The present invention provides a method of and an apparatus for separating heterogeneously sized and shaped solid waste particles. The particles are introduced into a vertical duct, under an accelerating force provided from behind the material, against a slanted wall in the duct. Depending on the slant of the wall, particles of different sizes and shapes striking the wall will be deflected downward. Some particles though will not receive sufficient force from the air to hit the wall and will be pulled up the duct by a vaccuum system located at the top thereof. In this manner, materials can be separated according to their physical characteristics. In contrast, known separating systems rely simply on the buoyancy of the different materials in order to separate them. This means that the particles must be generally homogeneous in size and shape to achieve a proper separation.
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