A pre-sorter forwards items from solid waste to designated processing paths in response to their size. Large items are manually processed to remove non-recyclables, to fuel a generator, to be returned to the pre-sorter after removal from a container, or forwarded to processing streams. The smallest items are forwarded to a first chain of machines that remove metal and glass from the items. Intermediate sized items are forwarded to an assembly that separates small, relatively dense, items from larger lightweight items. The former items are mixed and processed by a first chain of machines. The latter items are forwarded to a second chain of machines that separate and remove paper and other containers from recyclable metal and plastic. Multiple paper types are identified and removed by a third chain of machines. A remediator receives residual items from each of the first, second and third chains of machines.