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Home | Fishing net shredder for recycling

Shredding & Recycling of Old Fishing Nets (Ghost Nets)

Sustainable shredder solutions for abandoned fishing nets and ropes – turn ghost nets into reusable raw material
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ghost nets waste before shredding
Used fishing net and ghost nets in front of a conveyor belt
View inside a shredder shredding green fishing nets
Shredded nylon fishing net on a conveyor belt
shredded, granulated and extruded fishing ropes in front of a weima shredder
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While fishing nets are an important tool for fisheries, they also pose a major threat to the marine environment. Every year, many tons of fishing nets end up in the oceans, where they become a serious threat to marine life. But there is hope: recycling fishing nets offers a sustainable solution to address this problem and recover valuable resources.

Through the targeted use of industrial shredders, old fishing nets and ropes can be effectively shredded and prepared for the further recycling process. The plastic flakes obtained are washed, melted and processed into high-quality regranulate – a valuable raw material for new products. This turns marine waste into a recycled material that protects both the environment and resources.

Customer applications: Fishing net shredding with WEIMA

Practical examples of successful shredding with WEIMA shredders
Loaded shredder conveyor belt with fishing nets
Fishing net shredding
Fishing nets (ghost nets) shredding with a WEIMA WLK 1500 at Yangil Enpla, Korea
At Yangil Enpla in Incheon, Korea, a WEIMA WLK 1500 single-shaft shredder is used to shred fishing nets and other fibers for recycling and the production of regranulate.
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shredded, granulated and extruded fishing ropes in front of a weima shredder
Fishing net shredding
Fishing nets and ropes recycling at HEALIX, Netherlands with WEIMA W5.22 plastic shredder
With the new Healix recycling center in Maastricht, founder Marcel Alberts is declaring war on drifting fishing nets and ropes. These pollute the oceans and endanger marine life. They are to be transformed into valuable raw materials on site using modern plastic recycling technology - led by the WEIMA W5.22 single-shaft shredder with hydraulic drive.
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Different types of colorful fishing nets, ropes and other fibers
Fishing net shredding
Shredding old fishing nets for recycling with a WEIMA W5.18 shredder
Watch as the powerful WEIMA W5.18 shredder tears through a variety of fishing nets with ease. This industrial shredder is designed to handle tough materials and can shred large volumes of waste quickly and efficiently.
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WEIMA CSO Kay trained in front of a glazed office
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WEIMA portfolio for shredding fishing nets

The right machine for every material
WEIMA WLK 1500 yksiakselinen murskain
Single-shaft shredder
WLK series
Machines in the WLK series are ideally equipped for a wide range of plastics tasks. The machine design is characterized in particular by its durability and robustness. Thanks to the conveyor belt cut-out, all machines can be seamlessly integrated into any production line. They also offer a wide range of options in terms of drive and cutting geometry.
To the machine
Single-shaft shredder
W5 series
With rotor lengths of 1,400 to 2,200 mm, the shredders in the W5 series shred large-volume plastic tanks and plastio garbage cans with ease. The hydraulically upward pivoting screen basket and the inspection flap allow foreign objects to be removed quickly and facilitate maintenance. Large quantities of plastic flakes can be removed via the wide conveyor belt cut-out.
To the machine
Single-shaft shredder
W8 PowerLine series
The machines in the PowerLine series can be used universally. Variable equipment and sizes enable precise adaptation to your specific requirements. The counter knives are user-friendly and can be adjusted from the outside and are protected by an additional cover plate.
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Example applications for the sustainable disposal of fishing nets

View inside a shredder shredding green fishing nets
ghost nets on ocean sea ground
ghost fishing nets in bales
size reduced ghost nets
Green regranulate made from old fishing nets
baled fishing nets ghost nets
white and blue ocean ropes inside a big bag
Nylon yarn inside a container
ghost nets waste before shredding
red pile of ropes
pelletized plastic waste with erema extruder
Fishing net extrusion
Used fishing net and ghost nets in front of a conveyor belt
white nylon pellets inside hands
Loaded shredder conveyor belt with fishing nets
Nylon plastic pellets made from fishing nets
Big bags full of PA6 and PA66 nylon pellets from recycled nets, 2 men in front of it
Request now the right shredder for plastic fishing nets Request quote

Designed for fibers such as fishing nets: The F-Rotor

The optimum coordination of rotor, blade and counter blade is crucial for the shredding result. Choosing the right components for the material requires a great deal of experience. The F rotor, specially designed for fibres, is characterized by its controlled feed behaviour.

By the way: For particularly abrasive or contaminated materials, we recommend a wear protection jacket made of Vautid.

More about cutting technology

F rotor for fibers, veneer, ropes, strings and big bags

WEIMA F rotor for flexible material

Recycling of fishing nets

The most important facts at a glance
white and blue ocean ropes inside a big bag
ghost nets waste before shredding
What material are fishing nets made of?
Fishing nets can be made from a variety of materials – but primarily nylon (PA6 or PA66), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and occasionally cotton. Nylon nets are known for their strength and durability, while polyethylene and polypropylene nets are resistant to wear and corrosion. Cotton nets are still mainly used in certain traditional or artisanal fishing methods. The choice of material depends on the specific requirements of the fishery and the local environmental conditions.
ghost nets on ocean sea ground
fishing nets floating in ocean
What are ghost nets?
The English term ghost nets (first used by researchers in the 1990s) is used to describe lost, (deliberately) abandoned fishing nets drifting in the sea. This global problem is widely reported in the media. Ghost nets pose a serious threat to the marine environment and are literally a ghostly invisible, yet dangerous and persistent threat to our oceans worldwide.
turtle wrapped in fishing nets on a boat
What makes ghost nets so dangerous?
Lost fishing nets, so-called ghost nets, often drift unchecked through the world's oceans for years. They do not decompose, entangle marine life and threaten entire ecosystems. But instead of leaving this plastic waste in the sea, it can be recovered as a valuable resource. Through targeted recovery and subsequent recycling, hazardous marine litter can be turned into a reusable raw material. This not only protects the marine environment, but also makes an important contribution to the circular economy and the sustainable use of plastics.

Source: WWF
Green shredded fishing nets in a big bag
Green regranulate made from old fishing nets
Fishing net recycling: how old nets are shredded and recycled
The recycling process for fishing nets and ghost nets begins with shredding. An industrial shredder for fishing nets reduces the volume, separates impurities and produces uniform ground material. This ensures that the material is optimally prepared for further processing. The shredded plastic nets are cleaned in washing systems, then melted in an extruder and extruded into high-quality regranulate. This can be used as a raw material for new products such as textiles, yarn, packaging or carpets. By recycling fishing nets, valuable plastics are recovered, marine waste is reduced and the circular economy is actively promoted in the area of plastics recycling.
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Did you know?
Greenpeace estimates that every year about 30 million tons of so-called bycatch are produced, which often die in agony in nets.

Source: Greenpeace

Free material tests in the WEIMA technical center
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Success stories

Fishing net recycling with WEIMA
WEIMA shredder at Healix opening ceremony
April 8, 2022

Ghost(net)buster in the Netherlands

Marcel Alberts has declared war on so-called Ghost Nets – left-over, floating fishing nets and ropes that pollute the world’s oceans. Using state-of-the-art technology for plastics recycling, the aim of his Dutch company Healix is to turn this linear waste into a product on site and create a circular economy. At the forefront of the process chain is a WEIMA W5.22 single-shaft shredder.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Fishing Net Shredding

Everything you need to know about safely and efficiently shredding fisher nets.
How does a fishing net shredder work?

A fishing net shredder reduces nets into uniform Flakes that are easier to clean and recycle. Inside the machine, a single rotating shaft equipped with knives pulls the nets in and shears them against a counter knife. A screen beneath the rotor retains the material until it reaches the defined size. This controlled size reduction lowers volume, improves handling, supports dirt removal, and prepares the plastic for washing, melting, and pelletizing.

Do fishing nets need to be pre-cleaned before shredding?

Perfect cleanliness is not required, but basic pre-sorting is recommended. Large metal parts, stones, or thick steel cables should be removed to protect the rotor and knives. Typical components such as floats, knots, and rope sections can be processed without issue. Light dirt and moisture are acceptable, as washing usually follows shredding. Proper pre-sorting helps extend tool life and maintain stable uptime.

Can the shredder handle wet, sandy, or salty fishing nets?

Yes, wet and salty nets can be shredded without issue. The main challenge is abrasive contaminants such as sand, stones, or metal fragments, which can accelerate wear. Removing heavy grit before shredding helps protect knives and bearings and keeps uptime high. Many recycling lines include washing and separation steps after shredding to remove remaining impurities and stabilize material flow.

Is this setup suitable for nylon and polypropylene fishing nets?

Yes. WEIMA single-shaft shredders are designed for common fishing-net polymers such as nylon (PA) and polypropylene (PP), including mixed rope and net structures. Models like the WLK 1500 and the W5 series are proven in fiber-based applications. The W5.22, with its hydraulic drive, is particularly well suited for tough pulls and uneven material loads. For very dense bundles or thick ropes, a larger hopper or a pre-shredding step can improve feeding consistency.

What happens after the fishing nets are shredded?

After shredding, the Flakes are typically washed, dried, melted, and extruded. Washing removes salt, sand, and organic residues, while drying prepares the material for extrusion. The clean Flakes are then melted and pelletized into regranulate. This mechanical recycling route is the standard process for recovering plastics from fishing nets and similar gear.

What is the difference between the WLK 1500 and the W5.22 for fishing nets?

Both machines are suitable for fishing nets, but they address different operating conditions. The WLK 1500 is a proven single-shaft shredder for fiber residues and nets, delivering consistent Flake size through a screen-based system. The W5.22 features a hydraulic drive, allowing it to start and reverse under load, which is advantageous for heavy ropes, knots, and irregular feeding. The best choice depends on material mix, required throughput, desired Flake size, and feed consistency.