image from Tracking cups for Washing as a Service


Tracking cups for Washing as a Service

Innovative reuse of cups instead of recycle

SwapBox offers companies, restaurants, petrol service stations, hospitals and government offices the chance to re-use plastic cups rather than to recycle them. But in order to do so, the cups need to be collected, washed and distributed after use. SwapBox offers this washing-as-a-service, allowing their customers to comply with the European Directive on Single-Use Plastics (applicable from July 2024).

However, the end-users of the cups are not yet familiar with the implications of the regulations. So cups get lost, accidentally disposed of, or taken out of the washing loop. SwapBox had the idea of creating a frictionless return system which is deposit free, but which does familiarise end-users with the concept of returning and washing the cups. With EasyLogic SwapBox developed a system which:

  • dispenses cups identified with an RFID tag;
  • identifies the end-user with their bank card or bank app;
  • lends up to 7 cups at a time;
  • when the cup is returned via the return bin, or detected in the washing machine, it is marked as returned by the end- user, and he or she does not pay for the cup;
  • if the cup is not returned within a 2 week period, and the end-user needs a new cup, he or she first needs to pay for the unreturned cups.

EasyLogic, together with its development partner TSS Company , developed an embedded, innovative UHF RFID reader to be used in the cup dispensers. This is connected to a custom board with motor drivers and sensors which controls the cup dispenser. Each cup’s RFID token is registered when dispensed. With our knowledge of the payment processes we configured a Payter payment terminal as the user interface to the Dispenser system. The terminal returns a token which identifies the bank-card or app of the end-user, and we store the token with the RFID identifier of the cup in a backoffice system. All communication between the dispenser and the backoffice systeem, is via a 4G router with vandal proof antenne, and encrypted, secure connections.

Download the Brochure for further details.