Whitelisting Reusables devices by MAC address

Purpose

This document is intended to be shared with your IT or network team. It explains what they need to do to allow Reusables smart return devices to connect to your public or campus Wi-Fi network.

What Are We Asking For?

Reusables smart bins contain a small IoT (Internet of Things) computer that needs internet access to function. This connection allows the bins to report data, receive updates, and communicate with the Reusables platform.

To allow these devices onto a managed or public network, your IT team will need to whitelist the devices by their MAC address. A MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to every network-connected device — think of it like a serial number for the device’s Wi-Fi chip.

What IT Needs to Do

Obtain the MAC addresses — Reusables will provide a list of MAC addresses for each device being installed at your location. These will be shared prior to installation.
Add the MAC addresses to your network’s allowlist — This is typically done through your network controller, firewall, or Wi-Fi management system (e.g., Cisco Meraki, Aruba, Ubiquiti, etc.). The process varies by system, but your IT team will be familiar with it.
Confirm the network details — The devices will need:
- Access to the internet (outbound traffic on ports 80 and 443)
- A stable Wi-Fi signal (2.4 GHz only! 5 GHz is not supported)
- No captive portal or login page — the devices cannot authenticate through a browser-based login
Test connectivity — Once whitelisted, a Reusables technician or your onsite contact can confirm the devices are connecting successfully.

Information Reusables Will Provide

Before installation, Reusables will supply:

A list of MAC addresses for each device
The number of devices to be installed
A contact for any technical questions during setup

Questions?

If your IT team has any questions about network requirements or the devices themselves, please reach out to the Reusables team at technology@reusables.com