The quantity of overall solid waste in cities is rising at a pace of 5% per year due to increased urbanisation. Every year, per capita waste generation, grows by 1.3%. Because of the rising waste generation, it is impossible to recycle most of the waste generated if material recovery facility equipment execute manual operations, as manual processes take a long time to sort the waste stream due to the varied materials.
Furthermore, manual operations require labor, and executing the processes by hand is hazardous. Employees in Manual MRFs must work long hours to meet their targets, which turns out to be challenging and ineffective as Manual MRFs can only handle 5-10 TPD of waste.
That is why advanced methods and machinery are required to increase speed and recover large amounts of waste daily. Because they use technology, semi-automated and automated MRFs simplify the sorting and separating process.
Material recovery facilities are classified into three types based on their operations: manual, semi-automated, and automated. Semi-automated and automated MRFs are crucial because their operations are designed to increase speed, reduce costs, and improve the recovery of waste materials.
Also read: What is a Material Recovery Facility?
List of Equipment’s in Semi-Automated and Automated MRFs
There are lists of equipment that effectively handle day-day activities like sorting, segregating and for resource recovery.
| No | Name of the equipment | Use |
| 1 | Weighbridge | Weighs large quantities of waste. |
| 2 | Weighing scales | Weighs incoming waste and sorted recyclables. |
| 3 | Sorting tables | It manually sorts and separates recyclables. |
| 4 | Loaders | It loads incoming waste onto a conveyor system and sorting tables. It also loads bailed recyclables into vehicles. Moves residual or rejected waste from the facility to the processing/disposal sites. |
| 5 | Conveyor with hopper | It collects waste from loaders and separates it into recyclables. |
| 6 | Conveyor system | It has mechanized and regulated waste movement for segregation purposes. |
| 7 | Trommel | It segregates dry waste or recyclables based on particle size. |
| 8 | Magnetic separator | It separates ferrous-bearing metals. |
| 9 | Air classifier | It separates materials like plastic and paper depending on size, shape, and density. |
| 10 | Bottle perforator | To improve bailing, it perforates plastic bottles before compacting. |
| 11 | Bailer | It compacts and binds recyclables. |
| 12 | Forklift | Movement of baled waste within MRF. |
It is said that equipment like a weighing scale, sorting table, air classifier, and baler could be present in manual MRFs as well.
How is Recykal digitising Material recovery facilities?
Previously, MRFs were unable to function properly since there was no record of waste entering the facility, making it difficult for MRFs to determine how much waste they could handle and how they could expand their capacity to accommodate the waste.
Furthermore, MRFs could not determine the type of waste a household generates. It just collects and processes waste. The systematic collecting and monitoring of waste entering the MRF and its treatment only boost recycling rates, and most materials may be recycled.
Recykals Smart Centre achieves this by digitising MRFs and keeping accurate records of the work done in that MRF. From employee data to waste collection, sorting, and processing at the MRF. It scans bulk waste with Smart Skan digital technology and records its values in the Smart Centre App.
Households, shops, and bulk waste generators are given QR-labeled blue plastic bags. The dry waste is stored in blue bags by waste generators. The waste collection vehicle visits each household to collect dry and wet waste. Before sorting, the dry waste is taken to the collection centre, scanned, and weighed. Sorting can be done either manually or on a sorting conveyor belt.
Dry waste from each bag is kept on a conveyor belt, and the Smart Skan identifies the type of material and records it in the Smart Centre App, which is linked to the household to which the dry waste belongs. And the household will be compensated for the waste he sent to the collection centre. The waste is then separated, baled for reduced transportation expenses, and weighed before being put into vehicles.
That is how MRFs determine how much waste enters the MRF, and it offers households an estimate of how much waste they generate, including the type of materials.
Look at the solutions offered to learn more about how Smart Centre assists MRFs in fulfilling their role for a sustainable future.
