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Recycling has become a multi-million dollar industry in recent years, fueling an increase of recycling equipment manufacturers and processing facilities across the United States and the world.
The industry has steadily grown in popularity among consumers as environmental consciousness finds its way into many homes and businesses across the nation. In some cities and many airports, for example, public receptacles encouraging the consumer to dispose of glass, plastic and paper have become a common sight. As the top waste-producing country in the world, recycling equipment and facilities in the U.S. are working overtime and have turned what was once a niche-industry into a critical resource to help keep the planet green. And still, there is room for growth as the demand for facilities increases.
In order to operate an efficient, effective facility, specialized recycling equipment is needed to handle the input of materials and maximize the output of reusable resources. Some of the most vital machinery in the industry includes:
• Bag openers – Bag openers serve the function implied by the name. They efficiently open waste bags, and in many cases even bags within a bag, with an efficiency rate of up to 98 percent. Bag openers leave the bag contents intact for further processing.
• Sorters/separators – This type of machinery often uses magnets to separate metal parts from other types of waste. They can also include other features such as liquid traps, filters and more.
• Shredders and chippers – This equipment is imperative in the compacting process of materials. Chippers are ideal for wood and organic products. Shredders of various types and specifications are also available for paper products and electronic waste.
• Crushers -- Crushers are an important tool for reducing the size of materials such as plastic, cans and glass. Compact output facilitates the efficiency of subsequent recycling processes.
• Baling presses – Each type of material requires a certain type of baling press to fashion the material into a neat, compact bale that can be maneuvered with ease. Some balers, like those used in the processing of household waste, are designed to handle both wet and dry products. Others, for example, those handling paper or difficult materials such as plastic, offer a choice of press methodologies to ensure speed, efficiency and reliability depending on the material.
• Conveyor belts – This type of machinery is essential in most manufacturing or processing plants, and the same is true when searching for recycling equipment. Depending on the facility’s needs, options include steel belt conveyors for heavy materials, cost effective multi-purpose rubber belt conveyors, durable chain conveyors, circulation belt and moving floor conveyors.
• Reel splitters – Reel splitters are cutting machines commonly used in the processing of paper products. The machinery is typically available as a hydraulic or mechanical model, and is commonly operated in conjunction with a conveyor belt.
• Pulpers – Also a type of machinery designed to reduce paper materials to the smallest configuration possible, pulpers further diminish the size of product output.
Recycling equipment is available from a number of U.S. manufacturers, many of which offer a one-stop shop that covers all the needs a new or existing facility may have. Prices and specifications vary, but quality machinery is usually worth the investment in the long run.
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