The ballistic separator is a sorting system with oscillating paddles that can separate the feed stream into three streams according to the different shapes and characteristics of wastes. By agitation, 3D materials (such as plastic bottles, cans, stone, etc.) are thrown downwards, while 2D materials like film and paper are thrown upwards, thus generating three fractions: the screened fraction, the light fraction and the heavy fraction that are then conveyed to the subsequent steps.

For example, plastics can be sorted out from light wastes such as cardboard, paper and film, and light materials can be separated from cylindrical garbage bottles and cans.

The ballistic separator is typically installed as a starting machine of the automatic sorting line in waste recycling systems to increase the recovery rate and maximize the separation efficiency of the subsequent separators.