MECHANIZED SEPARATION OF MIXED SOLID WASTE AND RECOVERY OF RECYCLABLE PRODUCTS

• US 20140209514A1
• Filed: 03/31/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Upland Road IP Holdco LLC
• Original Assignee: Organic Energy Corporation
• Inventors: Gitschel, George
• Granted Patent: US 9,649,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 23/08 Separating or sorting of material, associated with crushing or disintegrating B02C23/18 takes precedence ; beater mills combined with sifting devices B02C13/13, B02C13/14; for tumbling mills B02C17/1835
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 23/14 with more than one separator
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 9/06 specially adapted for refuse
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/18 with magnets moving during operation
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/247 obtained by a rotating magnetic drum
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/30 Combinations with other devices, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/18 Magnetic separation whereby the particles are suspended in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 11/04 Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 11/06 Feeding or discharging arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 15/00 Combinations of apparatus for separating solids from solids by dry methods applicable to bulk material, e.g. loose articles fit to be handled like bulk material using wet methods B03B7/00; using gas currents B07B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 4/02 while the mixtures fall
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 9/00 Combinations of apparatus for screening or sifting or for separating solids from solids using gas currents; General arrangement of plant, e.g. flow sheets
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/20 Waste processing or separation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/52 Mechanical processing of waste for the recovery of materials, e.g. crushing, shredding, separation or disassembly

Abstract

The method and systems efficiently extract recyclable materials from a mixed solid waste stream. The methods and systems use sizing, density and dimensional separation to produce intermediate waste streams that are enriched in particular recyclable materials. The recyclable materials can then be efficiently sorted from the individual intermediate streams using mechanized sorting equipment.

Claims

1. A method for recovering recyclable materials from mixed solid waste stream, comprising:

providing a mixed waste stream comprising at least one high value recyclable material selected from the group consisting of paper, plastic, and metal, wherein the mixed waste stream includes at least 20% by weight of low value material selected from the group consisting of wet organics, green waste, food waste, grit, fines less than 1 inch, asphalt, concrete, textiles, and wood, rubber, film plastic, PVC, foil, rock, used consumer products, low value glass, composite materials, and combinations of these;

fractionating the mixed waste stream by size and by density using a size separator and a density separator; and

sorting at least a portion of the intermediate streams to produce a plurality of recyclable products.