ABSTRACT
The ideal resource recovery scenario for a 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 items (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 for reprocessing on an industry scale. The above scenario would result in a clean and highly marketable resource, thus decreasing the capital expenses for purchase of large separation equipment, energy, and labor. Since the above approach for materials separation from municipal solid waste (MSW) is often not feasible due to lack of information, lack of participation, and insufcient support from local and state governments, other approaches are necessary.
