Methods and systems for separating and recovering recyclables using a comminution device
First Claim
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1. A method for sorting recyclable materials, comprising:
- providing a recyclable mixed solid waste stream that includes a plurality of mixed recyclable materials, wherein the source of the recyclable mixed solid waste stream is a dry commercial solid waste stream, a dry industrial solid waste stream, and/or a source separated residential recyclable material stream;
comminuting the recyclable mixed solid waste;
fractionating the comminuted recyclable mixed solid waste stream by size and density to produce a plurality of intermediate waste streams, wherein at least one of the mixed solid waste streams includes 3-dimensional plastic and 2-dimensional plastic or paper;
individually sorting the plurality of intermediate waste streams using one or more sorting apparatuses to produce at least two recyclable products, wherein the sorting includes separating 3-dimensional plastic from the 2-dimensional plastic or paper;
and recovering the at least two recyclable products, at least one of the recovered recyclable products being selected from the group consisting of paper and wood.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for mining or recovering high value recyclable materials from waste streams with high percentages of recyclable materials. Examples of waste streams that can be advantageously processed using the methods and systems herein include dry commercial solid waste, dry industrial solid waste, and/or source separated curbside collected and processed single stream waste. The methods utilize a shredder to improve the efficiency and recovery rate of recyclables. Some methods also include upgrading an existing waste processing facility to include a shredder.
53 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for sorting recyclable materials, comprising:
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providing a recyclable mixed solid waste stream that includes a plurality of mixed recyclable materials, wherein the source of the recyclable mixed solid waste stream is a dry commercial solid waste stream, a dry industrial solid waste stream, and/or a source separated residential recyclable material stream; comminuting the recyclable mixed solid waste; fractionating the comminuted recyclable mixed solid waste stream by size and density to produce a plurality of intermediate waste streams, wherein at least one of the mixed solid waste streams includes 3-dimensional plastic and 2-dimensional plastic or paper; individually sorting the plurality of intermediate waste streams using one or more sorting apparatuses to produce at least two recyclable products, wherein the sorting includes separating 3-dimensional plastic from the 2-dimensional plastic or paper; and recovering the at least two recyclable products, at least one of the recovered recyclable products being selected from the group consisting of paper and wood. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for upgrading a solid waste recycling facility, comprising:
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providing a recycling facility that includes an established waste processing line including a plurality of size separating apparatuses that fractionate waste by size and a plurality of sorting apparatuses that sort recyclable materials into recyclable products, wherein the established waste processing line is configured to and has been operated to recover recyclable products from a dry commercial solid waste stream, a dry industry solid waste stream, and/or a source separated residential or commercial recyclable material stream; upgrading the established waste processing line to newly include a shredder or grinder upstream from the plurality of sorting apparatuses thereby yielding an upgraded waste processing line, wherein the upgraded waste processing line includes a 2D-3D sorter for separating 3-dimensional plastic from 2-dimensional plastic or paper; and processing a recyclable mixed solid waste stream on the upgraded waste processing line, wherein the recyclable mixed solid waste stream includes a dry commercial solid waste stream, a dry industry solid waste stream, and/or a source separated recyclable solid waste stream, the processing including shredding and/or grinding the recyclable mixed solid waste stream and using at least one of the sorting apparatuses to recover a recyclable product selected from the group consisting of paper and wood. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification