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Show Separator relieves waste gtS Research Center of the Bureau of Minef have devised S 1 inexpensive and efficient solid waste separator Madeof plywood and scrap metal, at a cost of less than $2000 the Biie separates shredded waste into ferrous (magnetic, iron) on fls (non-magnetic, aluminum, copper, etc.) and comb, kw J3i The separation is virtually perfect: 92 percent 0ftt lus metals can be recovered in a comparatively clean 'If 97 percent of the combustibles were recovered and T j , produced a 100 percent combustible product contailf tpaper; 88 percent of the non-ferrous materials were coated The potential value of this separater is incalculable, says Karl C Dean, research supervisor since the ferrous metals can be recycled itiease, the combustible product with its high-level content of ercan either be recycled or used as a virtually ash-free substitute Lcoal, and the non-ferrous product can be easily broken down into components (aluminum, copper, glass) by other simple methods siting in still more recyclable material. And, says Mr. Dean the plans for this machine are available at no charge to anyone 'who ,ants them. Mr Dean estimates that ten of these machines could adequately handle all Salt Lake City's solid refuse, if that refuse could be shredded. The machine is most efficient when the shredded particles ueminus three inches (less than three inches in diameter), but it can operate with alacrity on particles of minus ten inches. Mr. Dean emphasized that, from an ecological standpoint the most important by-product of this separater could be the combustible com-bustible fraction, since it could be used as an adequated substitute lor coal. Good bituminus coal burns at about 14,000 BTU's (British Thermal Unit), Mr. Dean said, and the retrievable combustible product burns at about 9,000 BTU's - and leaves no ash. In a nation rapidly running out of coal - and tearing itself apart looking for new sources of it that 256 million tons of solid waste generated every year represents an attractive alternative. |