In today’s world, Waste management and recycling are essential industries. Waste must be processed correctly and recycled when possible to prevent contaminating the environment. Shredders help improve waste management and recycling by breaking down larger materials into smaller, more manageable sizes.
How Shredders Assist With Waste Management And Recycling In New Zealand
Shredders break down raw materials, reducing their size so they can be used or disposed of more easily.
For waste management, shredders help in these key ways:
- Volume Reduction. Larger, bulkier items can be difficult to handle and transport. For example, large amounts of general waste may be cumbersome and challenging to work with. Shredders can significantly reduce the size of waste materials, compacting and turning them into more uniform particles that can be transported more easily by trucks or into containers. Shredding reduces waste volume, allowing larger quantities to be transported per load and resulting in lower transportation costs.
- Reducing Landfill Waste. When materials are broken down, they can more easily be sorted into categories and separated into recyclable materials and general waste. For example, magnetic metals can be separated from shredded materials using magnets on the shredder.
For recycling, shredders can be used for:
- Material Preparation. Once recyclable materials are separated from waste, shredders can break the materials down even further to aid in the recycling process. Reducing materials makes them easier to transport, work with and process at recycling facilities. Plus, making the particles more uniform in size can help to improve the quality of the recycled products produced by preventing issues caused by bulky, uneven materials.
- Enhanced Sorting Efficiency. Shredded materials are easier to separate into categories using automated machinery. Metals, plastics and organic waste can be sorted for more effective and efficient recycling.
- Metal Recovery. Industrial shredders can separate different kinds of metals, like steel and aluminium, for resale or reuse. Certain metals, like aluminium, are very easy to recycle and are often used in a variety of industries across New Zealand and the world.
Shredders can handle a variety of materials with ease, such as:
- Wood And Green Waste. Organic plant materials like wood can create mulch or chips, which can then be used for composting, wood chip, biomass energy production or animal bedding.
- Tyres. Tyre recycling has recently been legislated in New Zealand to enable the nationwide resource recovery of end-of-life tyres to ensure this resource is not wasted, but is recycled. Bulk shredding of tyres enables volume reduction for transportation. Further shredding and processing is done to achieve the final recycled tyre products to be used in playground matting, sportsgrounds, arena dressing, even cement production.
- Plastic. Plastic is extremely prevalent and in many industrial sectors, and we use it in everything from cars to bottles. Plastic can be shredded and then used to create pellets or granules that will then be used to manufacture new products.
- Paper And Cardboard. Paper products are shredded and then reprocessed into new paper products. Furthermore, shredded paper can also be used as eco-friendly packing material and similar products.
As you can imagine, shredders used for waste management and recycling have plenty of environmental benefits. Shredders can help us reach our sustainability goals and reduce our impact on the environment while helping us promote recycling.
- Reducing Carbon Footprint. Shredding improves recycling efficiency, minimising the environmental impact of waste disposal and improving how we recycle reusable materials.
- Energy Recovery. Some shredded materials, like wood and plastic, can be converted into energy at waste-to-energy facilities. This is just another way in which we can support renewable energy resources.
- Supporting A Circular Economy. A circular economy is one where we recycle and reuse materials for as long as possible. Quality shredders make it easier to recover and reuse materials, playing a critical role in building a more sustainable world.
How To Choose Your Shredder
What should you look for when selecting a shredder for your waste management or recycling needs?
- High-Speed Versus Slow-Speed Shredders. There are various kinds of shredders, including high-speed and slow-speed shredders. High-speed shredders work fast and are generally chosen for lighter materials like wood and green waste. On the other hand, slow-speed shredders are often selected for harder, more durable substances as well as mixed materials. Consider the kinds of materials you want to shred and the speed at which you’d like to shred them when choosing between high- and slow-speed equipment.
- Dealing With Contaminants. slow-speed shredders are typically used when handling potentially contaminated waste.
- Maintenance Requirements. Because of their rapid performance, high-speed shredders generally see more wear and tear damage than slow-speed shredders. Regardless of the kind of equipment you choose, always check its maintenance requirements and create a maintenance schedule to keep your shredder in good condition. Additionally, only use your equipment as intended to prevent damage and accidents.
Improving Sustainability With A Suitable Shredder
Shredders can optimise waste management and recycling processes, making it easier to reach our eco-friendly goals. What kind of shredder do you need for your green operations? Come and see our selection at Mobile Screening And Crushing to browse through your options.
If you’d like any assistance with choosing your shredder, crusher, screening equipment, conveyor or trommel, then our team is here for you. Call us on 0800 672 583 or use our contact page to get started.
Experience the benefits of a top-tier shredder with Mobile Screening And Crushing.
