Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Electronic Tags for Product Lifecycle Management
EPA Grant Number: R829585Title: Electronic Tags for Product Lifecycle Management
Investigators: Thomas, Valerie , Wagner, Sigurd
Institution: Princeton University
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2004 (Extended to December 31, 2005)
Project Amount: $240,000
RFA: Technology for a Sustainable Environment (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Sustainable and Healthy Communities , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development
Objective:
Information technology has brought unprecedented efficiencies to manufacturing and retailing, making possible not only lower costs and greater reliability but also new products and services. Information technology has not yet been integrated into the waste management and recycling industries. The objective of this research project was to explore the potential for information technology to make waste management simpler, cheaper, and more effective. Specifically, we focused on the potential to attach an electronic tag, label, or device onto the product that would link the product to information systems.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
We have explored the use of bar codes, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags on products and on trash bins, radio transmitters, and global positioning system (GPS) locators. We found that each of these technologies is suited to different applications.
For bar codes, we developed a system to link existing bar codes on products to Web-based dismantlement and recycling instructions. In collaboration with Motorola, we developed a system for retrieving dismantlement information for cell phones. By reading a bar code on the product, the recycler or dismantler gets information on his computer screen about how to recycle or dismantle the product.
For RFID tags, we tested the potential to identify products in the waste and recycling process, in collaboration with MOBA, a firm specializing in RFID technology for waste management. This information could be used by the collector to manage the collection process, to make more efficient sales to scrap dealers, or to charge or provide rebates to customers.
For radio transmitters and GPS locators, we tested the potential to track items from the consumer to the final point of recycling and destruction. This information could be used to check that computers or other recycled equipment is in fact going to a reputable recycling facility, rather than being dumped, diverted, or otherwise mismanaged.
We found that:
- Product bar codes are a simple and low-cost way to identify products for recycling and waste management. This application is commercially cost-effective and is already widely used in online markets such as eBay.
- It is possible to identify products in a waste bin using RFID tags on the product and RFID detectors installed on the waste bin. However, we did not identify a commercially cost-effective application for this approach.
- It is possible to identify consumer waste bins using RFID tags on the waste bin and RFID readers on the waste collection truck. This application can be cost-effective in increasing truck routing efficiency. It is widely used in Europe but not yet used in the United States.
- It is possible to identify RFID tags on products using RFID readers on the waste collection truck, but it may be difficult to achieve high reliability. This application is not currently used. If RFID systems were installed in waste collection trucks and bins as described in the bullet above, then the system could later be expanded to read RFID tags on products. This would provide the potential for more effective management of hazardous products and of valuable recyclable products.
- It is possible to track items from disposal to destruction destination using radio transmitters, although the receiver antenna typically must be less than a kilometer from the radio transmitter. This application would not be cost-effective for tracking many items on an ongoing regular basis. However, this application could be cost-effective for tracking a small number of items for research, law enforcement, or for commercial verification of disposal practices.
- In the near future, it may be possible to track items from disposal to destruction destination using global positioning system (GPS) locators, which combine GPS technology with cell phone transmission. This technology would be preferable to the radio transmitters, discussed in the previous bullet, because the locator can be tracked automatically throughout the range of the cell phone service. This application would not be cost-effective for tracking many items on an ongoing regular basis. However, this application could be cost-effective for tracking a small number of items for research, law enforcement, or for commercial verification of disposal practices.
Conclusions:
- Bar codes on products already are being used to enhance the reuse of products and are making electronic markets for second-hand goods more efficient. Currently only a few types of products, such as books, cell phones, and packaged food, have standard bar codes. Greater use of standard bar codes on products, rather than merely on the packaging, could make future product reuse and recycling more efficient.
- RFID tags are increasingly used on trash bins in Europe to make waste collection more efficient and to provide consumer incentives for recycling. Market incentives in the U.S. waste management business could lead to increased use of information technology, including RFID tags.
- Both radio transmitters and GPS locators could be used for research on recycling and for verification that recycled materials are sent to the correct destination. Currently, recycling practices are almost entirely unverified, and the potential for unauthorized dumping is high.
- The United States’ waste management and recycling industries have yet to adopt information technology into their operations. Technologies such as product tracking could increase effectiveness and efficiency and could lead to the development of new markets and better services.
Journal Articles on this Report : 4 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 14 publications | 4 publications in selected types | All 4 journal articles |
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Saar S, Thomas V. Toward trash that thinks: product tags for environmental management. Journal of Industrial Ecology 2002;6(2):133-146. |
R829585 (2003) R829585 (2004) R829585 (Final) |
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Saar S, Stutz M, Thomas VM. Towards intelligent recycling: a proposal to link bar codes to recycling information. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2004;41(1):15-22. |
R829585 (2003) R829585 (2004) R829585 (Final) |
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Thomas VM. Product self-management: evolution in recycling and reuse. Environmental Science & Technology 2003;37(23):5297-5302. |
R829585 (2003) R829585 (2004) R829585 (Final) |
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Thomas VM. A universal code for environmental management of products. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2009;53(7):400-408. |
R829585 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
innovative technology, sustainable industry/business, environmental engineering, sustainable environment, technology for sustainable environment, electronic tags, environmental sustainability, environmentally conscious design, environmentally conscious manufacturing, green design, industrial innovations, product life cycle, waste minimization,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Sustainable Industry/Business, Sustainable Environment, Environmental Chemistry, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Economics, Environmental Engineering, life cycle analysis, cleaner production, clean technologies, environmentally conscious manufacturing, green design, life cycle inventory, waste minimization, waste reduction, environmental sustainability, clean manufacturing, electronic tags, product life cycle, life cycle assessment, environmental cost analysis, industrial innovations, pollution preventionRelevant Websites:
http://www.isye.gatech.edu/~vthomas/electronics.html Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.