Axion’s MRF event to explore the ‘Science of Sorting’

Axion Consulting is hosting another useful seminar, exhibition and networking event on Tuesday May 15th 2012 for Material Recovery Facilities operators and waste management companies with a focus on increasing MRF profitability through improving quality.

Building on the success of last year's event, the 'Science of Sorting' day at Austin Court, Institution of Engineering and Technology in Birmingham, features waste processing industry experts sharing knowledge on applying novel technology and statistical control to separate more value from waste.

Alongside the exhibition, there will be presentations from key waste industry figures demonstrating how a better understanding of the materials technology choices on offer and the critical factors involved in designing and optimising a MRF can really maximise the yield of recyclable material streams and revenue from them.

Exhibitors include 360 Environmental, IFE Aufbereitungstechnik GmbH, Sutco (the new OKLM), Matthiessen Lagertechnik, Nihot Recycling Technology, R J Herbert, Pellenc, S+S Separation and Sorting Technology, Stadler GmbH, , Steinert, TITECH and Axion Consulting.

Speakers including Lee Clayton, Material Sorting expert, Andrew Hawkes of IFE, Jonathan Short of Eco Plastics Ltd and Axion Director Keith Freegard will be examining innovative design, sampling and separation techniques to extract the most value from MRF processes and materials.

Keith, who will be addressing delegates on the importance of correctly sampling and measuring mixed waste streams, says: "In the current environment, modern MRFs are under increasing pressure to operate efficiently in order to produce high volumes of high quality materials.
"In future, proposed legislative changes means they will have to adopt much higher standards of measuring, monitoring and controlling their processes to meet appropriate quality standards and recycling targets."

He believes that while some MRFs are really well-run, there is still a pressing need among others for a culture shift in operating management approach to create deeper understanding of the inherent value buried within the many thousands of tonnes of materials being processed. To maximise return on investment for these businesses, it is essential to achieve high separation efficiencies of the target materials.

Keith adds: "If MRFs can deliver end products to well-defined and consistent quality standards, they can engage in much more meaningful discussions with their customers for the reliable supply and sale of high-priced materials into secondary re-processing markets. Likewise, this also gives them more leverage with the local authority catchment areas they serve to reduce contamination levels at collection sources."

Axion Consulting is part of the Axion Group that develops and operates innovative resource recovery and processing solutions for recycling waste materials. The Group works with a wide range of clients, from Government agencies and local authorities to companies in diverse commercial sectors, on the practical development of new processing and collection methods to recover value from waste resources.