclosed herein. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an incentive-based waste reduction system comprises a collection means comprising at least a load-determining device, the collection means for obtaining a quantifiable measure of waste material from an entity, a value associated with the quantifiable measure of waste material, an adjustment factor for adjusting the value associated with the quantifiable measure of waste material, determined from an algorithm, the algorithm taking as an input at least a predetermined factor, a credit value associated with at least a quantifiable measure of deposited waste material, and a reward value associated with the credit value.

A method of managing reuse of a returnable bottle is disclosed. The method individually manages returnable bottles so as to manage reuse linked with their individual states of use and thereby enable reusable bottles to be separated from other bottles in a scientific manner. The method comprises, at the time of new production of a returnable bottle body, forming on a bottle body surface a product identification mark part engraved with an identification code as product identification data of the bottle body, reading the product identification mark part and writing and storing the product identification data of the bottle body in the storage medium linked with individual transport state data relating to transport of the bottle body, and judging permission for continued reuse of the bottle body based on the individual transport state data stored in the storage medium.

A reverse vending machine is provided that includes an interface cabinet having an inlet portal. At least one bin is provided for receiving the accepted recyclable container. A roller system identifies and sorts the recyclable containers. A crusher is driven by a motor with a mechanical coupling between the crusher and the motor. The crusher is adapted to receive various containers and is positioned intermediate between the roller system and the bin. A cart or frame displaceable relative to the interface cabinet, the crusher is mounted on the cart or the frame. A reverse vending machine in another embodiment includes a interface cabinet, the interface cabinet having an inlet portal for recyclable container input and a rejected container depository. At least one bin and a roller system are provided along with a wash system for cleaning components of the interface cabinet between the inlet portal and the bin.

Methods and systems are provided for improving recycling and participation rates by providing financial incentives to households engaged in recycling. Certain embodiments of the invention relate to reduction of costs associated with waste collection and the enhancement of collection efficiency. Other embodiments of the invention relate to opening a marketing channel for participating retailers to build value from responsible corporate citizenship.