A light packaging sorting plant is a facility specialising in selecting light packaging from selective collection according to its composition. The different types of plastics (HDPE –separating white from coloured–, LDPE, PET and mixed packaging), ferrous and aluminium packages and drinks cartons are all separated mechanically or manually.

Light packaging sorting plants have the following structure:

• Packaging reception area: where packaging from selective collection is dumped having been weighed.
• Sorting area: at the start of this area is a bag opener. Next selection of packages by composition starts. Sorting may be manual, magnetic, volumetric, by density, ballistic, optic, etc. This process is becoming increasingly automated.
• Pressing and baling area: waste is pressed into bales for easy transport to recycling plants.
• Warehouse area: for storing selected materials awaiting transportation to treatment plants.
• Office area.

The approximate output of a plant of this type is 90% of the incoming materials; not counting unsuitable waste that should not have come to the plant.