Advances in Waste Separation Equipment

The recycling process is not complete until the finished product is produced. In the case of recycled paper, this would be the rolls of paper stock that were shortly before recycled and pulped paper waste. In the past decade, US paper manufacturers have built more than 45 new recycling-based pulp and paper mills compared to only a few new plants that use virgin wood. Recycling is where the paper industry is going, and companies like Terex Material Handling are leading the way with processing equipment built around optical sorter technology. They have developed a new Demag grab for handling packed roles of finished paper. Capable of lifting up to 6 tons, this grab can handle one to four separate paper rolls. There are two types of mechanical grabs (one that can pick up single rolls measuring 0.75–1.35 meters in diameter to a total weight of 4 tons, and a larger grab that can handle rolls 1.2–1.6 meters in diameter up to a total weight of 6 tons). Positioning the grabs during process operations is performed by the warehouse management computer. The six arms of the mechanical grab gently enclose the rolls of paper and the grab then safely transports them to their designated storage location. Redundantly designed sensors in the grab ensure reliable handling. Optimized storage and efficient operations are achieved with the help these sensors that can guide the movements of the grab. [text_ad] Eriez has introduced a new line of Eriez SMART (System Monitoring and Reporting Technology) products for the recycling industry. These advanced products were developed to monitor and report on frequently fluctuating measurements throughout typical recycling processes, giving operators greater control over their processes to maximize metals recovery and separation efficiency. “Our SMART products embrace technology to offer new functionality, superior reliability, better product utilization and capabilities that push beyond traditional product boundaries,” says Mike Shattuck, Market Manager-Metals Recycling. He continues, “The SMART products line for recycling currently includes Eriez’ previously introduced Metal Loss Monitor as well as the new Moisture Monitor, Splitter Monitor and Belt Scale option. A number of additional products are currently in development and will be added to the line in the future.” Another recent development in the Eriez Metal Loss Monitor (MLM). The MLM continuously scans the residue stream for valuable scrap metal that has escaped the process and is headed for landfill disposal. Design for installation on flat or trough conveyor belts it is available for almost all commercially used belt width and conveyor configuration. It is equipped with a counter that can be reset daily and hourly, or even for each truckload. So if the MLM determines that a disposal truck is heavily loaded with valuable metal, it can be diverted from a landfill. The MLM’s data acquisition and reporting package performs trend analyses, issues warnings when metal losses rise above a pre-determined level, statistical process control, and report writing functions that allow for review and process improvements. Their Moisture Monitor is a non-contact electronic scanning device that measures the water content of material passing through its inspection field. Installed on a conveyor, the Moisture Monitor reports the percentage moisture content of the material. This is an important consideration for MRFs because of the need to optimize the amount of water injected into the mill to prevent fires and control airborne dust generation. This data can be read locally or remotely, allowing he operator to ensure that sufficient water injection to accomplish these safety goals. Conversely, excess water can be avoided to prevent interference with separation operations. [text_ad use_post='27767'] The Eriez Splitter Monitor is an optical system that measures debris buildup on the critical leading edge of splitter blades used in many different types of separation equipment in the recycling industry. It provides an analog measurement of the amount of this detrimental buildup and can be programmed through the Eriez MLM Web portal to send warning alerts via e-mail or cell phone text messages to prompt the appropriate personnel to clean the splitter blade. Eriez Splitter Monitors allow recycling line operators to perform this essential function in fewer labor hours by automatically monitoring and alerting personnel rather than requiring them to manually check each splitter for debris buildup. This results in greatly improved metal recovery and lower operating costs. The Eriez MLM Belt Scale option is a device that continuously monitors the gross weight of recycling reject material passing through the Eriez Metal Loss Monitor. It provides additional data which, when combined with Eriez’ proprietary calculations, better monitors the separation efficiency of recycling plants. Many such plants operate intermittently or with varying feed rates that can cause variations in the number of metal pieces that are rejected to the landfill per minute of operation. To better isolate such variations from indications of separation equipment inefficiency, the MLM Belt Scale option permits graphing and monitoring the much more relevant counting of metal pieces per ton of waste. Thus, system operators can better adjust and maintain the separation equipment to maximize efficiency.

Managing municipal solid waste is more than landfilling: publicity, education, engineering, long-term planning, and landfill gas waste-to-energy are specialties needed in today’s complex environment. We’ve created a handy infographic featuring 6 tips to improve landfill management and achieve excellence in operations. 6 Tips for Excellence in Landfill Operations. Download it now!