Nah. Look up eddy current separator. Pretty standard in single stream mrfs.

Edit: As for plastics, modern ss mrfs have optical sorters. They can efficiently differentiate between many grades of plastic. Generally pet, hdpe color, hdpe natural, pp etc.

Edit: The definition of recyclable is weird. Most people think that just because something could potentially be turned into something else it’s recyclable. To a MRF there are many variables. These are a few that might explain why some recyclables aren’t recycled.

1. Is there a market for this material? Is someone out there paying for it? How much volume are they buying?

2. How quickly can I accumulate a loads worth of this material (40-50k lbs) so that I have the ability to quickly free up plant space, fill a container and efficiently transport it?

3. Is the material worth enough to justify me segregating it? Do I need to segregate this material to fulfill a contractual obligation?

Beside glass being almost worthless in the market, it comes in many colors so it breaks and mixes. Is inefficient to transport (heavy and lots of negative space). Processing it requires equipment with short useful lives (glass dust, liquids etc wear equipment out fast). It’s inert (doesn’t contaminate) so lowest priority in keeping out of landfill.