Abstract: A method for providing an alternative periodic cover material for landfills by separating materials in a salvage operation. A non-sorted material stream including metallic and non-metallic components, which preferably includes automobile scrap, is fed to a shredder. After shredding, the non-sorted material stream is separated. The non-sorted material stream is first separated into two streams, namely, a heavy material stream and a light material stream. The heavy material stream is conveyed to a magnetic separator where ferrous metals are separated from non-ferrous materials. The light material stream is passed under a cross belt magnetic separator where the light ferrous metals are separated. The remaining light material stream is conveyed to a rotary trommel which separates the light material stream into two fractions based on size, with the fine material becoming relatively inert through processing and being used as a cover material for landfills.

Abstract: A method for recovering a fuel substance by separating materials in a salvage operation based on BTU content is provided. A non-sorted material stream including metallic and non-metallic components, which preferably includes automobile scrap, is fed to a shredder which shreds or fragments the materials. After shredding, the non-sorted material stream is separated by a series of separators. The non-sorted material stream is first conveyed to a gravity separator where the materials are separated into two streams, namely, a heavy material stream and a light material stream. The heavy material stream is then conveyed to a magnetic separator where ferrous metals are separated from a number of non-ferrous materials. The heavy ferrous metals are collected for recycling whereas the heavy non-ferrous materials are conveyed to a screen and further separated into non-ferrous metal and non-metallic material.