Abstract: The invention relates to a sorting center for sorting and combining mail, comprising sorting units in particular sorting cabinets, for hand-sorting mail and combining units, in particular combining tables, for combining into a single mail flow hand-sorted and other mail which has for instance already been sorted earlier or has been machine-sorted. The combining units are then physically separated from the sorting units and can be used independently thereof, so that sorting and combining can take place independently of each other. The invention further relates to a method for sorting and combining mail, and a sorting cabinet, a buffer assembly for use in a sorting center and method according to the invention.