VAN DYK Talks China Challenges, Positive Sorting, Robots and More at WasteExpo

Come by Van Dyk’s booth at WasteExpo to hear their latest strategies on combatting National Sword restrictions. In their eyes, the problem with fiber quality starts with screen upgrades. Due to the amount of film plastics coming into many MRF streams, traditional starscreens suffer severe clogging and wrapping, quickly losing their ability to properly separate fiber and containers. The result is a poor start toward achieving a clean paper grade. Van Dyk’s Non-Wrapping 440 Screen has specially designed stars to resist wrapping for an entire shift. Customers see a drastic improvement in the quality of their paper and containers. And because there is so little to clean, shifts can gain as much as 90 minutes of production time. Recent customers to upgrade to these screens are TFC Chesapeake, VA, WM Elkridge, MD, Diversified Recycling, Waste Connections McKinney, TX, FCC’s Dallas and Houston plants, Republic Services Plano, TX, and Total Recycle (J.P. Mascaro & Sons).

Another strategy is what Van Dyk is calling Positive Sorting. Positive Sorting is the use of Van Dyk’s optical sorters to target paper materials and eject them from the stream. Removing paper FROM the prohibitives (rather than the other way around) allows the paper to stay clean and avoid collateral damage. New developments in laser technology allow Van Dyk’s opticals to recognize virtually every object on the belt, including film, glass, organics, black plastics, black objects, and random trash items. The result is a cleaner paper grade than ever before, capable of passing China’s 0.5% restriction. Recent plants to adopt this revolutionary concept are SANCO Escondido, CA, Republic Services Plano, and FCC Houston.

Van Dyk has also installed the first large-scale MRF in Mexico, for integrated waste management company Grupo CIP. The facility processes 500 tons per day and is recovering 72% of the incoming MSW material. The material is separated into organics, processed engineered fuel, and recyclables. By recovering valuables and diverting them from landfill, CIP has paved the way for waste management reform in Latin America. Van Dyk will have footage of this installation playing in their booth.

Also on tap are recent improvements to their baler series and robot technology. Both coming from Dutch manufacturer Bollegraaf, Van Dyk’s balers are top of the line machines with a reputation for reliability and excellence dating back six decades. Bollegraaf is set to unveil their new robot, RoBB 2.0, at IFAT in May.

Van Dyk is also proud to support the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) Scholarship Program by contributing to the EREF Annual Charitable Auction, to be held during Waste Expo on April 25th.

Van Dyk will be at booth #3417 at this year’s WasteExpo Las Vegas.