The Big Sort: An Insider's Tour of a Recycling Plant

[@imodium9822]

I have an interview later today to become a sorter at one of these plants in my area, wish me luck!.

[@jordymurillo8006]

Same ! Wassup you still working there, if so how was the experience?

[@daonlysquirrel9343]

Break a leg!

[@imodium9822]

@@jordymurillo8006 I am still working there! I graduated from sorter to heavy equipment operator!!

[@samuelm8524]

@@imodium9822 Congrats man! Thank you for your work too!

[@five5654]

Cool! Recycling is such an important job and helps the environment. I want to work on something related to recycling and/or composting when I grow up

[@Jabrils]

Incredible video, everyone needs to watch this!

[@carstenpfundt]

Woah what... you’re here? 😂

[@prima808]

Effing AMAZING! When one thinks of garbage, you don’t usually associate the word technology, but these machines are incredibly technologically advanced. I love it. Even so, with something so effortless, there are people who don’t recycle, or find it difficult & bothersome. I just dont understand why. It’s literally just a matter of making the decision to toss it in one bin or the other.

[@tiagoferreira1169]

can i do not recycling and illegal thing

[@davidmoore1727]

Sorted, smashed, chopped, bailed BUT NOT ONE FINISHED PRODUCT!! BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ANY FINISHED PRODUCTS MADE WITH THIS STUFF....

[@prima808]

@@davidmoore1727 Beg to differ. I temped at an MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) who worked with Terracycle to produce products like pots, cutting boards, keychains just to name a few. There are countless applications where using recycled products is viable if recycling is done correctly, i.e. not contaminated with trash, foods, and other unaccepted items. In fact, I have a friend (Nathan Gray in MA) who does plastic recycling on a smaller can and makes park benches.

[@jayswitalski6943]

I used to run the baler at a recycling plant. One of the roughest jobs I've ever had. The bales of paper can weigh between 800 and 1200 pounds. We had to hand pick (with pliers) all the non paper material from the surfaces of the paper bales. I did learn a tremendous amount at that job. I gained experience with Forklift, skid steer, roll-off truck and front end loader at that job.

[@johng3621]

This video is really incredible. Thanks for sharing. I was curious how they sorted the different materials that get chunked in the recycle bin.

[@simonriddick]

Cool I always though it was one hell of a process. I wondered about food leftovers or detergents and other contaminants getting into the what will then be a new product. I guess when they buy the plastics that gets handled at that other plant. I try not to throw away as much as possible and I rinse all my containers usually.

[@ZeeZee9]

Same

[@bidaubadeadieu]

Great vid, but I can't be the only one wondering what happens next? Who is it that is buying all of these bales? How to they construct usable product out of them?

[@prima808]

It’s big business now. Various companies buy these as raw materials, break it down or melt it down, and manufacture new products made from partially or 100% recycled materials. Anywhere from from containers, to paper, to toys, & even electronics, you’d be surprised what can actually be produced using recycled waste. I recommend a documentary called “Racing to Zero”. It goes into more detail about the “lifecycle” of a product, turning potential into reality. It’s really interesting...more info can be found @ www.racingtozero.org

[@daddingfordads3401]

@@prima808 need more info about that doc plz, too vague as several options appear

[@prima808]

Dadding For Dads - My bad. It’s actually called “Racing to Zero”, you can find the trailer on KZbin or on www.racingtozero.org Incidentally, in the past year especially, the U.S. recycling industry/market has actually seen a lot of setbacks. Countries such as China, who we used to sell our recyclables to as raw materials, are no longer buying it - For several reasons, but one major issue is contamination. Many ppl, whom I call “aspirational recyclers”, don’t really know what can or can’t be accepted by their particular waste management facility, so they just put it in anyways, thereby contaminating the rest of the batch. Then there’s always those who just don’t give sh*t and mix everything together. Smh 🤦‍♀️ It’s disappointing. I think there needs to be better education on the how-to’s of recycling. Even I get confused sometimes.

[@Ushio01]

The global population increases at about 100 million people every 14-15 months with 10 million people across poorer nations moving out of poverty to become consumers every 12 months that's a lot more people buying a can or bottle of coke added to the global population every year for example.

[@ericlotze7724]

The main issue with buyers is how cheap petrolium based "new" plastic is, but as that cost increases, recyclables (ie old plastci) will become more valuable.

[@DC9848]

Why not design a sorting process for the landfill waste, a) metals b) plastic bottles c) glass d) separating the remaining into burnables and biowaste+carton+paper

[@dongguanhaibaomachinerytec4799]

Our factory has this machine for plastic sorting, metal sorting, rubber sorting, bean sorting and so on. Whatsapp [phone]

[@ericlotze7724]

Those exist. Look up "Refuse Derived Fuel". My favorite is the EU "Plasma Rock" Fluidized Bed + Plasma Gasification Combined Cycle plant.

[@KrishnaEverson]

This is amazing. My mind is officially blown!

[@chloebrown8377]

"forty percent of what now is what meant to go in the recycling bin are still going in the trash." that hit me hard

[@principallewis7298]

Chloe Brown 😍😍

[@xX_dash_Xx]

​@@principallewis7298shooting ur shot in the comments section of a yt vid about recycling is crazy

[@regould221]

What is the accuracy rate of the air jets. Seems like overlapping stuff could mess up the sort.

[@PleaseTeamIFan]

Brilliant! This is incredible.. so much $$$$ to be had!

[@IronHandTech2024]

Is there anyone like me? Seeing these sorted plastic bottles is quite healing.

[@optimizeeverything-rapidle4856]

other than automation, what steps are taken to improve the efficiency and to eliminate the interruptions to the work flow? Do you apply lean principles?

[@ROCKaholic]

I always wondered how they could tell what plastic is what type.

[@billvas9219]

It is mentioned in the video, not all plastics have the same fraction

[@UserUCKANAOD8SlYguEhbCkUdlMQ]

What I want to know is with the AirJets section, do they then double check after? I say this because there is obviously a lot of items going over the jets and while it may know when the 'pfft' the air, it may slightly miss some items, get the wrong item or the actual plastic item may take something with it due to how fast it all moves.

[@jamespruett27]

I have heard that putting bottles in plastic bags will gum up the blades causing occasional stoppage and cleaning the blades. Q: Are there any other quick-tips to help me recycle better? Q2: What is the residue he spoke of, a vid of that would be instructive. Then I would know what I should not recycle....

[@shibuya01]

All glass, all papers, all plastic bottles (transparent, coloured and/or rigid), all cans and ferrous objects are recyclables in most areas. Therefore plastic bags and all plastic films and wraps can't be put in the recycling bin. The residue they spoke of in the video, is mostly all this non-recyclable plastic and all others non recylables people mistakenly throw like food scraps, heavily soiled cartons, fabrics etc...

[@cdnamerican9646]

Wow! Very cool!

[@shannobailey2917]

We need more of these.but what is the profit to support this?

[@gavin7808]

government funding in most cases

[@sparkss4]

Awesome tech and great job!

[@jazz797]

I can only imagine the smell. But thanks for the video I’ve always wondered this.

[@Taarnac]

The video is great and informative. Just a FYI though, the title has a misspelling (Recycing).

[@MarshmallowMadnesss]

Excellent!

[@SDVenturist]

Thank you! Very informative

[@WeHaveTheRansom]

This is awesome

[@tootspogsforever5590]

really informational and very interesting!

[@LightGesture]

So, just had a conversation with a fellow tile contractor he said he throws his spacers in the recycle and gets new very frequently, instead of reuse.... which is stupid expensive and wasteful, but whatever... How would little stuff like this get to be recycled properly? Wouldn't that first sorter be sending that stuff and giving it to glass?

[@billymccall5969]

I try to recycle but I toss stuff in the recycle bin at places like the airport or at work and the workers just empty the recycle bin into the trash. Like what the hell. I’m trying my hardest not to kill the planet but I can only do so much.

[@codygamboa9428]

How have things changed in the last 8 years,

[@caringlovetv6998]

Love the content!

[@dakotamoore8328]

Wut do you do with all this stuff win your done

[@andreybezugliy]

нужно в каждой стране такой комплекс ставить, и будет всем и всё!!!!

[@alexscher1609]

What?

[@isaiahbair7690]

I just like the conveyor belts

[@ph11p3540]

We have all this recycling technology in Edmonton, Alberta. We divert and reuse over 5000 tonnes of plastic per day and ship it globally. This is big business in Edmonton. Why don't other regions and countries do this?

[@dongguanhaibaomachinerytec4799]

5000 tons, so much.... Do you considerate to purchase a sorting machine?

[@five5654]

I wish. However, for a while it was cheaper to ship it back to China to be recycled on the ships that carried commodities here

[@ph11p3540]

@@dongguanhaibaomachinerytec4799 Clover Bar Used to be a garbage dumb east of Edmonton and now it has a large recycling industrial complex built on it. Two very large buildings have numerous sorting machines and cyclo separators being used as well as new ones being invented. We also try out numerous separation machinery sourced from manufacturers globally. This is evolving technology and Edmonton is at the fore front of it. We currently divert 60% of our garbage from land fill with a goal of 80% by 2024.

[@dongguanhaibaomachinerytec4799]

@@ph11p3540 Do you have any idea about separator machine?

[@nealjohnson8508]

Super interesting, thanks!

[@andreamar6044]

Sooooooo interesting!

[@WeatherMan404]

Ok but what happens to the cubes?

[@TheMadisonHang]

i saw those two giant land fills in tampa flordia when i went back to visit when i grew up in tampa, those land fills were not there its quite disheartening. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

[@nayte1]

Interesting keep up the awesome work

[@johnrobertfrench]

How much do they actually make per day off from the product given to them I wonder.... Is their a good kick back?

[@JRS-iq9pz]

Plastics should have a shelf life were after say ten years or so they breakdown. Or add a solution that breaks them down to oil or whatever.

[@rogiervantilburg3440]

thanks for the insight!

[@spliter88]

I'm surprised there's no chemical bath or anything like that to remove food residue or oils from the plastic, glass and metals

[@lennyappleton2840]

Probably because this is a sorting plant. A recycling plant would do that

[@kpkp42]

@@lennyappleton2840 Where bales of plastic bottles go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHLVZXWQgsSHsM0

[@Jfreek5050]

With all the stuff we throw away, modern landfills will be the future mining sites.

[@nautilus956]

My parents pay for recycling service. Mine is free. Blows my mind. They’re literally making profits on both ends.

[@alexscher1609]

I love recycling

[@moonycorn4914]

Please check your local recycling company thing to see which plastics are and are not okay to recycling etc. most or some recycling places don’t recycle like this.

[@CEMatta]

Cuanto vale una planta así "llave en mano" para la región de Valparaíso en Chile? 2000 ton/día...

[@ofthecross]

Esa planta costó más de 110 millones de dólares en total.

[@CEMatta]

Donde la instalaste? y para que volùmen diario?

[@ofthecross]

esta planta está instalada en Brooklyn, New York y puede procesar alrededor de 1,000 toneladas por día

[@CEMatta]

Acà serìa bastante ùtil por ese presupuesto da para la provincia de Valparaìso con cerca de 1000 tons. RSD/ dìa, y que productos es posible generar ?

[@Jan-vs3md]

Nada. No Producto. Solo Sortire. @@CEMatta

[@ibm30rpg]

Really amazing

[@ZeeZee9]

Thank you, sir :)

[@cadennguyen7110]

It is like a transfer station.

[@macpakinga1271]

Thank you for sharing your doing a great job. Our Planet ❤🌏🙏

[@skye6786]

Hi can I your clip for our school project and proper recognition will guaranteed at the end of our video

[@CosmosDweller]

Wow!

[@GooshawnXD]

I think the biggest reason the percentage of recycling going into the landfill is businesses that cant be bothered. I work for a grocery store and the amount of recycling that gets thrown away on a daily basis is the amount I recycle in a month, easy. Its honestly disgusting that they cant be bothered to introduce a recycling program. Thise huge 5 gallon plastic buckets? At least 10 a day in tbe garbage. Immagine all the businesses that are doinf the same ://

[@matthouston5338]

I like it thank you

[@mancheaseskrelpher8419]

This technology makes the Earth happy.

[@TheRustAdmin]

so much work.. here in the uk we just sort it before we leave it out for the bin men, americans should do the same

[@worldadventureman]

I wonder which system is more efficient. Your system where people have to have separate containers, then the bin men have to load all those separate containers into vehicles that have separate bays. Then how much cross contamination is there? Or just throw it all in one recycle bin, recycle bin man picks up bin in automated truck, then sort it all at the yard?

[@shibuya01]

@@worldadventureman The first option probably requires more investment and efforts upstream but it's definitely more efficient as the recovery facility will have to hire less people to sort out, probably less conveyors or conveyors use (as less non-recyclable residue will be thrown out by people upstream).

[@worldadventureman]

Did you watch the video? It is automatically sorting all recyclables. My local facility is semi automatic but it doesn't require any more people than if the product was pre sorted at home because invariably people still cross contaminate.

[@shibuya01]

@@worldadventureman Yes I did. Even if it automatically sorts all recyclables, having less residue at the end of the sorting line is a gain of time and money, because there's less to manage overall.

[@MrDavegiven0330]

Single-stream is supposed to increases participation rates.

[@zachv7449]

WALL-E ANYONE? :O

[@stantonsteed1957]

There. should be a 1 pence recycling tax on all plastic bottles to build new recycling factories..

[@electronicwasterecyclingdu1536]

Green Solutions FZE | Cosmetic & Electronic Waste Recycling Dubai

[@christianjackson9298]

I think I just saw my watch..

[@ohmusicsweetmusic]

You mean a SORTING plant, not a recycling plant.

[@steventwist8888]

this don't work anying more

[@JamesAnuada]

Hope that have this plant in philippines shout out our president

[@johnr.timmers2297]

Anyone who throws away glass is just wasting product. It's the best material to recycle

[@mysterybuyer3738]

I can't believe a lot of people are still very lazy and don't recycle or put a bunch of trash in the recycling bin.

[@pabloledezma7895]

Or they are mainly just purely retarded.

[@Vendingmachine24]

You lost me a “a whole nother”

[@samuelkraus-wq6dd]

.

[@samuelkraus-wq6dd]

.

[@mask4037]

imagine the smell

[@oonikown5998]

😎

[@megamushroom]

Toy story.

[@TheGunnCat]

He forgot to mention the thousands of tons sent to Africa. Idiocracy.

[@bobcat8439]

I could run scrap metal heavy machines easier from little italy

[@sheminarajab2844]

[@JB-pl1iu]

Us humans are slobs aren't we.