Abstract: An apparatus for grinding hypodermic syringes or needles, IV needles and other medical waste into relatively fine particles. The apparatus includes a housing having a case therein defining an inlet and an outlet. A plurality of rotors are disposed in the case, and each of the rotors has a plurality of radially outwardly extending teeth therein which interact with teeth on the other rotors to grind the syringes or needles. A discharge valve is provided for controlling the flow of particles discharged from the case. The teeth on the rotors are longitudinally and circumferentially spaced. Generally, the teeth on at least one of the rotors extend between the teeth on another of the rotors. Also, the teeth on at least a pair of the rotors have angled sides which are angled in opposite directions such that the angled sides of the teeth on one rotor generally face, and are aligned with, the corresponding angled sides of the teeth on the other rotor.

Abstract: Plastics are separated and recovered from mixtures containing plastics and other materials, by flotation in an aqueous dispersion, wherein the disperse phase comprises a substance such as for example calcium carbonate having an average mean particle size from about 1 micron to about 75 microns. The process is particularly useful for separating polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride from comminuted wire and cable scrap.

Abstract: A rotary drum solid waste air classifier includes an inclined drum in which is mounted a non-rotatable separation enhancing tube which extends longitudinally completely through the drum. A waste conveyor is longitudinally mounted within the tube. The feed end of the waste conveyor is located outwardly of the lower end of the tube for receiving solid waste and conveying it through the rotating drum. The tube has a delivery cut-out at and below the discharge end of the waste conveyor so that the waste may fall from the discharge end of the waste conveyor and the discharge from the lower end of the drum while the light fraction flows up the drum and into a plenum downstream from the drum.

Abstract: A municipal solid waste material sorting system comprises a multi-stage trommel having a relatively short first stage section with relatively small holes for screening out grit, dirt, coins, small stones and the like, a second substantially longer second stage section for screening out beverage bottles, metal cans, and other waste materials of similar size and a third stage relatively short section for screening out large objects such as half gallon and gallon plastic, metal and glass containers. The respective screened municipal solid waste fractions from each of the three trommel sections are advantageously handled in respective handling streams. Materials screened in the first stage section of the trommel may be further classified as by a vibrative air table-specific gravity device to recover useful materials, such as glass cullet and coins. Materials screened in the second stage of the trommel may be further screened in a two-section disk screening and air classification arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing solid or semi-solid waste materials with one or more additives to produce a solid or semi-solid end product includes a separator with paddle-type chopper augers for receiving the solid or semi-solid waste material. The chopper augers reduce the size of lumps contained in the waste material and discharges the material into an homogenizer. The homogenizer is equipped with pin mixers to form a substantially homogeneous mass of waste material for loading into a blender unit where the mass is blended with selective additive(s).

Abstract: The solid waste processing unit will reduce normal waste stream solids, all considered to be nonedible garbage, to 10-15 percent of the original volume ready for recycling or disposal. The unit can be placed in any location and can be manufactured to meet any capacity. The unit crushes, tears and shreds solid waste in a disintegrator which is composed of two sections. The first is a stationary chamber and the second is top cone-shaped drum rotating at high speed and high torque within the stationary chamber. Both sections are equipped with elliptical-patterned cutting heads and the waste is forced down through the chamber by the drum until it is ground into material for sizing in a rotating screening cylinder. The rotating screening cyclinder sizes and sorts the material into storage bins below with the aid of a fan to expedite the screening process. If the screened and sorted waste fills the compartmentized bins to capacity the system is stopped by electrical means.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses are provided for hygienically returning for reuse in subsequent manufacturing processes, the original liquid absorbing materials and moisture sealing materials of used single use collecting and/or absorbing products, previously worn by infants or adults to absorb urine and/or to collect feces. These human wastes are washed out from single use diapers, one use adult diapers, and other like purpose products, and directed into municipal sewer systems, or other systems ending in the treatment of sewage. These used single use collecting and/or absorbing products are heated to reach temperatures high enough to liquidize adhesives originally used, where necessary, to hold together the original liquid absorbing materials and moisture sealing materials, and then the liquidized adhesives are drained clear of these materials. Preferably, this removal of adhesives is completed during the washing of these one use products.

Abstract: A steel can shredding/delabeling system processes post-consumer steel cans, taken from a solid weight stream, into a densified product suitable for detinning. The steel cans are transported and fed into a surge hopper that feeds cans into a shredder. The surge hopper is designed to maintain a continuous feed to the shredder to optimize shredding efficiency. As the steel cans pass through the shredder, they are transformed into shredded, densified steel particles with the paper labels removed and reduced to paper fines. This mixture of shredded cans and paper fines is transferred by conveyor to the top of a multi-pass aspirator. The aspirator utilizes an upward air flow within a column of the aspirator to separate the materials on the basis of their terminal velocities in air. The mixture free falls down a series of cascades, while being subjected to the upward flow of air.

Abstract: Sewage sludge or an agricultural or fish waste material is subjected to pretreatment in the form of wet mill treatment and then is subjected to anaerobic digestion.

Abstract: Synthetic and metal are reclaimed from a synthetic-metal scrap combination by first comminuting the scrap particles in which metal and synthetic are not yet separated; grinding and pulverizing these particles to obtain a fluidized blend of synthetic fibers and metal spheres; and providing an air flow carrying the fibers and balls in a blend so as to obtain subsequent separation from each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus to effect the separation of component fractions from paper-containing and plastic-containing waste materials. This method and apparatus accepts materials of widely varying characteristics such as paper, plastics, glass, metal, food wastes and other materials to be inserted en masse into a rotating vessel equipped with lifting paddles and directional flighting. In this way the intimate contact of materials with moisture and heat is accomplished, thus effecting the repulping of paper materials. The repulped materials, as a result of directional tumbling, are dispersed throughout the vessel. Because of the repulping of the pulpable materials, size reduction of the randomly large and odd-shaped pulpable material is accomplished. By virtue of the size reduction of the large and odd-shaped pulpable materials, the non-pulpable components are freed of the particle shapes and surfaces that affect separation.

Abstract: A method is shown for disposing of hazardous waste material without utilizing landfill or bulk incineration. The hazardous waste material is first fed to a shredder for shredding the waste material to pieces of a range of predetermined sizes. The solid hazardous waste material is intermixed with an inlet stream of recycled flammable fuel. The shredded material and combined fuel is then transported by means of a screw conveyor to a dissolving tank, the dissolving tank being provided with a mechanical agitator for agitating the shredded material and combined fuel to produce a homogeneous, flammable mixture. The contents of the dissolving tank are passes to a storage tank once a homogeneous, flammable mixture is achieved.

Abstract: A set of systematic equipments for recycling raw materials such as: copper, ferrous material, and different plastic materials from waste wires includes: a charging conveyor having a cutter for cutting waste wires to a predetermined length, at least a vertical conveyor for unloading the waste wires into at least a vertical scraping machine for scraping plastic coatings from the insulated copper wires, at least a screening machine following said scraping for screening the fine wire scraps, a horizontal crushing machine for crushing the coarse wire scraps into particles or powder of copper, ferrous and plastic materials, a magnetic separator for separating the ferrous material and non-ferrous material of copper and plastic materials, a classifier for separating the copper and plastic materials, and a wet gravity separator for further separating the different plastic materials having different densities and floating heights in a tank of the gravity separator.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a granular building material from refuse. Cylindrical granules, having a diameter of 8 mm and a length from 10 to 20 mm, are formed by granulation under a pressure of 600 bar of a homogeneous first powder mixture of 952 kg of crushed household refuse, 50 kg of quicklime and 5 kg of calcium carbonate. The granules are heated at 200.degree. C. for 30 minutes in a rotary tubular kiln so as to obtain 720 kg of granules having a moisture content of about 1% by weight. These granules are finely crushed and, in a malaxator, a second powder mixture is prepared which is composed of a mixture of 101 kg of Portland cement, 101 kg of powdered dolomite, 91 kg of calcium carbonate and 50.5 kg of water, and the fine powder resulting from the crushing of the granules. Finally, the second mixture is granulated under a pressure of 600 bar and the granules are left to harden with the setting of the cement. The final granular building material may be employed as granulate for making concrete.

Abstract: A processing apparatus for solid waste including a rotor with a plurality of blades mounted thereon for shredding solid waste in corporation with a number of counterblades. A prescreening system is provided adjacent the inlet to the shredding elements so as to allow small abrasive items to be removed from the waste prior to shredding. A flexible cleaning system is provided for cleaning waste wrapped about the rotor between the blades. Further, a system is provided for preventing nonshreddable materials from jamming the rotor blade/counterblade system and for diverting such nonshreddable materials to a designated hopper.

Abstract: A device for separating a heterogeneous mass of solid material into fractions. The constituents of a heterogeneous mass of solid material are comminuted and dried and then separated into fractions. The mass is received in a trough-shaped and subjected to vibration causing high density constituents to segregate downwards and low density constituents to segregate upwards, so that the fractions may be removed at different layer levels.

Abstract: A process for treating smoke, aqueous sewage and solid waste/refuse materials by digesting all three waste material into an odor-free pumpable slurry. The slurry is screened to separate solids from the aqueous solution. The odor-free solids may be used as fertilizers and the odor free solution may be used for irrigational purposes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a facility for treating solid waste to recover recyclable materials and to form a compost from a biodegradable fraction within the solid waste. The process and facility lend themselves to efficiently recovering useful materials such as corrugated paper, ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, plastic products, paper, and other redeemables such as glass containers. Various process steps are employed to recover these materials.

Abstract: A machine for breaking up filled containers of milk, cottage cheese and the like after expiration of the freshness date and for recovering the food product for use as animal feed. The machine comprises an auger which rotates in an upwardly inclined barrel and which coacts with angularly spaced ribs in the barrel to break up the containers as they are advanced through the barrel by the auger. A discharge spout at the end of the barrel includes a pivoted gate which may be adjusted to vary the cross-sectional area of the spout and control the rate of advance of the containers according to the size and quantity of the containers. Food product which spills out of the broken up cartons flows downwardly along the barrel and is directed to a collection tank.

Abstract: A method for treatment of mixed wastes containing various plastics, such as municipal solid wastes, in which mechanical agitation and heat distortion of plastic films cause rupture and spilling of the contents of plastic film containers in the wastes. The wastes are introduced into a processing unit with means of heating and mechanical agitation of the contents. By the method in this invention, the plastics are separated and recovered as a mixture that may be recycled as a composite plastic used in the manufacture of various products or that may be further separated into identifiable types of plastics for recycling. The quantity of plastics recovered from MSW is greatly increased compared to previous processes using steam heat to achieve separation of the components of such mixed wastes.

Abstract: A device for cutting and removal of the strapping bands from an object, said device comprising a framework adapted to be placed over a conveying track for supplying the object to the device, said framework being provided with supports for at least one clamping-cutting-means, which is supported in such a way that it is movable with respect to at least one wall of the object to search for a strapping band lying against said wall, said band being clamped by the means and cut off, after which the cut off end is brought to a band receiving station by the clamping-cutting-means.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a multi-level collection area of solid waste products. On a top level of the collection site, ramp ways for trucks are provided so that the trucks may dump solid waste into a central collection opening. Gravity feeds the solid waste into a centrifugal spinner. The spinner includes radial agitator blades. The solid waste is spun and agitated on the spinner and centrifugal force tends to push the solid waste to the outer edge of the spinner. The spinner angles upward from the center to an outlet slot of uniform size disposed about the circumference of the spinner. A cover is disposed over the spinner having a plurality of fixed teeth disposed thereon. The combination of the cover and spinner is such that as larger pieces of solid waste are propelled towards the outlet slots, they are acted on both by the spinner and the blades of the cover, reducing them to a size small enough to fit through the outlet opening.

Abstract: Plastics fragments including polyethylene terephthalate and polyolefins derived from comminution of containers such as beverage bottles are segregated according to specific gravity by flotation. The flotation liquid includes a surfactant to facilitate complete separation of the light and heavy plastic fractions from one another. The surfactant may be a residue of a detergent used to wash the flakes and remove contaminants therefrom. Rinsing prior to flotation separation is controlled so as to leave the desired detergent residue leading to a marked reduction in rinse water requirements.

Abstract: A process for working up household, industrial and other similar waste for the recovery of a fibrous and/or granulated material, in which the waste material is subjected to preliminary comminution, magnetic separation, classification, drying and fractionation, wherein the light fraction resulting from the classification carried out after the magnetic separation is subjected to secondary comminution by cutting, and the heavy fraction to a predominantly granulating secondary comminution and thereafter both comminution products are recombined, dried and fractionated into fibrous matter and granulated material, is to be simplified, and in particular the costs reduced. This is achieved in that before the secondary cutting comminution appliance at least one part stream or the whole stream of the light fraction is diverted and fed directly and/or after comminution in a further comminution unit to further utlization. A device for carrying out the method is also proposed.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system and a method for recovering salvageable ferrous and non-ferrous materials from incinerated waste materials including friable, carbonaceous incineration byproducts such as ash and associated ferrous and non-ferrous metal components. The system includes at least one crushing means for selectively comminuting friable material comprised of a rotating roll having at least one protrusion, preferably a weld extending transversely to the direction of rotation of roll, on its exterior cylindrical surfaces in spaced relation to a backing plate. The backing plate is urged toward the roll by a bias means exerted a preferably adjustable pressure sufficient to comminute the friable carbonaceous material to a desired size, and insufficient so as to permit the backing plate to retract and allow passage of ferrous and non-ferrous components in the waste material through the crushing means substantially uncomminuted.

Abstract: A system and method for sorting demolition debris into preselected groups, wherein the system comprises an initial screen for sorting out fine particulate material, a floatation tank for sorting the debris into floatable material and heavy material, a heavy material conveyor for removing the heavy material from the floatation tank, a magnetic conveyor for removing the ferrous metals from the heavy material conveyor, and a hand-sorting conveyor whereby various construction items are removed from the debris so that all that remains is pure concrete and brick debris.

Abstract: A flotation apparatus used in reclaiming resin materials from bottles and other scrap articles each comprising a first low density resin component (e.g., polyethylene) bonded to a second high density resin component (e.g., polyethylene terephthlate); the scrap articles are granulated and air classified to form a primary particulate scrap which is flotation separated in two successive stages. The flotation separation stages each include a first auger in an apertured-bottom trough positioned near the top of a flotation tank with inlet means depositing a flow of particulate scrap and flotation liquid into one end of the trough; the heavy material output is afforded by a second auger in the bottom of the tank, whereas the lightweight material outlet is an overflow weir at one side of the tank. A vigorous washing apparatus using a hot aqueous medium connects the first flotation stage to the second, and a feedback connection conveys low density scrap back from the second flotation stage to the first such stage.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for comminuting gypsum board and winding elongate bendable members. The apparatus includes a support structure and a comminuting mechanism, including a housing mounted to the support structure. The housing has an intake portion for receiving gypsum board to be comminuted, an outlet portion for discharging comminuted material, and one or more blades rotably mounted in the housing. There is a winding mechanism that includes a winding shaft axially rotatably mounted to the support structure. The winding shaft has a slot disposed therein for receiving an elongate bendable member to be wound. There is a holder device mounted to the support structure and spaced apart from the winding shaft for accommodating the member to be wound at a location spaced apart from the portion of the member received by the slot in the winding shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing pulverized glass which is free from non-glass particles, in which a glass supply is transferred to an impactor to pulverize the glass and also is subjected to magnetic means to remove metal and vacuum means to remove dust, paper, plastic and the like. The pulverized glass is sorted as to size and passed once again past a magnet means prior to depositing the sized pulverized glass in a collection bin.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the comminution of organic matters, the comminuting unit of which consists of at least one tool provided with axial and/or radial yielding holes and co-acting axially driven stamp. The essential feature of the invention is that a compacting unit (4) before the comminuting unit (5)--in respect of the direction of movement of the organic matter to be comminuted--and a feeding-precompacting unit (3) preceding the compacting unit (4) are arranged, furthermore the feeding-precompacting unit (3) is provided with driven worms (6, 7, 8), the discharge end of which is connected with the large cross sectional end of the bell-mouthed narrowing chambers (18, 19) while its reduced cross sectional end is joined to the pressure chamber (28) of the tools (20, 21).

Abstract: Municipal waste materials are processed by crushing the materials so that pieces of noncombustible material are smaller than a selected size and pieces of combustible material are larger than the selected size. The crushed materials are placed on a vibrating mesh screen conveyor belt having openings which pass the smaller, noncombustible pieces of material, but do not pass the larger, combustible pieces of material. Pieces of material which become lodged in the openings of the conveyor belt may be removed by cylindrical deraggers or pressurized air. The crushed materials may be fed onto the conveyor belt by a vibrating feed plate which shakes the materials so that they tend to lie flat.

Abstract: A mechanical disintegration is effected in which substantially only the metal sheath of the small batteries is torn apart. The crushed material is roasted at 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C. in a state of motion in an oxidizing atmosphere and the volatilized mercury is recovered from the exhaust gas. The roasted material is separated by sieving and magnetic separation into an iron-containing scrap fraction, a brass-containing scrap fraction and a collectable fraction, which contains manganese, zinc and silver.

Abstract: A waste material processing facility reduces the volume of waste material and produces an end product capable for use as construction building material. The waste material processing facility includes a conveyor belt for conveying the waste material to a shredding facility. The shredding facility controls the dimensions of the waste products being processed. An incinerator, for low heat incineration of the shredded materials includes pollution control devices for removing contaminates from the gases resulting from the incineration process. A facility is provided for solidifying, compacting, molding and glazing the char resulting from the incineration process into construction grade blocks.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating waste material contained in drums comprises a conveyor for moving said drums to a purging chamber having an inlet door and outlet door, a conveyer in said purging chamber for moving said drums through said outlet door, a conveyer outside said purging chamber for moving said drums to a shear station where the bottom lids of the drums are sheared off, a compactor chamber for receiving and compacting said drums and extruding said waste materials therein, and a sorter for sorting the waste materials into liquid and solid components and conveying said sorted liquids and solids to respective storage facilities.

Abstract: A waste compactor utilizing the combined forces of compression and vibration for reducing, leveling and compacting waste within a container. The pressure force is expelled through a guided hydraulic ram assembly, the pressurized movement of which is coordinated with an applied vibrating energy developed through a mechanical vibrator and/or sonic frequency emitter, the rate and intensity of which encompasses a varying range. The sonic vibrating energy generator may be carried by and movable with the compacting ram or it may be embedded in the base platform of the compactor.

Abstract: A waste meterial processing facility reduces the volume of waste material and produces an end product capable for use as construction building material. The waste material processing facility includes a conveyor belt for conveying the waste material to a shredding facility. The shredding facility controls the dimensions of the waste products being processed. An incinerator, for low heat incineration of the shredded materials includes pollution control devices for removing contaminates from the gases resulting from the incineration process. A facility is provided for solidifying, compacting, molding and glazing the char resulting from the incineration process into construction grade blocks. A scale house provides a first visual check of the materials being entered into the processing facility while a second check is derived by spreading the material in a dump area and consequently loading of the materials by front end loaders into a conveyor mechanism for transporting wast materials to the shredding facility.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for sorting radioactive waste. The apparatus comprises structure for reducing the waste to pieces of substantially uniform size and first and second radiation detecting structure. Structure is provided for conveying the pieces from the reducing structure to the first and second radiation detecting structure. Structure is provided for dispersing the pieces of waste between the first and second detecting structure so that the pieces which are collected together in clusters can separate from each other to thereby increase the likelihood of detecting radiation emanating from the pieces.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to bulk demolition recycling systems and the like and more specifically to a bulk demolition recycling system which utilizes tanks of agitated and the control direction flow of water in combination with mesh baskets to provide the necessary separations.

Abstract: The present invention is an energy efficient process for converting solid waste and/or sewage sludge into a chemical intermediate substrate for production of energy and/or separate non-energy related by-products. The process of this invention integrates technologies for: slurry production and material recovery; slurry demineralization and heavy metal recovery; formation and storage of chemical intermediate substrate; its dewatering; its processing into various energy sources such as solid carbon fuel, steam, or methane gas; and/or production of non-energy by-products such as cement board, gypsum fiber board, or agricultural products.

Abstract: In order to avoid producing any secondary waste in the production of a fibrous and a granular material from household, agricultural, forestry waste, organic waste of the manufacturing and/or service industries, the primary waste first undergoes an opening treatment in an opening unit and then, after removal of any metallic components by magnetic separation units, is divided into three fractions. Such division is effected by a fractioning unit into (a) a fine fraction not exceeding the required final product particle size, (b) a coarse fraction easy to process mechanically, and (c) a coarse fraction difficult to process mechanically. The two coarse fractions are then separately reduced to the required final product particle size in reducing unit optimally suited to the particular coarse fraction.

Abstract: A process and plant for mechanical treatment of municipal refuse, including transformation and subsequent reuse of various directly or indirectly usable products. The process permits complete separation of the combustibles, vegetable matter, hard plastics, PVC, ferrous scrap and inert substances, and includes the following steps, starting from the receiving pit: tearing open the sacks containing the municipal refuse and thoroughly mixing the slime; charging a treatment line wherein the combustible, vegetable matter, hard plastics, PVC and glass bottles fractions undergo primary separation; collecting some of the separated products as directly usable products; and routing the remainder of the separated products to lines for treatment of the various fractions contained therein.

Abstract: A method of minimizing corrosion deterioration and hydrogen absorption embrittlement of tantalum encountered in performing acid digestion of organic waste matter put in an acid digestion kettle of tantalum containing high temperature high concentration sulfuric acid includes the addition of nitric acid, nitrous acid, nitrates, nitrites and/or nitrogen oxides to the sulfuric acid bath.

Abstract: The invention is an improved system for separating waste products into several components and then providing for total utilization thereof. The systemitized arrangement integrates numerous automatic operations to produce the separation of the components and then provides for automatically directing the separated components to ultimate destinations for total utilization. The system first processes bulk waste products such as garbage, rubbish, and other discarded material and shreds it into small size particles. The shredded waste products are then mixed with sewage sludge received from another source. The mixture is then processed through a controlled sludge composting means. At this point a first benefit is derived by means of hot exhaust air from the controlled sludge composting means being directed to a hot house structure to aid in the growth of food products.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process and apparatus for purifying recovery glass for recycling and reuse. The necessity for manual sorting techniques is minimized due to the invention's unique process of mechanical purification, in parallel, carried out on separate granulometric portions of the recovery glass.

Abstract: An elecrtrostatic separation of paper- and synthetic plastic material-containing mixtures is performed by comminuting the mixture, triboelectrically charging the comminuted mixture, and supplying it into a free-fall separator, wherein a paper-enriched and a synthetic plastic material-enriched fraction are produced, and in some cases they can be treated in a second electrostatic separation step to pure products.

Abstract: Apparatus for breaking glass bottles and for crushing or deforming metallic cans and P.E.T. containers includes a glass bottle disintegrating means and separate can and P.E.T. container crushing means. A common entry chute to the apparatus allows for random introduction of containers to the apparatus but during the delivery travel of a container to the respective disintegrating or crushing means, an air flow sweeping across the container delivery course diverts lighter weight metallic cans and P.E.T. containers to the appropriate crushing means, whereas, heavier weight glass bottles are unaffected by the air flow and pass into the glass bottle disintegrating means.

Abstract: A processing apparatus for cutting solid refuse and for breaking open any bags in which the solid refuse is contained comprises a housing which has an inlet opening and an outlet opening; a rotary shaft mounted in the housing, the rotary shaft mounting a plurality of blade elements which include head portions with cutting edges that extend radially away from the rotary shaft, the head portions of the blade members forming spaces therebetween and being sequentially angularly oriented about the shaft; and a plurality of parallel slat blades stationarily mounted in the housing, each slat blade being aligned with a space between the head portions of the blade elements and shaped so that material fed into the inlet opening of the housing will be compacted and/or crushed and cut by the coaction of the blade element head portions and the slat blades, and then discharged from the housing outlet opening.

Abstract: A raw refuse processing apparatus disk screen separating bed has a series of interdigitated rotatable disk assemblies and is adapted to receive raw refuse at one end, including bagged refuse, and at an intermediate location along its length the separating bed is provided with a bag breaker arrangement comprising a floating carriage having bag delaying disk assemblies and overlying bag ripping disk assemblies of the separating bed.

Abstract: Commercial waste having cardboard mixed with paper, plastic film, organic materials and other contaminants is processed through a critical sequence of operations, namely: removal of bulky materials, feeding at a selected rate, separating small contaminants, separating ferrous materials, diverting non-ferrous contaminants triterating, screening out small contaminants, separating preferably by air the cardboard, and pressing and packaging the recovered cardboard.

Abstract: A process, and apparatus for recovering cellulose fibers from contaminated paper-plastic mixtures by exposing the mix to controlled wetting to increase the weight of paper cellulose components relative to the weight of the plastic components; subjecting the wetted mixture to abrasive forces to fiberize the paper component and then separating the fiberized paper cellulose product from the plastics and other contaminants, to yield several classified products showing distinctly improved quality.