wastesorting

Waste sorting, also wastesorting, is the process of separating collected waste into distinct streams to facilitate recycling, composting, energy recovery, and safe disposal. Sorting can take place at the source, where households and businesses separate materials, or at material recovery facilities where mixed waste is sorted into recyclables, organics, and residual waste. Many systems employ a combination of source separation and downstream mechanical sorting, sometimes with co-mingled collection.

Common streams include recyclables such as paper and cardboard, plastics, metals, and glass; organics intended for composting or anaerobic digestion; residual waste; and special streams such as batteries, electronics, and hazardous materials.

Technologies used in waste sorting range from manual sorting to automated systems. Conveyor belts, optical sorters using near-infrared sensors, magnetic separators for ferrous metals, eddy current devices for non-ferrous metals, screens, and air classifiers are common. The goal is to maximize material purity and minimize contamination, thereby improving recycling yields and reducing landfill.

Policies influence sorting practices through standards, pay-as-you-throw schemes, and extended producer responsibility. Public education and clear labeling support participation. Key performance indicators include diversion rate, contamination rate, and recovery yield. Global variation exists, with stricter targets in many European jurisdictions and different approaches in other regions.