Running a recycling facility comes with its share of challenges – especially when it comes to the handling and sorting of materials efficiently. The right recycling conveyor belt can streamline operations, making sure waste is going to the right places without contamination.
Here are the 5 most common material handling challenges faced by recycling facilities, along with practical solutions for how to get around them with a robust and reliable conveyor belt.
1: Unsorted and Mixed Material Streams
One of the largest problems in recycling facilities is the unpredictable nature of incoming waste, as materials often come in unsorted – with a mix of plastics, metals, food waste and glass. This can cause conveyor jams and slower processing times. Contamination is also a common issue and food waste contamination can ruin some recyclable items.
A way to get around these mixed material streams is to use recycling conveyor belts with variable speed drives, where you can adjust the conveyor’s pace to match the load. Incline conveyors can also be used to separate different materials into the right places. At Coveya, we can work with you to create a custom conveyor belt that sorts your material streams efficiently, with proper sorting tech, like automations, to separate materials properly. This makes sure speeds, inclines and types of conveyors suit the needs of your recycling production line.
2: Abrasive and Contaminated Materials
Recycling conveyors also deal with harsh materials, from broken glass and sharp metal pieces to hazardous chemicals. These abrasive materials can damage conveyor equipment and lead to wear and tear as well as potential breakdowns of the recycling conveyor belt. This can lead to costly maintenance and repairs, as well as downtime.
To tackle this issue, ensure you opt for durable conveyors, built with reinforced belts, impact beds and abrasion-resistant liners. Proper pre-screening systems to filter out problematic waste keeps your equipment in better shape for longer. As well as this, regular service and maintenance checks also help to flag early signs of wear and tear before it leads to irreversible damage.
3: Space Constraints in Older or Urban Facilities
A common material handling challenge in the recycling and waste industry is spaces that often don’t lend themselves to sufficient material handling equipment. Many recycling centres are located in older buildings where space is tight and layouts aren’t optimised for modern machines. Therefore, fitting recycling conveyors into these awkward spaces can lead to inefficiencies and increased safety risks.
Opting for a custom conveyor system is a great solution here as they can be designed specifically for tight and awkward spaces, such as elevators, Z-conveyors and telescopic conveyors. This helps facilities keep up with production demand, and they can scale and adapt the layout as your needs change. These modular systems make retrofitting easier, so you don’t need to worry about carrying out a major rebuild.
4: Equipment Downtime and Maintenance Costs
Even the best recycling conveyor belts will wear out over time, especially in heavy duty, demanding operations that run around the clock. This can lead to machine breakdowns, which not only halt production lines but also increase repair and maintenance costs. In some cases, sourcing the right spare parts can also take a considerable amount of time.
The best way to prevent downtime and expensive maintenance costs is to have regular services to check for any signs of malfunction or abnormal activity. When you buy or rent a recycling conveyor from Coveya, we offer a service every 3 months to ensure wear and tear is kept to a minimum. This predictive maintenance planning flags issues before they become major problems. This not only keeps production running smoothly, but also keeps your costs down.
5: Throughput and Scalability Bottlenecks
With more people and companies committed to recycling, many material handling facilities are struggling to meet growing volume demands. Equipment may not be robust enough to keep up with the level of input as conveyors are usually undersized or lacking the tech to keep up with demand.
When throughput can’t keep up with input, you risk a dependence on manual sorting, which isn’t as quick and accurate as automatic sorting. Recycling conveyor belt systems allow facilities to grow and scale without replacing their entire setup. High-speed conveyors with features like accumulation zones and automated diverters maintain a steady flow of materials, keeping up with a high volume of materials.
Looking for a Recycling Conveyor Solution? Contact Our Team Today!
At Coveya, we understand the challenges recycling facilities face: issues keeping up with demand, achieving sufficient sorting of different materials and wear and tear risks, to name a few. If you’re dealing with a range of mixed materials or need help designing smart conveyor solutions for awkward spaces, our team is here to help.
We offer recycling conveyor systems that are durable, efficient and built to scale. Whether you need a system for a new facility or are upgrading an outdated conveyor, we can design a custom solution that fits your operation and budget. Contact our team via our quick form, give us a call on 0800 501 5127, or email support@coveya.co.uk with information on what you need.