Granular litter cleaning apparatus and process

A granular litter cleaning apparatus comprising:

• a separation system having a separation tank adapted to receive a mixture of granules and plastic litter, and water therein, the separation tank having a top opening, and a closeable bottom outlet, and at least one water inlet for feeding water to the separation tank;
• a collect subsystem for conveying a mixture of granules and plastic litter to the separation tank;
• a pump system in fluid communication with the water inlet;
• wherein the pump system is operated to raise a level of water in the separation tank to skim water with plastic litter out through the top opening of the separation tank;
• wherein the at least one water inlet of the separation tank includes a laminar flow inlet to raise the level of water in the separation tank with low turbulence;
• and
• wherein the closeable bottom outlet is openable to empty the separation tank from granules decanted in a bottom of the separation tank.