Grantee Research Project Results
A Low Cost Automated Process for Recovery of Recyclable Plastic and Glass Containers from Solid Waste
EPA Contract Number: 68D30065Title: A Low Cost Automated Process for Recovery of Recyclable Plastic and Glass Containers from Solid Waste
Investigators: Sommer, Edward J.
Small Business: National Recovery Technologies Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: September 1, 1993 through March 1, 1996
Project Amount: $149,936
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (1993) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , SBIR - Waste , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
This disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a costly problem for all municipalities. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recommended that source reduction, recycling, reduction and landfilling be applied for the treatment of MSW. Recycling programs are rapidly becoming the most popular method for waste reduction. Municipalities are implementing curbside programs and central Material Recycling Facilities (MRF) to recover valuable items such as newspaper, cardboard, aluminum, glass and ferrous alloys. Increasingly, municipalities are realizing the cost advantages of using automated technology to separate the recyclable materials. National Recovery Technologies, Inc., has completed a Phase I research program which successfully demonstrated the feasibility of using the bounce characteristics of most recyclables to cause them to be separated from nonrecyclable items. This research culminated in the manufacture of a working prototype which has been further tested with true MSW since the end of the Phase I program with very positive results. These results indicate that this device produces a concentrated stream of recyclables from mixed MSW. This proposal will outline those results and propose a means for developing and testing a commercial scale unit. This unit would be economically feasible for MRF's of all sizes, or facilities separating mixed recyclables collected through curbside programs.Supplemental Keywords:
RFA, Scientific Discipline, Waste, Sustainable Industry/Business, Municipal, Sustainable Environment, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Technology for Sustainable Environment, New/Innovative technologies, Engineering, material recycling facilities, municipal waste plastics, waste minimization, waste recycling, recycled plastics, recovery, plastics sorting, hazardous waste, municipal waste, sorting system, automated waste recycling, recycling, waste processing, municipal solid waste landfills, recycled glass technologies, material recovery facility, waste management, waste recovery, plastics, solid waste, pollution prevention, automated seperation, glass containersProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.