The invention concerns a method of operating a sinter plant, where a sinter mix is fired in a sintering machine, the method including crushing fired sinter to below an upper particle size limit; screening the crushed sinter to remove fines and separate at least two sinter size fractions, typically smaller, intermediate and upper size fractions; storing each of the at least two sinter size fractions in a respective, separate storage bin, where the screened sinter fractions are not mixed again at the sinter plant but are forwarded to the blast furnace plant, where they are stored in respective, separate storage bins, and the screened sinter fractions can be intermediately stored in separate bins at the sinter plant, before being forwarded to the blast furnace.