What Is a Waste Conveyor?

A waste conveyor is a system often used in waste processing plants or even factory or warehouse settings; it is used to transport waste from one location within the facility to another for processing or disposal. The waste conveyor may not be vastly different from other types of conveyor systems, since many industrial conveyors are more than capable of handling loads of any materials. Some conveyors, however, may be designed specifically for waste removal, and they may be designed to protect workers from exposure to harmful chemicals or objects during the processing procedure.

Industrial machines that cut various types of materials can produce unusable byproducts that must be removed from the premises. A waste conveyor can be used in this application to remove cut or broken materials quickly from the machine to a waste storage facility on site, or to a transport vehicle that can move the waste product off site. Such systems are common in factories as well as on construction sites, in quarries, or at mining sites, and the size and function of the waste conveyor can vary significantly based on the intended application.

Other waste conveyor models are built into waste collection facilities to help sort garbage or transport it from warehouses to trucks. Most conveyors used for this application are suitable only for moving solid waste; liquid waste is usually moved using other means because the liquid cannot be effectively transported over a conveyor belt or through an auger conveyor system, which uses a large screw to move fine particulate matter. The waste conveyor for solid waste will usually feature a rubber or metal mesh belt that is tightly wound around a series of metal pulleys. This belt will sit in the bottom of a long tray with walls that will prevent waste from spilling over the sides of the conveyor.

The design of the waste conveyor can vary significantly, and many conveyors are highly adjustable to perform waste removal in various settings. Some conveyors, for example, may run only horizontally, while others may run up a slope. Some conveyors will feature a hydraulic lift that can raise and lower one end of the conveyor so waste can be run up or down a slope as necessary for a particular job. The belt of conveyors that run up a slope will often feature perpendicular treads that will help prevent waste from falling backward down the conveyor.