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RFID-Fitted Recycling Bins Enforce Environmental Laws

Rebecca Kutzer-Rice | Date: 09-21-10 | Comments

Residents of Cleveland will soon be getting high-tech bins to track how often they recycle cans, bottles, papers and other materials. If users are caught dumping these items into the trash, they'll receive a hefty fine.

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RFID-Fitted Recycling Bins Enforce Environmental Laws

Residents of Cleveland might soon think twice about throwing empty bottles or cans into the trash can. The town's city council recently approved the implementation of a new high-tech trash collection system. The system will track how often residents recycle and help identify people who illegally toss recyclable materials into the garbage.

In Cleveland's new trash collection system, recycling carts will be embedded with radio frequency identification (RFID) chips and bar codes. RFID chips, which are most often used by retailers to prevent theft, are also making headlines for their helpfulness in food safety and speedier shopping.

The chips will allow city workers to monitor how often residents roll their recycling bins to the curb. If a recycling bin hasn't been used for several weeks, the chip will alert workers, who will then sort through the resident's garbage for recyclable materials. If more than 10 percent of the trash is found to be recyclable, officials will issue a $100 fine. Cleveland requires its residents to recycle materials including glass, metal cans, plastic bottles, paper and cardboard.

The project will receive $2.5 million in funding from the city. It will include 25,000 households, expanding a 2007 pilot program of 15,000 households. Each year, 25,000 households will be added to the program until nearly all of the city's 150,000 residences are included. Existing recycling bins might be retrofitted with the RFID chips as well.

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