Can a wood chipper shred plastic?
According to National Geographic, plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues.
Some argue that the solution to this problem is wood chippers.
They thought these compact machines use the power of heat and force to shred plastic waste into small pieces.
Thinking they want to save the environment from plastic,…
…sometimes some people are tempted to put non-wood items…
…such as plastic or even put cardboard in a wood chipper.
But is that a good way? Is it safe? Are there no repercussions in doing so?
Let’s discuss more in this article.
Before we continue, we also have an article about PTO wood chippers that you might want to read about it.
And, if you are interested to get a new one, you can check out our blog.
Go here: The Best PTO Wood Chipper Reviews on Amazon! 2 Special Options For You!
Now let’s hear it from Helena…
I love how I live next to the woods.
Knowing that I have unlimited stock of wood I could burn to warm my family,
This is a very good thing!
However, I’m having difficulty cutting the woods all by myself.
Little did I know that I could use a wood chipper to cut and make the wood small.
I found some of the best wood chippers online.
But the question is I’m having a hard time choosing the best one that suits me.
Maybe you will turn out to have the same question as Helena.
Now check this out!
What is a Wood Chipper?
A wood chipper is a machine that chops wood and turns it into mulch,
…fertilizer, or compost. The machine cuts…
…and chops wood and separates the wood chips from the sawdust.
Then the wood chips are mixed with a dry fertilizer or compost,
…which is ready to be spread in the garden or put in the yard.
A chipper is a large power tool that you use outside to greatly reduce the amount of debris you have in your yard and make disposal much easier.”
Tom, author from woodchippy.com
You must understand this part…
A wood chipper is a tool that is used to make mulch
The process of using a wood chipper is simple.
You put the wood in the chipper, and then the machine chops the wood into small, dry, and light materials called chips.
The chips can be turned into fertilizer, compost, or mulch.
For best results, our advice for you is to know when to sharpen wood chipper blades.
Most wood chippers are electric-powered, but some are gasoline-powered.
Some chippers have a feeder, and some don’t.
There are many types of wood chippers,…
…but the most common types are wood chippers that chop wood into mulch,…
…and wood chippers that chop wood into mulch and firewood.
The mulch that is made by wood chippers is great for the soil,
…and it can be used for landscaping and gardening.
The mulch that is made by wood chippers is usually used for landscaping and gardening,
…and it is usually used for mulching and composting.
You must be wondering…
Why Using Wood Chipper to Cut Lawns?
Many homeowners are choosing to use a wood chipper to cut their lawns.
If you’re one of those people, you’re probably wondering what benefits wood chipper use has for you.
It’s a good question because there are many reasons to choose this method of lawn care.
If you want to see how to get the most out of your lawn care,
…it’s time to find out what a wood chipper can do for you.
Let’s figure it out together…
Can A Wood Chipper Shred Plastic
So, can a wood chipper shred plastic? Yes, it can! The wood chipper shreds everything, even plastic.
However, it is recommended to avoid adding any plastic to the wood chipper,…
…while some fragments of plastic can be run through without much trouble.
Many homeowners use their wood chipper to dispose of plastic,…
…but larger pieces of plastic can have the same impact as passing nails through the machine.
Even though thinner, less robust, and smaller pieces of plastic may travel through the chipper…
…without difficulty, there is still a potential that they will clog the machine and crack the chipper.
Furthermore, plastic fragments can be extremely sharp and easily pierce the skin.
So, can a wood chipper shred plastic?
Under the correct circumstances, wood chippers may shred plastic.
To prevent harm, it’s crucial to carefully follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
The plastic pellets that are produced might be utilized as fertilizer for crops or for other landscaping tasks.
When using your machine to shred plastic, make sure you are wearing safety gear and working in a secure place.
Keep Reading!
How To Use A Chipper Grinder For Plastic Shredding
- Put your material in the feed hopper (for most).
- You need to make sure that the material fits through the opening without being crushed.
- If not, then you should use a grinder screen or something similar.
- Start the machine by turning on its motor. Turn it off when you’re done using it. It’s best if you keep it running while you do other things like cooking or cleaning (if necessary).
- Once you start feeding the material into the chipper, watch for any debris that comes out because it may cause some issues. Also, be careful about throwing anything sharp into the chipper, as this could hurt someone.
- When it gets down to the last part of the material, turn off the feeder so that it stops working. Then, pull out the auger. This allows the ground material to fall back down through the bottom and get loaded into the bin again.
- Make sure the auger has enough space to slide out easily. If it doesn’t, try adjusting some parts around until it does.
- Clean out all the shavings that you have collected. This includes the screen itself. Most machines have an opening where you can dump them.
- After doing all this, just run the machine again. The next time you use it, you won’t have to go through the tedious process again, so long as you remember to clean out the screen first.
- Before discarding the remnants, let’s check their quality. We want to make sure they’re dry before disposing of them. If they’re wet, they might still burn in the trash can or the landfill.
- So how did it go? Did you find yourself enjoying the shredding experience? Let us know in the comments section below and share your thoughts.
Wood Chippers Exist In A Lot of Sizes
As people develop wood chippers from time to time, they now invent wood chippers in many sizes.
Usually, the home wood chipper starts at 6 inches and the largest is at 18 inches.
Let’s start with the small one!
Best Small Wood Chipper
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Silent
- Easy to Move
- Is a beast according to many that have use this product
- Has Safety locks!
Cons:
- The opening of the chipper is not for a huge trunk for sure.
What it could process:
Everything that fits its opening, such as small branches. Do not input anything bigger than that,…
…or overworked it. To make sure it will run for a long time,…
..you’re going to keep it working for only 1 and a half hours straight at maximum.
And then rest it to cool down for 20-30 minutes, if you’re going to need it for another round.
Best Medium-Sized Wood Chipper
Pros:
- 17:1 chipper—It cut the wood into small pieces!
- It works silently
- Budget-friendly
Cons:
- It works a little slower than the regular wood chipper since it cuts into smaller pieces
Best All-in-One Wood Chipper
Pros:
- You can mulch wood all the way you want—small or big chunks.
- Silent.
- gas powered.
- Max Capacity.
Cons:
- It’s too big for small chunks.
- It’s not budget-friendly.
So…
Sum Up
Do you know there are wood chippers that are electric-powered and gas-powered?
The electric one is so much more environmentally friendly,…
…and it doesn’t consume as much electricity as you imagine!
Finally…
Conclusion
We’ll be talking about the query “Can a Wood Chipper Shred Plastic” in this blog post.
We’ll provide you with the solution to this query and some pointers on how to shred plastic using a wood chipper.
Without further ado, continue reading to get all the information you require!
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use an electric or gas-powered wood chipper to cut through tough plastics?
This question cannot be answered with certainty…
…because it depends on the kind of wood chipper you are using and the particular kind of plastic you are attempting to cut through.
Because they have better torque and speed capabilities,…
…electric-powered wood chippers are typically more adaptable when it comes to working with tough polymers.
Gas-powered wood chippers, on the other hand, frequently have a larger cutting range,…
…which can make them better suited for harder materials like PVC tubing.
How can I avoid getting injured when shredding plastic with a wood chipper
You must put on appropriate body protection, safety glasses, and a dust mask when using a wood chipper to shred plastic.
Make several passes rather than trying to go straight for the throat…
…when shredding huge pieces of plastic; this will reduce contact between the blade and the material being shredded.
Additionally, prior to beginning, ensure sure the chipper is firmly fastened to your tractor.
Last but not least, make sure the blade guard is always down while in use.
