Sorting is the process of arranging items systematically, using a specified criterion, to categorize and group similar items and identify non-conforming items for removal. The choice of a sorting machine depends on the type of item to sort, the sorting criteria, the number of categories that the items need to be sorted into, sorting speed, and accuracy. Sorting machines can be used in the food processing industry for sorting and categorizing fruits, vegetables, empty bottles, crates, and other items; other examples include sorting of tablets and capsules by weight for quality control in the pharmaceutical industry. As well as sorting waste in the recycling industry. Manual sorting is a laborious task however, with the use of specialized equipment, manufacturers are able to automate their sorting at high speeds.