Processing Technologies & Equipment Flashcards
6 cards from real CRP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Processing Technologies & Equipment flashcards as text
A single-stream MRF is experiencing high paper contamination in its plastics bales. Which equipment upgrade would most directly address this problem?
Answer: Adding optical sorters calibrated to detect and eject paper from the plastics line
Optical sorters using NIR technology can identify paper materials on a plastics sort line and divert them with air jets, reducing paper contamination in plastics bales.
What does 'throughput capacity' mean in MRF operations planning?
Answer: The maximum tonnage of material the facility can process per hour or per operating shift
Throughput capacity defines the processing rate ceiling — if incoming tonnage exceeds throughput capacity, the facility cannot keep up and materials accumulate or must be diverted.
What is the function of a 'disc screen' (also called a 'star screen') in a MRF sorting line?
Answer: To separate materials by size and rigidity; flat materials fall through gaps between spinning discs while 3D objects ride across on top
Disc screens use rotating star-shaped discs with gaps sized to allow flat materials to fall through while larger, 3D, or more rigid items ride across the top, enabling size-based separation.
Why is maintaining proper bale weight and density critical for commodity marketing?
Answer: End-markets specify weight and density ranges; non-conforming bales incur freight inefficiencies, price deductions, or outright rejection
Commodity buyers specify acceptable bale weight and density because non-conforming bales increase handling costs, reduce truck load efficiency, and may fall outside the buyer's process specifications.
What environmental permit is typically required before constructing or expanding a MRF in the United States?
Answer: Solid waste facility permit from the state environmental agency
MRFs are classified as solid waste facilities and require a permit from the state environmental agency, which governs siting, construction, operations, and closure standards.
Which MRF safety hazard is most associated with manual sorting positions on a picking line?
Answer: Repetitive motion injuries (musculoskeletal disorders) from constant reaching, gripping, and throwing of materials
Manual pickers perform thousands of repetitive reach-and-throw motions per shift, making musculoskeletal disorders (RSIs) the most prevalent occupational health issue at MRF picking stations.