WASTE COLLECTION METHOD AND COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD

Abstract

Waste collection system comprising a waste collection calculation server, comprising: - a plurality of local waste control units (20) comprising: - a data input module (22) for the characteristics of the planned waste and the geolocation of this waste; - a module (26) for validating or rejecting the proposed collection; - a data module (26) for the characteristics of the waste and geolocation; - access to a network (30) enabling the exchange of data between the modules; - a waste collection calculation server (40), comprising: - a proposed collection calculation module (43); - an actual collection calculation module (44); - a collected waste calculation module (45).

Description

Waste collection method and computer system for implementing the method Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a waste collection method and a computer system for implementing this collection method.

[0002] Household and industrial waste represents commodities requiring treatment involving several operations, including one or more of the following: waste location, transport, sorting, storage, recycling, destruction, processing, trading.... Prior art

[0003] These various operations are currently carried out by different parties, most often in silos, including the waste producer (private household, private company, local authority, etc.).

[0004] In particular, waste sorting is carried out at least in part by a party external to the waste producer, either by the local authority,either by a private service provider. The collection, on the one hand, and the recovery, on the other, are major concerns, and the waste treatment operations represent a significant cost that is taken into account in optimizing recovery.

[0005] Thus, for example, the collection and treatment of waste represent a cost that depends in particular on the quantity of waste collected on each visit to the collection point, the quantity of waste collected, its intrinsic quality (recoverable raw material or calorific value, for example), whether or not it has been pre-sorted, the length of the collection route, and even the time elapsed since the production of this waste or these wastes (for example, recycled paper used to make paper pulp loses its recyclability over time)...

[0006] Today, efforts are being made to ensure that the waste producer provides sorted waste, at least partially,for example, by waste category family. Thus, different waste bins are set up within the waste production site itself (homes, workplaces, communities such as schools, government offices, etc.). Furthermore, containers dedicated to one or a few waste categories are available to users, whether in different neighborhoods of a city and / or in collection centers such as recycling centers. This sorting procedure, whether at the waste production site or at a collection center, is not an instinctive act and remains largely guided by moral constraints such as respect for social life and rules of citizenship.

[0007] Moreover, it is very common for those involved in waste collection and / or sorting,and those who carry out other waste treatment operations such as processing and / or recycling are not the same. Therefore, these other treatment operations, as well as the complete treatment chain, depend on the waste category. If we consider, for example, only household waste: the situation is different depending on whether we consider paper / cardboard on the one hand, glass, metals on the other, chemical and / or toxic products, or electronic or household appliances on yet another...

[0008] Document FR 2981484 describes a method for managing the collection and storage of waste. According to the invention, such a method comprises the following steps: - obtaining, using a portable communication terminal implemented at a waste collection point, information representative of the collection,including origin information and waste characterization information; - transfer, via the terminal, of information to a remote server; processing, within the server, of the collection, based on representative information and processing information stored in a database and associated with representative information, to determine an action to be taken on the collection; - transmission by the server to the terminal of an order representing the action, to allow the terminal owner to trigger it in real time, the corresponding decision having been made remotely by said server; - recording of representative information about the collection in the database, for traceability and / or detailed billing purposes.

[0009] Consequently, the commercial and industrial imperatives of these different stakeholders are often not the same,which does not contribute to the optimization of the waste treatment chain. LocaIB-1-Fr 3033551 3 Brief summary of the invention

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a waste collection method free from the limitations of known collection methods.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a waste collection method that improves the optimization of the waste treatment chain, taking into account the type of waste considered. It is also sought to provide a waste treatment method that brings the waste producer closer to the party that processes the waste in question.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a waste collection method that adds an incentive dimension for the waste producer, or any other person in possession of the waste, to sort and make the waste produced readily available.by waste category.

[0013] Another objective of the invention is to optimize the saturation rate of sorting and recovery equipment for collected waste.

[0014] Another objective of the invention is to manage waste flows to the most appropriate center for treatment and recovery or re-recovery.

[0015] According to the invention, these objectives are achieved in particular by means of a waste collection process comprising the following steps: - a user enters into a computer terminal (fixed or mobile) information on the location of available waste: this is the delivery location of the waste, in particular either a sorting center,collection or the removal location such as the user's geographical coordinates (geolocation data established via the user's computer terminal); - said user enters into said computer terminal a set of predictive information (i.e., promise) for waste that they make available, including for 25 one or more categories of waste, the nature and quantity available; - the location information and the set of predictive information are transmitted to a server - a computer program on said server calculates, from said set of predictive information, a predictive value for each type of waste made available 30,and transmits this predicted value to said computer terminal; LocaIB-1-Fr 3033551 4 - said user enters into the computer terminal a validation or rejection response for said predicted value assigned for each type of waste made available (preferably the same computer terminal used to enter the location information for available waste), and 5 - at least one collection body carries out the collection of waste that has received a validation response from the user: this collection body is a sorting center, a waste recovery center, or an entity that comes to the user's premises (public or private service). 10

[0016] Preferably,The server indicates to the user, via the computer terminal, the location or locations of the collection centers where the waste owner can deposit the waste: this is a choice offered to determine the location information. It is understood that in this way, the user can choose between the conventional waste collection system, and in particular the regular collection of certain waste from their home, and voluntary drop-off at the sorting center for other waste, or offer all or part of their waste via the method according to the invention.

[0017] This solution has the particular advantage over the prior art of encouraging the user, who may be the waste producer or the waste owner, to make their waste available more easily and by category, and therefore,20. To participate in an incentive-based approach to environmental preservation through the adoption of eco-responsible behavior. Assigning a value to the different categories of waste provides an additional incentive for the user of the process according to the invention to contact, via this process, the collection body corresponding to the waste whose collection via the process according to the invention has been approved 25 by the user.

[0018] In this way, the collection body will be able to organize its collection, and therefore also the subsequent processing of the corresponding waste that is actually collected, according to the stock of waste offered by the various users of the process according to the invention. In this way, it is understood that this makes it possible to optimize the 30 processing chain for this category of waste.

[0019] In some cases, this process makes it possible to reduce the number of intermediate stakeholders,and thus to bring the user, the waste producer, closer to the operator who carries out all or part of the processing operations contributing to the recovery of the category of waste concerned. LocaIB-1-F r 3033551 5

[0020] The invention also relates to a computer system for implementing the aforementioned collection process, comprising - at least one computer terminal including computer input means,- a server connected to said computer terminal and comprising a database 5 in which at least said location information and said set of predictive information are stored. Brief description of the figures

[0021] Examples of implementation of the invention are given in the description illustrated by the attached Figures 1 to 4, in which: - Figure 1 is a functional flowchart illustrating the key steps of the waste collection process according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a functional flowchart illustrating subsequent steps of the waste collection process according to the invention; - Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a waste collection system according to the invention; - Figures 4a,Figures 4b and 4c illustrate examples of user interfaces for local waste control units. Example(s) of an embodiment of the invention

[0022] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic representation of an example of a waste collection system comprising a waste collection calculation server, including: 20 - a plurality of local waste control units 20 comprising: - a microprocessor and implementation instructions 21; - a data exchange module 23; - a data input module 22 for the characteristics of the planned waste and its geolocation; 25 - a module 24 for validating or rejecting proposed collection; - a data module 26 for waste characteristics and geolocation; - a waste geolocation module 27; - access to a network 30 enabling data exchange between the modules; - a waste collection calculation server 40,including: 30 - a microprocessor and 41 implementation instructions; LocaIB-1-Fr 3033551 6 - a 42 data exchange module; - a 43 module for calculating proposed collections; - a 44 module for calculating actual collections; - a 45 module for calculating collected waste; 5 - a 47 module for user waste data; - a 48 module for calculating proposed collection data; - a 49 module for validating or rejecting proposed collections; - a 50 module for calculating actual collection data; - a 51 module for data on the characteristics of collected waste. Also, a data bus system 10 allows coupling between said microprocessor 21 and said modules 22, 23, 25, 26 and 27. Furthermore, a data bus system 46 allows coupling between said microprocessor 41 and said modules 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51.

[0023] In the illustrated example, the system also includes at least one collection unit 60 15,comprising: - a microprocessor and implementation instructions 61; - a data exchange module 62; - a data module 64 containing characteristics of the collected waste. A data bus system 63 also allows coupling between said microprocessor 61 and 20 and said modules 62 and 64.

[0024] Figure 1 is a functional flowchart illustrating an example of the implementation of a waste collection process for a waste collection system comprising a plurality of local control units 20 and at least one waste collection computing server 40.comprising the following steps: -receipt 100 of geolocation data 25 and waste characteristics provided by a data input module 22 of the local control unit; -sending 101 of the user data to the waste collection calculation server 40; -calculation 102 of a proposed collection by the proposed collection calculation module 43 of the server; -sending 103 of the data to the user local unit 20 for validation or rejection; -receipt 104 of validation or rejection data by the validation / rejection module 24 of the local waste control unit 20; -sending 105 of the validation or rejection data to the waste collection calculation server 40 (module 49); -calculation 106 of an actual collection by the actual collection calculation module 50 of the server. 5

[0025] As illustrated in the functional flowchart in Figure 2,The method advantageously comprises the following steps: - reception 107 of the data on the characteristics of the waste collected by a collection unit 60; - sending 108 of the data on the characteristics of the collected waste to the server 40; - compilation 109 of the collected waste by a waste collection calculation module 45 of the server 40.

[0026] According to the invention, the user uses a computer terminal 10, such as a smartphone, and in particular a multimedia phone operating with a touchscreen 12. A server (not shown), such as the waste collection calculation server 40, is also used. This server is located remotely from the computer terminal 10 and includes a database used for implementing the invention as described below.

[0027] The computer terminal 10 and the server are connected to each other in order to exchange information. Such a connection may be wired but is preferably wireless.20 by radio waves or by GSM or by a wireless network using the TCP-IP communication protocol, namely the Internet.

[0028] According to the method of the invention, the user, who has waste available, performs a first location step. In this step, the user enters into the computer terminal 10 the location information for available waste 25. To this end, in the illustrated embodiment, the method proposes the use of a geolocation step allowing the different possible collection points to be displayed on the screen 12, from which the user will choose by providing the computer terminal 10 with the location information for the waste. In practice,The user will select, by pressing on the corresponding area of ​​the touchscreen, the location where the user agrees to make waste available (potential waste disposal location). As illustrated in Figure 4a, the first location 14a corresponds to the user's home, the second location 14b corresponds to a first waste disposal center, and the third location 14c corresponds to a second waste disposal center.

[0029] Generally, this location information corresponds either to the user's geographical coordinates (which can be provided to the server by geolocation), or to the geographical coordinates of a waste sorting or recycling center.

[0030] In a second step represented in Figure 4b, the user enters into the computer terminal information related to a promise, or a proposal to make waste available,in the location selected in the step described previously. 10 To this end, the user enters into said computer terminal 10 a set of forecast information for the waste they are making available, including, for one or more waste categories, the type and quantity available. Again, in the example shown, the touchscreen 12 displays a list of different waste items in sections 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d of the screen 12. Each of these sections 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d 15 includes an increment button allowing the user to enter a quantity (in units of weight, volume, or other) of the waste in question. Thus, section 12a of the screen corresponds to a first waste category (here, paper, offered at a quantity of 2 kg), section 12b of the screen corresponds to a second waste category (here, fuel, offered at a quantity of 2 liters),Portion 12c of the screen corresponds to a third category of waste (here, electronic devices offered at a rate of 4 units) and portion 12d of the screen corresponds to a fourth category of waste (here, common household waste offered at a rate of 2 kg).

[0031] According to the invention, this information (the location information and the set of predictive information) is transmitted to the server 40, which contains a computer program 25 that will calculate a predictive value for each of the four types of waste made available, and will transmit this predictive value to the computer terminal 10. In practice, in the illustrated embodiment, the user sees this predictive value appear in a portion 12e of the screen,Here, a value of 100 points is assigned to all the different waste types offered (namely, the total projected value of 30, corresponding to the sum of the projected values ​​of each of the four waste categories offered).

[0032] Having this projected value, the user then enters a response into the computer terminal 10 to validate or reject said projected value (LocaIB-1-Fr 3033551 9) assigned for each type of waste made available. For this purpose, the user uses another portion 12f of the screen comprising instruction buttons allowing, in particular, validation or rejection of the projected value (here, 100 points).

[0033] If the user confirms their agreement to this projected value,He validates his agreement for the actual provision of the aforementioned waste previously declared as being made available at the previously selected location. If the user refuses to agree to this provisional value, he can repeat the steps described above, in whole or in part, by changing the selected location and / or the nature of the waste offered, and / or the quantity of waste offered, and obtain a new provisional value for which he confirms his agreement. When the user's agreement is given, the validation of the provisional value triggers the actual collection operation of the waste offered and validated by the user.

[0034] This physical collection step consists of different possibilities, depending on the collection location initially selected, which may correspond to different collection bodies that could intervene. Generally speaking,The said collection body is either a sorting, destruction, or recovery center for waste where the user goes and deposits their waste, thereby carrying out the waste collection, or an entity that comes to the user's home to collect the waste.

[0035] If this location is the user's home, the collection body responsible for the regular or on-demand home collection of at least one of the wastes in question is notified of the immediate availability of the waste offered and validated by the user. In this case, the collection body in question can organize its collection route taking into account all the waste offered and validated by different users, which allows it to anticipate the management of collection times and locations, as well as the increasing stock and its subsequent processing.

[0036] If this location is a different location from the home,The relevant collection body, for example the waste disposal center, is notified of the upcoming arrival of waste proposed and validated by the user. In this case, the collection body in question can anticipate the management of the increasing stock and its subsequent processing. 30

[0037] In one embodiment, during or after collection, the method according to the invention further comprises the following steps: - said collection body records the collected waste by providing said server with a set of actual information including, for each category of waste collected, the nature and quantity collected, - said computer program calculates, from said set of actual information, an actual value corresponding to the waste actually collected.and transmission of this actual value to the computer terminal.

[0038] Such a procedure can occur for the user as shown in Figure 4c: on the screen 12, an area 13 dedicated to displaying the actual information 10 appears. More precisely, for each category of waste collected, the nature and quantity collected are shown. In this example, the actual information for the first category of waste (here, paper collected at a rate of 281 g), the second category of waste (here, fuel collected at a rate of 37 liters), and the third category of waste (here, electronic devices collected at a rate of 445 g) appears. 15

[0039] In one embodiment, the provision of said set of actual information is carried out by an operator of said collection device,which inputs said set of actual information into a computer terminal (fixed or mobile) which transmits said set of actual information to said server. This computer terminal is, for example, the computer terminal 10 already used by the user declaring the 20 waste items. This computer terminal may, for example, be another computer terminal, not shown, in particular a mobile device accompanying the operator of the collection unit in their work.

[0040] In an embodiment, not shown, the method according to the invention further comprises the following steps: 25 - said user inputs personal information into the computer terminal 10 enabling their registration,- creation on said server, using said personal information, of a unit-value account associated with said registered user, and - the computer program credits said user account with as many units of value as said actual value previously described. These units of value may correspond to points and / or rewards, such as rewards in monetary form, including a reduction on household waste taxes paid by the user, or in the form of gifts.... LocaIB-1-Fr 3033551 11

[0041] Thus, in this case, the method according to the invention further achieves the allocation to the user of a reward corresponding to the actual value of the waste confirmed during actual collection, in particular by the operator of the collection service. This results in an incentive for the user to implement the method according to the invention.and to sort this waste, which contributes to optimizing its recovery, thus benefiting the community.

[0042] For implementing the collection process according to the invention, a computer system, also the subject of the present invention, can be used. Such a computer system comprises, in particular: - at least one computer terminal comprising computer input means, usable by the user, and - a server connected to said computer terminal and comprising a database in which at least said location information and said set of predictive information are stored.

[0043] In one embodiment, this database further comprises one or more of the following information: the set of actual information (nature and quantity collected for each category of waste proposed and validated by the user),the actual value corresponding to the waste actually collected, the date of collection, the user's personal information (name, address, etc.), the credit to the unit account, etc.

[0044] Also, preferably, said database further includes a valuation scale assigning to each type of waste at least one rate corresponding to the value of said waste per unit and in which said computer program further takes into account, for the calculation of said projected value of each type of waste, said valuation scale. In this case, preferably, said valuation scale assigns to each type of waste several rates corresponding respectively to several possible location details.

[0045] Also, advantageously, the computer system further includes an internet network allowing the exchange of information between said server and said user's computer terminal.and preferably also with the computer terminal of the operator of the collection unit. LocaIB-1-Fr,

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Waste collection system comprising a waste collection calculation server (40), comprising: -a plurality of local waste control units (20) comprising: - a computer terminal (10) comprising computer input means, usable by the user, - a microprocessor and implementation instructions (21); - a data exchange module (23); - a module (22) for inputting data on the characteristics of the expected waste and geolocation of this waste, into said computer terminal (10); - a module (24) for validation or refusal of proposed collection, in said computer terminal (10); - a module (26) for waste characteristics and geolocation data; - a waste geolocation module (27); - access to a network (30) allowing the exchange of data between the modules; - a waste collection calculation server (40) connected to said computer terminal (10), comprising: - a microprocessor and implementation instructions (41); - a data exchange module (42); - a proposed collection calculation module (43) capable of calculating a proposed collection from the data on the characteristics of the planned waste and the geolocation of this waste, provided by the data input module (22); - a module (44) for calculating effective collection; - a module (45) for calculating collected waste; - a user waste data module (47); - a module (48) of calculated data of proposed collections; - a module (50) of calculated data of effective collection; - a module (51) of data on the characteristics of the collected waste.

2. Waste collection system according to claim 1, also comprising at least one collection unit (60), comprising: - a microprocessor and implementation instructions (61); - a data exchange module (62); - a module (63) of data on characteristics of the collected waste capable of providing the server (40) with a set of actual information on the collected waste.

3. Waste collection system according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the server (40) also comprises a value scale database assigning to each type of waste at least one rate corresponding to the value of said waste per unit and wherein said proposed collection calculation module (43) of the server (40) further takes into account said value scale, for the calculation of a forecast value of each type of waste.

4. Waste collection system according to claim 3, wherein said value scale assigns to each type of waste several rates corresponding respectively to several possible location information.

5. Waste collection method for a waste collection system comprising a plurality of local control units (20) with a computer terminal (10), and at least one waste collection calculation server (40), comprising the following steps: -receiving (100) data from the user in the form of geolocation data and waste characteristics provided by a data input module (22) of the local control unit (20) of the computer terminal (10),; - sending (101) the user's data to the waste collection calculation server (40); - calculating (102) a proposed collection by a proposed collection calculation module (43) of the server (40) from the data on the characteristics of the planned waste and the geolocation of this waste; - sending (103) the data to the local user control unit (20) for validation or refusal by the validation / refusal module (24) via said computer terminal (10); -reception (104) of validation or refusal data by the validation / refusal module (24) of the local waste control unit (20); - sending (105) validation or refusal data to the waste collection calculation server (40); - carrying out waste collection by at least one collection body for waste corresponding to a collection having received validation data; -calculation (106) of an effective collection by a module (44) for calculating the effective collection of the server (40).

6. A waste collection method according to claim 5, further comprising the following steps: -receiving (107) data on the characteristics of the waste collected by a collection unit (60); - sending (108) data on the characteristics of the collected waste to the server (40); -compilation (109) of the waste collected by a module (45) for calculating waste collected from the server.

7. Method for collecting waste according to one of claims 5 or 6, which further comprises, during collection or after completion of the collection, the following steps: - said module (45) for calculating collected waste calculates from the data of the characteristics of the collected waste, an effective value corresponding to the waste actually collected, and transmission of this effective value to said computer terminal (10).

8. Method for collecting waste according to one of claims 5 to 7, which further comprises the following steps: - receiving the user's personal data by a data input module of a local unit (20), allowing the user to be registered; - creation on said server, from said personal data, of an account of value units associated with said registered user and - recording of credits on said user account, with as many units of value as said effective value.

9. Waste collection method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, in which said location data corresponds either to the geographical coordinates of the user (14a), or to the geographical coordinates of a waste sorting or recycling center (14b, 14c).

10. Waste collection method according to any one of claims 5 to 9, in which said collection body is either a sorting or destruction or recovery or re-use center for waste where the user goes and where the user deposits his waste, whereby the waste collection is carried out, or an entity which comes to the user to carry out the waste collection.

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