Patent ID: 8146798
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: B65F,G06K,G06Q,Y02W

Abstract:
1. A method for a municipality to track the condition, pick-up, and general use of a large number of refuse containers among its citizens and businesses, the method comprising the steps of: requiring a permit for use of a multi-use waste receptacle wherein the multi-use waste receptacle is of a type filled and emptied on multiple occasions; issuing the permit in the form of a passive radio frequency identification tag having a unique identifier associated therewith to a permit applicant wherein the passive radio frequency identification tag includes means for attachment to the multi-use waste receptacle; associating the unique identifier with biographical information associated with the permit applicant; establishing a permit type associated with a type of waste to be deposited in the multi-use receptacle; associating the permit type with the permit; establishing an electronically accessible database external to the passive radio frequency identification tag comprising an association of a plurality of unique identifiers with biographical information associated with a corresponding plurality of permit applicants; requiring attachment of the passive radio frequency identification tag to a receptacle of the permit applicant wherein the passive radio frequency identification tag remains attached to the receptacle subsequent to several loadings and empties of refuse within the receptacle; making a determination whether use of a multi-use receptacle is in compliance or non-compliance based on the permit type associated with the permit attached thereto; and providing a handheld device for communicating information regarding the determination, the handheld device comprising a reader for reading the unique identifier from the passive radio frequency identification tag, a means for wireless communication with the database wherein the handheld device receives information from and transmits information to the electronically accessible database, and a display for displaying information to a user.