Commercial & Industrial Waste Shredders – Powerful Shredding Solutions for Your Business

Mixed commercial waste includes plastics, rubber, cardboard, paper and cardboard, class A1 to A3 waste wood, cork, metals, polystyrene, packaging, textiles and various composite materials.

However, commercial waste does not include materials such as construction waste, biomass, kitchen waste, hazardous substances (e.g. chemicals), roofing felt, mineral wool, asbestos, waste wood from class A4, used tires and liquids such as paints, varnishes or oils.

Source: Wertstoffblog

As a rule, waste cannot be used directly for recycling in cement kilns, but must be prepared beforehand. The treatment process, also called pre-processing, includes the shredding, mixing and drying of waste. The use of WEIMA shredders in pre-processing enables consistently homogeneous particle sizes of the most demanding material. This guarantees a stable fuel that meets the technical requirements of cement production.

The term co-processing describes a globally recognized technology used in energy-intensive industries (EII) such as cement production to recycle waste and industrial by-products for energy and materials. The mineral materials in the waste replace primary raw materials (e.g. limestone) in the cement kiln, while the combustible materials provide the energy needed to produce clinker. No residues are produced in the process, and highly toxic waste is also destroyed. Co-processing thus makes it possible to avoid landfilling and waste incineration of wastes such as sewage sludge, solvents, plastics from industry or mineral wastes.

Co-processing in the context of cement production has many advantages: The high temperatures and long residence time in the kiln completely destroy even toxic residues. No residual materials are produced that have to be recycled or even landfilled. The use of co-processing technology also avoids the use of fossil fuels and consequently reduces greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, cement manufacturers can massively reduce their energy costs thanks to secondary fuels from waste.

For the production of Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF), additional process steps are usually necessary, as higher quality requirements for its production have been defined at European level. The essential properties of a classification include the calorific value as well as the chlorine and mercury content. This results in five quality classes in order to be able to designate processed waste as Solid Recovered Fuel.

WEIMA waste shredders are ideal for the production of medium and high calorific RDF (refuse derived fuel) or calciner fuel. These are fuels obtained from household, industrial and municipal waste. The different quality requirements depend on the thermal process. Typical processing steps for the high-calorific fraction include pre-sorting, pre-shredding, air classification and metal separation. Sensory sorting and drying are also possible. In most cases, refuse-derived fuel is used together with conventional fuels, e.g. in cement, lime, coal and industrial power plants.

This generally involves household waste, MSW or commercial waste similar to household waste. This is initially collected by disposal companies and transported to a central location for waste treatment, disposal or recycling. Typically, household waste contains a high proportion of organic matter. After rough screening, this is shredded and then divided into different fractions by screening. The coarse fraction (films, paper, hard plastics, wood, etc.) is usually used as fuel in RDF power plants because of its high calorific value. The fine fraction (organic substances), on the other hand, is usually further biologically treated. Gases produced in this way can be used for energy.

Yes. Single-shaft shredders are an excellent choice for mixed commercial waste when you need a consistent, controlled output. If your input includes bulky or compacted materials, a high-throughput pre-shredder such as the WEIMA PreCut 3000 can open bales and reduce volume in the first step. For day-to-day universal operation, the PowerLine series processes a wide range of materials — including dirty, abrasive waste — with adjustable counter knives that maintain performance as wear occurs. Select the model based on feed size, contamination level, and the particle size required for your downstream process.

The PreCut is engineered for heavy, high-volume pre-shredding, while the PowerLine is a universal single-shaft shredder for steady, versatile duty. PreCut 3000 excels at reducing bulky industrial waste, textiles, and compacted loads, and offers robust wear protection such as Vautid for long service life. PowerLine 2000 is designed for a wide range of waste types — even dirty material — and features user-friendly counter knife adjustment for easier setup. Use PreCut as your first reduction stage, and PowerLine as a universal or secondary shredder to achieve a defined particle size.

Yes. The PowerLine series is built for contaminated, heterogeneous waste streams. Adjustable counter knives help maintain cutting quality as wear increases, while the machine’s heavy-duty construction supports abrasive, high-impact applications. The PreCut handles the initial breakdown of tough and bulky feedstock. You will achieve the best uptime and lowest wear by pre-sorting for metals and oversize contaminants and by removing metals and fines between shredding stages.

After initial sorting, a PreCut unit opens and reduces the material load. Screening and air separation then divide light, heavy, and fine fractions, while magnets and eddy current separators remove ferrous and non-ferrous metals. A universal or fine shredder — often from the PowerLine series — produces a uniform, high-calorific fraction tailored to RDF or SRF requirements. This approach increases fuel quality, consistency, and processing stability.

Routine maintenance includes regular inspections, knife adjustments, wear part replacement, and cleaning. On the PowerLine, the user-friendly counter knife adjustment system helps maintain stable output quality even as wear progresses. Wear protection options, such as Vautid armoring, extend service life in abrasive environments. Establish a simple routine that includes daily visual checks, weekly inspections of bolts and seals, lubrication according to schedule, and periodic knife rotation or replacement. Maintenance intervals depend on contamination level, shift duration, and material mix.

Begin with your material list, the desired particle size, and your throughput targets. Assess feed form, density, contamination, and whether you need a pre-shredder (like PreCut) followed by a universal shredder (such as PowerLine). Select screen size and cutting geometry to match your downstream specifications. Plan for metal removal, consider wear protection for abrasive materials, and evaluate space, power requirements, and integration features — including digital support via WE.connect. Proper system design ensures stable performance and reduces long-term operating costs.