A system and method are provided and include an infrared emitter that emits a predetermined pattern of pulses of infrared light and an infrared receiver that detects the predetermined pattern of pulses of infrared light after the predetermined pattern of pulses of infrared light reflect off of a container. A proximity detection module is configured to determine a transmission time when the infrared emitter emits the predetermined pattern of pulses of infrared light, a detection time when the infrared receiver detects the predetermined pattern of pulses of infrared light, an elapsed time between the transmission time and the detection time, and a distance to the container based on the elapsed time. A control module for a dispenser is configured to receive the determined distance from the proximity detection module and to activate the dispenser when the determined distance to the container is less than a predetermined threshold.