| Household waste is notoriously difficult to physically
separate. There is a limit to the percentage of this complex waste that
can be source separated. Methods that can separate raw waste in large
volumes in a central plant at an affordable cost are in demand. The
Kinetic Streamer© itself, at the heart of the Kinetic Streamer© Waste
Separation System, represents such a method of processing household
waste.
It initially groups together materials with similar physical
characteristics into two “streams”. This first and key stage to the
process effects a macro-sort after which a combination of new and
traditional downstream equipment refines and purifies the resultant
streams into nine individual products (steel, aluminum, plastic film,
green glass, organic fractions, paper products, rigid plastics, flint
glass, amber glass).
The Kinetic Streamer© surface profile support frame is mounted on
rails and traverses back and forward in a reciprocating motion, driven
by hydraulic power. Waste is deposited centrally upon the convex and
sloping upper surface. The pulsating action begins to congregate
materials of similar physical characteristics into two primary streams
for further fine separation.
STREAM 1
 | paper |
| plastic film and |
| organic materials |
The sorted paper and putrescibles waste stream pass through a
trommel separator for the removal of the organic elements, after which
the paper is extracted for recycling. These materials then go through
further mechanical separation procedures extracting the three individual
elements.
STREAM 2
Rigid recyclables:
| glass |
| steel |
| aluminum |
| rigid plastic containers |
A vibrating screen and an air drum remove the remaining organic
materials and paper from the rigid recyclables stream. A hand picking
line removes the glass (as well as other miscellaneous objects), leaving
the stream containing steel, aluminum and plastic items. These materials
also go through further mechanical separation procedures extracting the
individual elements. Manual picking is reduced to minimum levels
but may still be selected for color separation and smaller throughputs
of recovered glass. Where a mixed glass product is acceptable automatic
mechanical separation will be employed.
The Kinetic Streamer© can be accommodated in an unobtrusive
standard industrial building, thereby minimizing local visual impact.
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