COLOR SORTING OF POST-CONSUMER GLASS AND PLASTIC CONTAINERS TO IMPROVE THEIR RECYCLABILITY

MANY U.S. MUNICIPALITIES AND COMMUNITIES ARE INTEGRATING RECYCLING PROGRAMS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THEIR SOLID WASTE INORDER TO MINIMIZE LANDFILL REQUIREMENTS. THE SUCCESS OF THESE RECYCLING PROGRAMS IS STRONGLY DEPENDENT UPON THE MARKETABILITY OF THE MATERIALS SET ASIDE FROM THE WASTE STREAM FOR RECYCLING. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MARKETING RECYCLED GLASS ARE WELL ESTABLISHED AND ARE HIGHLY DEPENDENTUPON COLOR SORTING OF THE GLASS. POST-CONSUMER PLASTICS RECYCLING IS IN ITS INFANCY AND IS EXPERIENCING RAPID GROWTH. PLASTICS CONTAINER MANUFACTURERS AND OTHER USERS OFRECYCLED RESINS HAVE STATED THAT COLOR SORTING OF POST-CONSUMER PLASTIC CONTAINERS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND THE MARKETABILITY OF RESINS DERIVED FROM THESE CONTAINERS. COLOR SORTING OF GLASS AND PLASTICS CONTAINERS FOR RECYCLINGIS CURRENTLY DONE BY MANUAL HANDSORTING. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED PHASE I RESEARCH IS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY FOR DEVELOPING AN AUTOMATED COLOR SORTING PROCESS FOR POST-CONSUMER GLASS AND PLASTIC CONTAINERS. MANY U.S. MUNICIPALITIES AND COMMUNITIES ARE INTEGRATING RECYCLING PROGRAMS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THEIR SOLID WASTE INORDER TO MINIMIZE LANDFILL REQUIREMENTS. THE SUCCESS OF THESE RECYCLING PROGRAMS IS STRONGLY DEPENDENT UPON THE MARKETABILITY OF THE MATERIALS SET ASIDE FROM THE WASTE STREAM FOR RECYCLING. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MARKETING RECYCLED GLASS ARE WELL ESTABLISHED AND ARE HIGHLY DEPENDENTUPON COLOR SORTING OF THE GLASS. POST-CONSUMER PLASTICS RECYCLING IS IN ITS INFANCY AND IS EXPERIENCING RAPID GROWTH. PLASTICS CONTAINER MANUFACTURERS AND OTHER USERS OFRECYCLED RESINS HAVE STATED THAT COLOR SORTING OF POST-CONSUMER PLASTIC CONTAINERS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND THE MARKETABILITY OF RESINS DERIVED FROM THESE CONTAINERS. COLOR SORTING OF GLASS AND PLASTICS CONTAINERS FOR RECYCLINGIS CURRENTLY DONE BY MANUAL HANDSORTING. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED PHASE I RESEARCH IS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY FOR DEVELOPING AN AUTOMATED COLOR SORTING PROCESS FOR POST-CONSUMER GLASS AND PLASTIC CONTAINERS. MANY U.S. MUNICIPALITIES AND COMMUNITIES ARE INTEGRATING RECYCLING PROGRAMS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THEIR SOLID WASTE INORDER TO MINIMIZE LANDFILL REQUIREMENTS. THE SUCCESS OF THESE RECYCLING PROGRAMS IS STRONGLY DEPENDENT UPON THE MARKETABILITY OF THE MATERIALS SET ASIDE FROM THE WASTE STREAM FOR RECYCLING. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MARKETING RECYCLED GLASS ARE WELL ESTABLISHED AND ARE HIGHLY DEPENDENTUPON COLOR SORTING OF THE GLASS. POST-CONSUMER PLASTICS RECYCLING IS IN ITS INFANCY AND IS EXPERIENCING RAPID GROWTH. PLASTICS CONTAINER MANUFACTURERS AND OTHER USERS OFRECYCLED RESINS HAVE STATED THAT COLOR SORTING OF POST-CONSUMER PLASTIC CONTAINERS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND THE MARKETABILITY OF RESINS DERIVED FROM THESE CONTAINERS. COLOR SORTING OF GLASS AND PLASTICS CONTAINERS FOR RECYCLINGIS CURRENTLY DONE BY MANUAL HANDSORTING. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED PHASE I RESEARCH IS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY FOR DEVELOPING AN AUTOMATED COLOR SORTING PROCESS FOR POST-CONSUMER GLASS AND PLASTIC CONTAINERS.