I. Mechanized Sorting Process and Equipment

1. Shredding and Screening
Construction waste is first subjected to primary shredding using waste shredders to reduce particle size. Subsequently, equipment such as drum trommel screens and vibrating screens classifies the material by size, separating fine particles of soil and debris, creating conditions for subsequent precise sorting.

2. Core Sorting Stage

– Air Separator: Utilizes differences in airflow density to separate lightweight plastic flakes from heavier materials (such as bricks, stones, and metals), a crucial step in the initial enrichment of plastics.

– Magnetic Separator: Removes ferrous metals, preventing interference with subsequent sorting and allowing for the recovery of metal resources.

– Intelligent Photoelectric Separator (Core Equipment): This is currently the most precise sorting equipment. Employing near-infrared (NIR) spectral sensing technology, it can quickly identify different types of plastics (such as PE, PP, and PVC).

3. Fine Sorting and Balering
The sorted plastic fragments can be further cleaned using an eddy-current separator to remove non-ferrous metal impurities. After washing and crushing, they are compressed into regular plastic bales by a hydraulic baler for easy transportation and sale to downstream recycling companies.

II. Advantages of Mechanical Sorting of Construction Waste

1. Efficiency and Capacity
A medium-sized mechanized sorting line can process tens to hundreds of tons of construction waste per hour. Plastic sorting efficiency is dozens of times higher than manual sorting, significantly shortening project cycles and meeting the needs of large-scale processing.

2. Improved Sorting Purity and Recycling Value
Photoelectric sorting and other technologies can effectively distinguish plastic types, producing high-purity single-category plastics (such as pure PP sheets), which can be directly used as recycled raw materials, with economic value far exceeding that of mixed plastics.

3. Reduced Overall Operating Costs
Although there is an initial investment in the equipment, in the long run, it significantly reduces labor costs, management costs, and site occupancy costs, and generates continuous returns through resource sales.

4. Ensuring operational safety and environmental compliance:

Fully enclosed or semi-enclosed mechanized production lines reduce the risk of dust spillage and direct human contact with hazardous waste, helping companies meet stringent environmental and safety production standards.