THE DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF SOLID WASTE SORTING MACHINE
Abstract
Plastic waste constitutes a major component of municipal solid waste in Nigeria, with improper disposal posing environmental and health hazards. At the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, the accumulation of plastics among general waste has become a challenge to effective waste management and recycling efforts. This project presents the design and construction of a plastic waste separation machine, aimed at distinguishing plastics from other waste types. The machine employs a conveyor system and an air jet separation mechanism to detect and separate lightweight plastic bottles and films from heavier non-plastic materials. Performance tests showed that the machine can effectively separate plastics with a high degree of accuracy, thereby reducing manual effort, improving recycling efficiency, and minimizing the volume of non-biodegradable waste sent to dumpsites. The project demonstrates a cost-effective and sustainable solution to plastic waste management in institutional and community settings.
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