RecycleMore Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to RecycleMore ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and providing transparency about how we handle information when you use our mobile application and web application ("App").

This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding the data we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have regarding your information. By downloading, accessing, or using our App, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

Information We Collect

Photos You Take (Camera)

• What we access: Your device's camera, only when you choose to use camera-based features such as identifying a recyclable object.
• How we process it: The photo is transmitted to our servers and processed by an artificial intelligence service (provided by OpenAI) to identify the object and its material. The photo and the text result are used only for this identification purpose and are not stored long-term or used for any other purpose. The identified object, material, and timestamp are stored anonymously.
• Voice playback: When you choose to listen to the identification result, the response text is sent to our text-to-speech provider (ElevenLabs) to generate spoken audio. The audio is streamed to your device and is not stored by us or the provider.
• User control: Camera permissions are optional and can be denied or revoked through your device settings.

Location Information

• What we collect: Geographic location data when you use our App to find recycling points, identify objects, report a point's status, or when the App is opened.
• How we collect it: Through your device's GPS, Wi-Fi, or cellular network, only while you are actively using the App. You may also manually choose a location instead of sharing your exact position.
• Purpose: To show nearby recycling points, suggest the closest suitable point for a detected material, and to build anonymous, aggregated usage statistics (e.g., by county or municipality).
• User control: You can disable location services for our App through your device settings, though this will limit functionality.

Device Identifier

• What we collect: A pseudo-anonymous device identifier (a random identifier generated and stored on your device on first use). It is not directly linked to your name, email, or other personal identifiers.
• Purpose: To measure anonymous usage statistics, prevent duplicate submissions, and improve the App. For example, events such as "App opened" or "navigation started" are recorded with this identifier and your approximate location.
• User control: Reinstalling the App or clearing its data generates a new identifier.

Usage Events

• What we collect: Anonymous events such as App opened, navigation to a recycling point started, recycling point details viewed, and report page viewed. Events may include the point identifier, approximate location, and device identifier.
• Purpose: To understand how users interact with the App, measure the usefulness of recycling points, and improve the service.

Feedback

• What we collect: Feedback you voluntarily submit, such as whether an identification result was useful and an optional explanation, or general feedback submitted through the website.
• Purpose: To improve the quality of our identification results and services.

Recycling Point Status Reports

• What we collect: When you report the status of a recycling point (e.g., full, broken, wrong location), we collect the selected status, your optional comment, your location, and optionally a photo you choose to attach.
• Photo metadata: If you attach a photo, technical metadata embedded in the photo (such as timestamp, camera information, or GPS location) may be read to verify the accuracy of the report.
• Purpose: To keep recycling point information up to date and inform the responsible recycling point operator.

Illegal Trashing Reports

• What we collect: When you report illegal trashing, we collect the report location, your optional comment, and the device identifier.
• Purpose: To forward the report to the responsible recycling point operator or relevant authority for cleanup.

Technical Information

• What we collect: Basic anonymous usage statistics and crash reports. This may include device type, operating system version, and other non-personal technical data.
• Purpose: To improve App performance, fix technical issues, and understand how users interact with the App.

Information We Do Not Collect

• Accounts: You do not need to create an account to use the App. We do not collect names, email addresses, or other direct personal identifiers from app users. (Business partners may optionally register for our separate partner portal with an email address and a secure email login link.)
• User profiles for advertising: We do not create user profiles or track individual usage patterns for advertising purposes.
• Photo storage: Photos taken for object identification are used transiently for AI analysis and are not stored by us.
• Audio storage: Spoken audio generated for identification results is streamed in real time and is not stored by us.
• Persistent identifiers for tracking: We do not use cookies or similar technologies to track users across third-party websites for advertising purposes.

How We Use Information

We use the information we collect solely to:

• Provide our recycling location and object identification services.
• Share anonymous, aggregated location data with recycling point operators to improve service coverage.
• Maintain and improve the App's functionality and performance.

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We share limited data with:

• Recycling point operators: Anonymous, aggregated location data to help improve recycling point placement and service hours, as well as point status and illegal trashing reports (including any photo or comment you submitted). This data does not contain your name, email, or other direct personal identifiers.
• AI service providers: Photos and text are processed by third-party AI services (OpenAI for object identification, ElevenLabs for text-to-speech) solely to provide our features. They do not retain this content for their own purposes.

Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect the information we collect against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. All data transmitted between the App and our servers is encrypted using industry-standard protocols (e.g., HTTPS).

Children's Privacy

Our App is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or 16 in the European Economic Area). We do not knowingly collect information from children.

International Data Transfers

If you use our App outside your home country, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in a country where we or our service providers operate. By using the App, you consent to any such transfer.

EU/EEA Users

For users in the European Union or European Economic Area, we comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The limited anonymous data we collect is processed based on:

• Your consent (which you can withdraw at any time).
• Our legitimate interest in providing and improving the App.
• Our need to fulfill our service to you.

Where data is transferred outside the EEA, we rely on appropriate safeguards, such as the European Commission's standard contractual clauses with our service providers. You have the right to access, rectify, restrict, port, or erase your personal information, where applicable under the GDPR.

Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

• Disable location services: Through your device settings (though this will limit App functionality).
• Deny or revoke camera permissions: Through your device settings.
• Request deletion: Contact us to request deletion of any data we may have that could be linked to your device.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy on our website and in the App and updating the "Last Updated" date.

California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), including:

• The right to know what personal information we collect.
• The right to request deletion of your personal information.
• The right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information (though we do not sell personal information).
• The right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights.

To exercise these rights, contact us using the information in the "Contact Us" section.

Do Not Track Signals

Our App does not respond to Do Not Track (DNT) signals. However, we do not track our users across third-party websites to provide targeted advertising.

Retention of Information

We retain anonymous usage data for no longer than necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. Anonymous aggregated data may be retained for longer periods for statistical and service improvement purposes. Any data that can be linked to a device is deleted upon request or after a period of inactivity.

Third-Party Links and Services

Our App may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party service you access through our App.

App Store Compliance

This privacy policy is intended to comply with the requirements of the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, including Apple's App Privacy Details and Google's Data Safety section requirements.