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When people think about recycling, they often picture plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, or food scraps. But metal waste is just as common, and just as important to recycle. The problem is, metal doesn’t break down easily, and in many cases, it’s bulky, awkward, and tough to handle. That’s where a metal shredder comes in.
At Material Recovery Solutions, we know that a good metal shredder can handle a wide range of metal types. Whether it’s ferrous or non-ferrous metals, custom-built shredders are designed to break them down, making it easier to recycle or dispose of them properly.
Let’s explore different types of metals a metal shredder can process
…and why custom shredders are the smart solution for waste businesses, landfills, and recyclers.
Ferrous metals: strong, heavy, and everywhere
Ferrous metals are metals that contain iron. They’re usually strong, magnetic, and prone to rust when exposed to moisture. These metals are used widely in construction, manufacturing, and household items, so they show up in all sorts of waste streams.
Common ferrous metals include:
- Steel
- Cast iron
- Wrought iron
If you’ve ever tossed out an old washing machine, car parts, or building scraps like steel beams or pipes, you’ve seen ferrous metal waste in action. It’s heavy, durable, but takes up a lot of space when discarded. That’s where the metal shredder comes into play.
A custom metal shredder is built to handle the strength of ferrous metals. These shredders are designed with powerful cutting systems and tough hydraulic drives that can slice through even thick steel. At Material Recovery Solutions, we build custom shredders that can take these tough materials and reduce them to smaller, more manageable pieces, making them easier to sort, recycle, or dispose of.
Shredding ferrous metals is essential because it makes the recycling process more efficient. Once shredded, steel and iron pieces can be magnetically separated from other materials, sent to steel mills, and turned back into new products. Without a metal shredder, this process would be much harder and more expensive.
Non-ferrous metals: lightweight but valuable
Non-ferrous metals don’t contain iron, so they’re not magnetic and usually more resistant to rust and corrosion. Even though they’re often lighter than ferrous metals, they’re just as important to recycle, in fact, some are even more valuable.
Common non-ferrous metals include:
- Aluminium
- Copper
- Brass
- Zinc
- Nickel
- Lead
You’ll find non-ferrous metals in all kinds of products: aluminium cans, copper wiring, plumbing pipes, window frames, electronics, and even car parts. The tricky thing with non-ferrous metals is that, while they’re softer than ferrous metals, they still need specialised equipment to shred them properly.
That’s why a custom metal shredder is so useful. Unlike standard shredders that might only handle general waste, a metal shredder designed for non-ferrous metals can process these materials without damaging the machinery or losing efficiency. For example, copper wiring can easily get tangled, but a well-designed shredder can break it down into small, uniform pieces.
At Material Recovery Solutions, our custom shredders are made to tackle both ferrous and non-ferrous metals with the right balance of power and precision. This flexibility is crucial for recycling facilities that deal with mixed metal waste.
Why it matters to separate ferrous and non-ferrous metals
Separating ferrous and non-ferrous metals isn’t just about organisation, it’s about value. Non-ferrous metals like copper and aluminium can fetch high prices on the recycling market. But if they’re mixed in with steel or iron, it becomes difficult and costly to separate them.
A metal shredder helps by breaking everything down to a size where sorting becomes easier. Magnets can quickly pull out the ferrous metals, while the non-ferrous materials can be separated using other methods, like eddy current separators. This makes the whole recycling process smoother and more profitable.
For waste operators, recyclers, and landfill managers, having a metal shredder on-site makes a real difference. Instead of sending mixed metal waste straight to landfill, they can process it, separate it, and either recycle it themselves or sell it to metal recovery companies.
Custom shredders built for the job
Not all metal shredders are created equal. The type of metal, the size of the waste, and the volume being processed all play a role in what kind of shredder you need. That’s why off-the-shelf solutions often fall short.
At Material Recovery Solutions, we specialise in building custom shredders that match your exact needs. If you’re mainly dealing with heavy steel waste, we’ll design a robust metal shredder with the strength to cut through thick, dense materials. If your facility handles a lot of lighter, non-ferrous metals, we can adjust the design to optimise for those materials.
We also build shredders that can handle mixed waste streams, switching between ferrous and non-ferrous processing as needed. This level of customisation helps businesses get the most out of their investment, because a metal shredder should work for you, not the other way around.
Other benefits of using a metal shredder
Having a metal shredder isn’t just about breaking down metals, it brings a range of benefits:
- Space-saving: Shredded metals take up far less room than bulky waste.
- Improved safety: Smaller pieces are easier and safer to handle.
- Better transport: Shredded metals are easier to move and store.
- Increased recycling rates: Proper shredding makes sorting metals faster and more accurate.
- Cost savings: Less landfill space used and more materials recovered for resale.
Whether you’re a landfill operator, recycling facility, or industrial business, having a reliable metal shredder can change the way you manage metal waste.
Our commitment to smarter metal recycling
At Material Recovery Solutions, we’re not just building machines, we’re helping businesses across Australia improve how they handle waste. Our Australian-designed metal shredders are made to withstand the toughest materials, built with durability and efficiency in mind.
We believe that smart waste management starts with the right tools, and a custom metal shredder is one of the best tools you can have. If you’re dealing with metal waste, whether ferrous, non-ferrous, or a mix of both, we can help design a shredding system that suits your operation.
Ready to improve your recycling process or landfill operation? Get in touch with Material Recovery Solutions to chat about a custom metal shredder that suits your business goals.
