City officials have softened their threat to leave improperly sorted recycled materials at the curb, a practice that critics said would lead to rampant litter.

Here in New York, one of the most expensive labor forces on the planet is being forced to sort materials that third world peasants wouldn't waste their time saving.

Finding a way to sort mixed materials quickly and accurately may be the key to making plastics recycling practical.

It would eliminate both the need for residents to sort recycled materials and for municipalities to collect and market the material.

Color sorters and systems under the Sortex product label for sorting cereal grains, coffee, vegetables, fruits, plastics, and other materials.

By offering a long-term commitment, the mayor has enticed Hugo Neu to build the type of highly mechanized operation needed to sort materials cheaply and efficiently.

The majority of the those who sort the trash are women, while certain families specialize in sorting certain materials such as paper, plastic, aluminum, glass, etc.

Spark testing also can be used to sort ferrous materials, establishing the difference from one another by noting whether the spark is the same or different.

The city has a sorting station in East Harlem, but has been unable to build others quickly and is paying private companies to sort materials.

Hundreds volunteered overall, driving collection trucks, sorting materials and repairing goods for resale.