eCycle Solutions employs density separation

eCycle Solutions, headquartered in Ontario, says it has launched a density separation system to help purify the mixed plastics that are generated by recycling electrical and electronic equipment.

“We are very pleased to take our company to the next level in sustainable electronics recycling and advance our commitment to the circular economy,” says Michael Collins, president and CEO of eCycle Solutions. “We can now provide Canadians with a more refined recycling process for electrical and electronic materials.”

The system features float-sink technology that uses a water and salt solution to separate plastics from metals and other undesired materials according to density, the company says. The plastic floats, while the metals and other contaminants sink, producing a cleaner mixed plastics stream as well as a metallic stream that can be refined further.

The system, located at eCycle Solutions' facility in Mississauga, Ontario, can process as many as 20 metric tons of mixed plastics from electronics per hour and complies with all applicable regulations, according to the company.

eCycle Solutions designed the sink-float system in-house with proprietary water treatment technology. It is a closed-loop system that will minimize water consumption while ensuring recycled material is fully traceable and recycled in its entirety, the company says.

“We are looking forward to working closely with our Canadian and international partners to meet the needs of our customers and to keep waste out of our landfills,” Collins says.