I.Work Process of Waste Processing Equipment
Manual sorting, while flexible, has limited efficiency and a harsh working environment. A skilled worker can sort approximately 0.5 tons of material per hour.
Modern mechanical sorting, based on the differences in the particle size, density, magnetic properties, etc. of materials, employs technologies such as screening, gravity separation, and magnetic separation, and is widely used in the pre-treatment of municipal solid waste and the separation of metals from electronic waste.
Today’s waste sorting systems have evolved into highly integrated automated engineering projects. Taking an automatic sorting system as an example, its core components include automatic control and computer management systems, automatic identification devices, sorting mechanisms, main conveying devices, pre-processing equipment, and sorting lanes.
In the logistics and distribution field, electronic sorting systems (also known as automatic sorting systems) have become key equipment for completing the classification of goods using automation technology.
II. Core of the Waste Processing Equipment: Three-Stage Processing and Key Technologies
Pre-processing – Main Sorting – Post-processing
1. The pre-processing stage mainly reduces the size of materials through crushing and screening, and performs preliminary classification. For example, bulky waste recycling systems use twin-shaft shredders to reduce volume, breaking large items like sofas and mattresses into fragments smaller than 200 mm. Screening is a key method for sorting solid waste based on size.
2. The main sorting stage is the core of the entire process, achieving fine separation of materials through a combination of technologies.
Key technologies used in this stage include:
Gravity sorting: Utilizing the density differences between particles of different substances to create stratification and separation in a moving medium.
Magnetic sorting: Primarily used for separating ferrous metals; this is one of the most common pieces of equipment in sorting lines.
Eddy current sorting: Specifically used for separating non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and copper.
AI intelligent sorting: Optimizes sorting accuracy through artificial intelligence algorithms, integrating spectral analysis and airflow control technology to improve recycling efficiency.
3. The post-processing stage focuses on compacting and baling recyclables and rendering non-recyclables harmless.
4. For solid waste of different properties, the processing flow and equipment selection also have different focuses.
The following are examples of typical solid waste treatment equipment and their core value:
For bulky waste (such as furniture and mattresses), the core process is volume reduction through crushing and resource utilization, primarily using a combination of equipment such as dual-shaft crushers, magnetic separators, eddy current separators, and air separators.
For mixed municipal solid waste with complex compositions, the key is to achieve refined sorting to improve the purity of recyclables. Typical production lines are equipped with drum screens, bouncing screens, and magnetic separators, and increasingly integrate AI-intelligent sorting robots.
The treatment of construction and renovation waste focuses on aggregate recovery and lightweight material separation, with 3D sorters, air separators, and AI photoelectric sorting equipment playing a crucial role.
Scrap metal processing uses metal hydraulic presses and hydraulic metal shears, mainly to achieve volume compression, facilitating subsequent transportation and remelting. Plastic bottles and cans are automatically compacted and packaged using plastic compressors, with the core value being improved processing efficiency and logistical convenience.
III. Intelligent Sorting: The Integration of AI and IoT Technologies
The next generation of waste treatment equipment is developing towards a highly intelligent direction. 3D sorting machines can precisely separate mixed waste into light 2D materials, heavy 3D materials, and undersized particles based on the shape, volume, and specific gravity of the materials, with a daily processing capacity exceeding 1000 tons.
Intelligent sorting systems not only improve efficiency but also significantly reduce operating costs. Statistics show that each robot can replace 3 to 4 workers, increasing sorting efficiency by over 40% and improving the purity of recyclable materials by approximately 15%, significantly enhancing resource recovery.
From a system integration perspective, modern waste treatment equipment emphasizes modular design. For example, plasma solid waste treatment equipment adopts a modular structure, facilitating large-scale engineering construction, and the main equipment is designed for a 30-year lifespan.
IV. The Value of Waste Treatment Equipment： Cases
Taking a large-item waste treatment system from Guoxin Machinery as an example, the entire system is a fully sealed design, equipped with a filter plate dust collector, and noise levels are controlled below 80 decibels.
From an economic perspective, high-precision sorting brings direct value enhancement. According to industry case studies, investment projects with significantly higher resource recovery rates achieved profitability within just six months of operation, completely independent of additional subsidies.
Taking Xi’an construction waste as an example, after introducing new equipment, the company recycled and processed a total of 159.4 tons of various types of waste within two months of operation, broadening the range of waste categories, refining sorting, and facilitating storage and transportation.
From construction and renovation waste sorting centers in Changsha to municipal solid waste sorting in Luqu County, Gansu Province, these successful cases are demonstrating to the market that environmental protection projects can not only improve the ecological environment but also bring positive and sustainable commercial returns to operators.
These sophisticated systems, composed of sorting equipment,t act like silent ecosystem engineers, transforming chaotic waste into orderly renewable resources, weaving value chains from waste to regeneration for businesses, communities, and society as a whole.