Materials detector

A material detector used to identify a waste material irrespective of a state/condition of the waste material from a mixed waste stream, the material detector (100) comprising:

• a product database including one or more identity parameters corresponding to predefined detectable physical parameters and/or chemical parameters of an outermost layer of waste materials;
• one or more sensors to capture an image of the waste material;
• a detection unit configured to
• extract data pertaining to at least one physical parameter from the image;
• derive a digital fingerprint based on the extracted data;
• compare the digital fingerprint with predefined detectable physical parameters of outermost layers stored in the product database;
• and
• determine one or more identity parameters based upon comparison;
• a comparison unit comprising a relationship table including details pertaining to classifiers, pre-stored identity parameters and corresponding one or more other features, the comparison unit being configured to:
• receive an input relating to a requested feature on the basis of which the waste material is to be segregated;
• check whether the determined identity parameter of the waste material corresponds to the requested feature using the relationship table;
• and
• assign a classifier to the waste material having the requested feature, thereby identifying the waste material from the mixed waste stream.