Why do modern municipal recycling plants install powerful rotating magnetic drums above conveyor belts…

Why do modern municipal recycling plants install powerful rotating magnetic drums above conveyor belts carrying shredded urban waste?
  1. To sterilize plastic containers before recycling
  2. To pull out ferrous metals like steel cans from mixed non-magnetic waste
  3. To melt aluminum foil using magnetic heat
  4. To separate light paper waste from heavy glass bottles

Solution

Magnetic drums attract and pull out iron and steel (ferrous materials) automatically while letting non-magnetic waste like plastic, glass, and aluminum pass through.

Asked in: Homi Bhabha Practice

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