Like most service equipment, organic waste management equipment can be very specialized to perform a specific task or more general to perform several tasks. Below are explanations of typical equipment used for the management of organic debris and tips for selecting equipment. (Types and Attributes,  Equipment Selection)

Types and Attributes

 Horizontal Grinder

Horizontal grinders can process 100 – 250 cubic yards per hour of dry or green woods. Organic debris is laid horizontally onto conveyers which bring the material to the grinder. The end product typically is a strip of wood from ½” up to 4” long depending on material and equipment settings. These units can be small and mobile or very large and stationary.

Horizontal grinders allow for easy material loading by placing the materials on vertical conveyers. Loaded material does not need much manipulation past initial loading. Also, the material loading area is typically much lower to the ground than the typical tub grinder. This type of equipment is known to generally perform best when processing long and consistent organic materials.

 Tub Grinder

Tub grinders can process 50 – 150 cubic yards per hour of dry or green woods. Organic debris vertically loaded into the top of tub. The end product typically is a strip of wood from ½” up to 4” long depending on material and equipment settings. These units are typically manufactured to be mobile.

Tub grinders are limited by the depth of the tub and may require extra equipment for loading and load management. Longer debris materials may be difficult to load since they must be loaded vertically into the tub. These materials need to be lifted into the tub and then placed vertically.

This type of equipment is known to process large-diameter materials such as tree stumps and/or root balls and loose material.

 Slow Speed Shredder

Slow speed shredders can process 100 – 500 cubic yards per hour of wood wastes or source separated organic materials. This large range in cubic yards processed per hour is determined by the type and consistency of the material being processed. The end product typically is a strip of wood from 6” up to 24” in length. These units are designed to be very mobile.

 Wood Chipper

Wood chippers process tree limbs and produce a chipped end product. The branches are loaded horizontally and pushed into the chipper. These units are designed to be extremely mobile.

 Equipment Selection

Whether selecting a service provider or purchasing your own equipment, it is important to have a working knowledge of what the attributes of the equipment are and how these may fit your needs.

Below are some general questions to ask yourself when determining what type of equipment you may need for your organic waste management situation.

• What type of material will I be processing?
• How frequently will I be processing this material?
• How many laborers will I be able to assign to the equipment operation?
• Will the consistency of the material to be processed change frequently?
• Where will the material be processed?
• How large will the processing area be?
• Will the processing area be open to the public?
• Would I need to expand my equipment maintenance facilities or capabilities?
• Would I want the equipment to have the ability to be easily transported to a new site?
• What hauling equipment do I currently have and what hauling capabilities/requirements does the equipment have?
• What will be done with the processed material?