RDF consists largely of combustible components of such waste, as non recyclable plastics (not including PVC), paper cardboard, labels, textiles and other corrugated materials. These fractions are separated by different processing steps, such as screening, air classification, ballistic separation, separation of ferrous and non ferrous materials, glass, stones and other foreign materials and shredding into a uniform grain size, or also pelletized in order to produce a homogeneous material which can be used as substitute for fossil fuels in e.g. cement plants, lime plants, coal fired power plants or as reduction agent in steel furnaces. If documented according to CEN/TC 343 it can be labeled as solid recovered fuels (SRF).
The processing steps of the high-calorific fractions from commercial waste and household waste include pre-sorting, coarse crushing, screen classification, and fine shredding, and briquetting. Multiple air classification and metal separation are necessary to remove unwanted impurities