Page 32 - Hub-4 Magazine Issue 70

Recycling-MRF’s/Shredders/Balers
Developing sorting plants for dry mixed recyclables and light packaging that meet these requirements calls for a flexible, tailored approach combined with in-depth knowledge of how the varying composition of waste material affects the sorting process. This is where STADLER excels, having been involved in the design of the first plants of this type from the outset and developed numerous such facilities across the world.
Design considerations: waste material composition
The composition of waste materials arriving at sorting plants can vary depending on different factors, starting from the way waste is collected and separated, which can vary from country to country or even at regional level. Dry mixed recyclables can include paper and cardboard, plastic packaging, ferrous and non-ferrous metals and films – in some cases also beverage cartons or glass. Glass and paper can be collected separately. Drop-off systems tend to lead to cleaner waste than collection. The way local authorities charge for Municipal Solid
Waste collection can have an effect on how much people sort their waste for recycling. Different demographics in rural and urban areas will result in strong variations in the composition, and there will even be seasonal fluctuations.
“When developing a sorting plant for dry mixed recyclables and light packaging, waste composition is a key consideration,” says Jürgen Berger, Director for International Sales at STADLER. “For example, the mixed film and paper content in the Dry Mixed Recycling material collection in the UK requires more complex processing. If glass is included, it needs to be removed in the early stages to protect the process.”
Managing increasing complexity
The introduction of new European recycling targets is driving changes in the way waste is collected. In Belgium, the decision was taken to extend the types of plastics collected in the blue bag for packaging waste to include all plastic packaging. As a result, the sorting plant in Willebroek operated by sustainable waste management solutions provider Indaver would have to process much bigger volumes and manage the greater complexity involved in sorting more materials.
The company decided to invest in a new facility three times bigger than the previous one. They chose STADLER for the design of a plant with the necessary capacity and capable of managing the complexity: “Going into the project with STADLER made us all feel very confident that in the end we would get a high- quality installation
with cutting-edge technologies. We knew from the beginning that the project would be in good hands and that STADLER would do whatever was necessary to start up in time,” says Eline Meyvis, Project Engineer of the sorting plant at Indaver.
STADLER’s extensive experience came into play, as it developed and built a new plant capable of sorting the high volume of packaging waste into 14 fractions at a throughput of over 20 tph using a bag ripper, drum screens, magnets, windsifters, eddy current separators, ballistic separators and optical sorters. “The flexibility of the whole project team, including the people on site was incredible. Also the will to solve problems and to make the installation function was extraordinary. STADLER delivered a high-quality installation which Indaver can rely on.”
STADLER also managed the complexities of delivering a project during a global pandemic with success: “It was not an easy year with the Corona-pandemic, but STADLER made it happen nonetheless. All the milestones for production and
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www.hub-4.com Sept-Oct 21 - Issue 70