Abstract: A system for sorting non-ferromagnetic metals from a mixture of material containing such metals and rubber and plastics material including a conveyor belt system and an associated linear induction motor the frequency and power of operation of which is chosen to deflect selected metals from the conveyor belt. The linear induction motor is placed beneath the conveyor belt and oriented with respect to the conveyor to produce a field of magnetomotive force in which the lines of the magnetic field are at right angles to the direction of motion of the conveyor, and in which the direction of travel of the field is orthogonal to both the lines of force and the direction of motion of the conveyor. The mixture of material subjected to the force of the linear induction motor may initially be treated by presizing or flattening, to enhance the effectivity of the induction motor in separating non-ferromagnetic material.