Method for sorting used plastic containers and the like

Abstract

A method for sorting a plurality of diverse objects into groups, each such object being made predominately from at least polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene and at least two of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and polypropylene, the groups consisting at least of objects of like type of polymer identified to be polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene and at least two of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and polypropylene. The method includes three steps. The first step is to irradiate the objects to be sorted with near-infrared radiation. The second step is to measure the diffuse reflectance of the irradiated objects in the near-infrared region to identify the objects as to the type of polymer used to make them. The third step is to direct the objects to their respective groups according to the measurement and identification of the second step.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.