Automated Material Handling, Inc.

Automated Material Handling, Inc. handles over 70 tons per day of materials delivered by the TROC member towns. The facility includes three high capacity Bollegraf balers, two for fiber materials and one for mixed bottles and cans. A unique machine referred to as the “star screens separator” divides the incoming mix of newspaper, cardboard, plastics and glass into segregated streams, and an eddy current and magnet device is used to process aluminum and steel items, including “tin cans” (which are actually made of steel).

One of the most advanced features of the Automated Material Handling, Inc. facility is a state-of-the-art fiber optics system that utilizes an optical identification system to detect and sort plastics. Since plastics utilize petroleum-based products and have rapidly increased in use for packaging material, recovery of these materials represents an important opportunity to decrease our dependence on imported oil.