Machinex signed the delivery of the new Organic Material Recovery System (OMRC) in Quebec City; a technological first within co-collection organics recovery systems in North America. This facility eases the organic waste management for the residents of Quebec City while contributing to a more sustainable solution.
From its headquarters in Plessisville, the Machinex team elaborated and developed a new system integrating the most advanced optical sorting technology for a specific use in organic waste management. The new system offers a processing capacity of 250,000 tons per year of Municipal Solid Waste, this state-of-the-art system efficiently sorts 86,600 tons per year of organic waste. At the center of this system are three MACH Hyspec® optical sorters, a cutting-edge technology developed by Machinex which can reach up to 3,000 ejections per minute. This latest generation sorting technology plays a crucial role in the efficient treatment of organic materials, offering an innovative and sustainable solution for Quebec City and its residents.
“Here at Machinex, we are proud to contribute to this achievement”, says Jonathan Ménard, Vice President of Sales and Strategic Positioning at Machinex. “This system is a first in North America! It’s a new way to sort organic materials. In recent years, we have successfully tested our methods in waste treatment across Europe and we bring this innovative technological approach to Quebec, which is more efficient and durable.”
Equipped with a high-speed, short wave infra-red (SWIR) hyperspectral detection system, the MACH Hyspec ® is the technology that allows for the accurate identification and sorting of purple bags containing organic waste. Once detected, the bags are quickly propelled onto another conveyor through compressed air ejection. This unique use of an optical sorter needed important equipment adjustments to transition from sorting recyclable materials to organic materials. Fortunately, Machinex could count on its highly qualified experts, as explained by the Machinex Group CEO, Mr. Pierre Paré:
“Our Research and Development team, which is behind the versatile MACH Hyspec® Optical Sorter, transformed this challenge in an incredible achievement, thereby creating a new application for the functional and highly performant technology. We’re truly proud of this achievement, and extremely proud of the people who have worked towards this success.”
The integration of the MACH Hyspec® exemplifies Machinex’s commitment to utilizing state-of-the-art technology for efficient resource recovery and a responsible waste management. This innovative solution optimizes the treatment of organic materials, promotes a circular economy and strengthens Quebec City’s position in integrating sustainable waste management practices.
This Spring of 2024, during the inauguration of the Organic Material Biomethanization Center, which includes the Organic Material Recovery System, the City of Quebec announced the valorized products resulting from biomethanization – renewable natural gas and digestates – are now available on the market.
“About a month ago, we inaugurated the Biomethanization Center of the Greater Quebec City Area, a state-of-the-art infrastructure of significant scale, of which we are immensely proud at Quebec City”, rejoiced Marie-Josée Asselin, the Vice-President of the Executive Committee responsible for Waste Management. “Optical sorting and the ability to detect purple bags in the co-collection of food waste play a crucial role in the chain of sorting residual materials, enabling the redirection of organic residues to the biomethanization center.”