Shred of the Month - June 2006: Mixed C&D

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June 2006 - Mixed C&D

The Challenges

Construction & demolition debris (C&D) is a hot topic in the recycling world these days, as it contains a high percentage of valuable materials that shouldn't be landfilled. However, once C&D is mixed together in drop boxes and trailers at the job site, how does a recycling facility recover the usable material? The combination of wood, dirt, concrete/rock/asphalt, metal, plastics and trash, can make sorting a challenge. Manual labor can be used, but costs are high and it's often unreliable. This approach can often limit the tonnage a recycling facility is capable of handling. To become more effective, many recycling companies are seeking automated ways to recover material. Automated solutions can be simple and inexpensive, such as magnets and screens, but the results are less than perfect. More complex solutions can be effective, such as air systems, optical sorting, and wet separation, but they are often expensive to implement and require size reduction of material to be most effective.

The Solution

SSI's PRI-MAX™ primary reduction line offers an ideal way for C&D recyclers to increase the volumes of material they can accept and prepare it for introduction to complex sorting technologies. Configured specifically for "pre-sort" applications, SSI's Model PR-4000 can process mixed C&D at sustainable rates over 75tons/hour, with O&M costs around $1.00/ton. The target output size is ~24", which minimizes the amount of fines produced while still making the material 'flowable' and liberating metal for maximum recovery. The stationary version of SSI's PR-4000 can often be installed right over existing feed conveyors, reducing installation costs. Mobile and track-mounted units are also available for a more flexible operation.