Local researchers develop new recycling technology

Most of the discarded home appliances can be recycled, but the hard part is classifying them into the right category.

But now, thanks to a new technology, recycling promises a better and more efficient outcome. This is an e-waste collector developed by local researchers that can sort out plastic into three different types, and separate metals into aluminium, copper and stainless steel.

"The machine sorts out the waste by using near-infrared rays and analyzing the wavelength reflected on the plastic. As for the metals, it separates them by distinguishing their differences in color."

Valuable waste resources that have in the past been difficult to categorize are now expected to show a recycle rate of up to 95 percent from the current 85 percent.

Experts believe it will kill three birds with one stone: saving the environment, making money and creating new jobs in the industry. This method can also be applied to scrapped cars and other wastes from many different business facilities.

"The most promising part is to be able to contribute to the economic development in the country by securing a more superior technology than other developed countries."

Experts estimate this new technology will bring about an economic effect worth some 114 million U.S. dollars annually by reducing processing times and raising of value of waste materials.