The invention regards a method of converting the deposit value of recycled packaging into a means of payment at service provider and/or goods supplier, more particularly a method in which a voucher issued by a reverse vending machine or a cash register is inserted into a reader, possibly in combination with extra value being made available for transfer by feeding money into a money receiver or a debit/credit card being read by a card reader, and the user identifies himself, giving instructions on how the value is to be used. The added value is converted into a value card such as a phone card, or it is transferred to the user's account with a chosen service provider and/or goods supplier. The invention also regards an apparatus for implementing the method.

Large quantities of recyclable packaging in the form of e.g. cans and bottles for beverages are not covered by the established recycling systems, although the extensive use of

reverse vending machines have made it easier for the consumers to make use of the recycling systems. It appears that teenagers and young adults in particular make less use of the scheme than other age groups .

For the commercial businesses, distribution companies and production companies that handle recyclable packaging, also termed empties, a greater return rate may lead to better utilization of the established systems, and society at large will benefit from a greater degree of recycling through environmental benefits and improved utilization of raw- materials such as glass, plastic, metal and paper.

The development of telecommunication and Internet services has resulted in a great need for prepayment of goods and services, e.g. when buying telephone time or paying for goods from an Internet shop . Paying in a fixed amount to a user ' s telephone account or purchasing a top-up card for a mobile telephone are examples of methods of payment that lack flexibility when it comes to being adaptable to the user's ability to pay.

It would be beneficial to find means of increasing the degree of recycling of empties, such as outlined above. There is great potential for improvement, especially in the case of younger people. At the same time, these groups are major users of telecommunication and Internet services . Combining the need for a higher degree of recycling of empties with greater flexibility in prepayment of telecommunication and Internet services forms the basis for the present invention.

Today's reverse vending machines print out a receipt for empties received. The value can only be realized by handing

in the receipt at an ordinary cash register in the shop where the reverse vending machine is located, and the value is paid out in cash or deducted from the bill for any goods purchased.

The object of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the disadvantages of prior art.

The object is achieved by features stated in the description below and in the following claims.

The invention regards a method of converting the value of empties returned to a receiver of such items, into a means of payment at a service provider's and/or goods supplier's. The method can also comprise the use of means of payment such as coins and banknotes, and also a payment card, when purchasing goods and services from said supplier, the value of returned empties plus any coins/notes inserted into a coin/note receiver and/or a transaction performed by means of a payment card and a card reader, being transferred to a user's account at the supplier's after the user has identified himself and specified which user account the amount is to be paid into. Alternatively the amount can be used for real time top-up of e.g. a smart card or a cash card for a mobile telephone carried by the user, or for issue of a selectable value card such as a top-up card for a mobile telephone.

Information about the value of returned empties is transmitted directly from the control system of the reverse vending machine, together with the required input information regarding user account etc . , or by a voucher being printed in a manner that is known per se, and the voucher being read by a separate reader, possibly separate from the reverse vending

machine .

The information regarding the payment transaction into the user account is transmitted in real time or by batch transmission, via e.g. the telecommunication network.

The invention also regards an apparatus for implementing the invention. The apparatus may be separate from or integrated into a reverse vending machine . An apparatus separate from the reverse vending machine may be connected to one or more reverse vending machines in a manner that allows communication of signals. Typically the apparatus comprises means of registering the value of the empties returned to the machine by the user, means of registering which goods or services the value of the empties is to be converted into or which user account the value is to be transferred to.

The apparatus may comprise means of issuing goods purchased, such as top-up cards for mobile telephones. It may further comprise means of communicating with a mobile telephone for receiving information defined by the telephone user, the user using the telephone as a push-button keyset for the apparatus. Communication with the mobile telephone may further comprise transfer of means of payment from the apparatus to the telephone by use of smart cards or wireless communication such as Bluetooth or RFID technology.

A first aspect of the invention comprises in particular a method of converting the deposit value of returned empties into a means of payment at a service provider's and/or goods supplier's, possibly registered to a specific customer, the method comprising the steps of: a) registering in a database the value of the empties

returned; b) selecting a product (goods) or a service from a supplier associated with the database; c) transferring the registered value into a customer account at the supplier's; and d) issuing the selected product or service.

Preferably step a) comprises one of the following steps: aa) real time data transfer to the database; or ab) data transfer via a temporary machine-readable data storage medium.

Advantageously the temporary data storage medium is taken from the group consisting of a machine-readable document created in a graphic output unit, and a digital storage medium.

Advantageously the method comprises, between steps a) and b) , one or more of the following steps: al) insertion of coins/notes into a coin/note receiver, and a2) establishing, by means of an electronic means of payment such as a payment card, a right of withdrawal for the supplier vis-a-vis the customer.

Preferably the customer identifies himself by use of a means taken from the group consisting of a manually operated keyset, a machine-readable identity card, electronic recognition of distinctive features of the customer, and a signal from the customer's mobile telephone.

In an aspect the goods/service is provided and made available to the customer more or less immediately.

Preferably the goods/service is provided by applying digital and graphical identification based on information from the database, product/service selection data, together with customer identifications.

In another aspect the goods/service is issued from the supplier upon the customer's request.

In a second aspect the invention comprises an apparatus for use when converting the deposit value of returned empties into a means of payment at a service provider's and/or goods supplier's, possible registered to a specific customer, characterized in that the apparatus is provided with: a) means of registering the value of the returned empties in a database; b) means of selecting a product or service from a supplier associated with the database; and c) means of transacting the registered value into a customer account at the supplier's.

Preferably the apparatus is provided with means of issuing the selected product or service.

Preferably the apparatus is connected to one or more reverse vending machines .

Preferably the apparatus is provided with a reader for a temporary data storage medium. Preferably the reader is taken from the group consisting of a bar code reader, a magnetic card reader and a reader of electronic storage media.

Preferably the apparatus is provided with one or more means

arranged for customer controlled registration of information, the means being taken from the group consisting of a manually operated keyset, a magnetic card reader, a smart card reader, a card swipe terminal, electronic recognition of distinctive features of the customer, and a signal from the customer's mobile telephone.

Preferably the apparatus is provide with means of providing a requested product by applying digital and graphical identification based on information from the database, product selection data, together with customer identifications. Preferably the product is a top-up card for mobile telephones .

The following describes a non-limiting example of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 schematically shows a process and an apparatus according to the invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a user/customer who has brought recyclable empties 2 to a reverse vending machine 3 that is known per se. The reverse vending machine comprises, in a known manner per se, means of registering the amount of returned empties 2 and issuing documentation of the deposit value of the empties in the form of a deposit slip 4. An apparatus according to the invention in the form of a registration unit 5 is connected to a database 7 in a way that allows communication of signals, via suitable means 22. In an alternative embodiment the registration unit 5 is also connected to the reverse vending machine 3 via signal communicating means 21.

A supplier 8 of goods or services is connected to the database 7 in a way that allows communication of signals, via appropriate means 23.

The registration unit 5 is provided with a read unit 5a, a push-button keyset 5b, a receiver/transmitter unit 5d for wireless communication with a mobile telephone 6, a coin and note receiver 5e and a printer unit 5f for value cards. The read unit 5a is typically arranged for reading of a bar code, magnetic card, smart card and means of wireless communication, such as RFID chips.

Arrow A illustrates the return of the empties 2, arrow B illustrates the manual transfer of the deposit slip 4 from the reverse vending machine 3 to the read unit 5a in the registration unit 5, arrow Cl illustrates delivery of a product/service from the supplier 8 to the customer 1, and arrow C2 illustrates delivery of a product/service from the registration unit 5 to the customer 1.

The value of the empties 2 returned to the reverse vending machine 3 is registered in the control system of the reverse vending machine. Upon signal from the user 1, the deposit slip 4 is printed out in a manner that is known per se.

The user 1 carries the deposit slip to the registration unit 1, where the value of the deposit slip 4 is read in the read unit 5a of the registration unit 5. Any additional information such as user identity and an indication of how the deposit value is to be allocated, is input by the user 1 via the keyset 5b, optionally via the keyset of the mobile telephone 6 by wireless transmission between the telephone 6 and the receiver/transmitter unit 5d of the registration unit

5, or by scanning of an identity card or similar. Any extra value is purchased by inserting coins and/or notes into the coin and note receiver 5e. The transaction of values is completed, and the information is transmitted via the database 7 to the supplier 8 for execution of the service/goods delivery Cl.

Alternatively the goods delivery may be effected by the registration unit 5 issuing a value card, e.g. a top-up card for mobile telephone services, illustrated by C2 , via the printer unit 5f.