Sorteerstromen

Sorteerstromen are material streams that have been separated from mixed waste to enable recycling, material recovery or safe disposal. They originate from sorting at source (households, businesses) and from sorting operations at collection points and processing facilities. Typical sorteerstromen include paper and cardboard, plastics (by resin type when possible), glass, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, organic waste (kitchen and garden), textiles, wood, construction and demolition materials, as well as electronic waste.

At sorting facilities, sorteerstromen are produced by a combination of manual and automated processes. Conveyors move material past operators; mechanical separators (screens, magnets, eddy-current separators) remove metals; optical sorters employing near-infrared or visible-light sensors identify plastics and paper; air classifiers separate materials by density or buoyancy; and separation steps group the material into corresponding streams.

The streams are then baled or otherwise prepared for recycling facilities, composting, anaerobic digestion, energy recovery, or proper disposal, depending on material quality and local regulations.

In policy terms, sorteerstromen are central to the circular economy and to regulatory targets for recycling and packaging waste; producers may be responsible for ensuring sorted streams are captured and recycled (extended producer responsibility).

Quality and contamination are major challenges; high contamination reduces value and recyclability. Management aims to maximize recovery rates, maintain purity, and adapt to market demands for recycled materials.