ABSTRACT
The ideal resource recovery scenario in any community would include thorough segregation of individual waste components by each homeowner, commercial establishment, industry or municipal institution (i.e., at the source). Subsequently, the individual products (e.g., aluminum cans, paper, glass, and plastics) are collected on a regular basis, stored in separate bins within the collection vehicle, and transported to a facility for further processing (densifying, shredding). These slightly processed, clean materials would then be sold to and removed by buyers for eventual reprocessing. The above scenario would result in a clean and highly marketable resource, thus decreasing the capital expenses for purchase of large separation equipment, energy costs, and labor. Since the above approach for materials separation from MSW is often not feasible due to lack of information, lack of participation, and insufficient support from local and state governments, another approach is often be needed.
