The Use for Industrial Shredders in Casino & Resort Waste Processing

The EPA has focused on developing sustainability initiatives for U.S. casinos and resorts since the 1990s. During this time, the casino industry has also been proactive about improving its sustainability and waste reduction efforts—with locations like MGM Grand Casino in Detroit, Michigan, aiming to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030.

As part of those waste reduction efforts, casinos and resorts have implemented various strategies, like incorporating industrial shredders into their waste processing operations.

The Importance of Shredders in Industrial Waste Processing

Industrial shredders are important in reducing the volume of waste generated by casinos and large resorts. This includes not just plastic and paper waste but food waste, too. Food waste is a known issue across the casino and resort industry, with recent studies estimating that Las Vegas alone produces more than five billion pounds of waste (much of it from food) each year.

So, to combat this, casinos and resorts often use industrial shredding equipment to pre-process waste for anaerobic digestion, composting, and recycling.

Preconditioning waste also provides other benefits other than volume reduction. Those benefits include:

• Reduces Hauling Costs: This is arguably the most significant benefit industrial shredders offer. By reducing the volume of waste, more can be transported in a single trip, reducing the number of trips required. This helps lower fuel consumption, as well as labor and disposal costs.
• Prevents Equipment Damage: Shredders can reduce non-organic materials like plastics, which might otherwise slow down processes like anaerobic digestion or damage processing equipment.
• Improved Material Separation: By breaking down complex items, shredders can aid in the separation and sorting of recyclable materials.
• Improved Quality & Safety for Composting: Preconditioning waste helps promote a more uniform compost mixture and can break down harmful pathogens present in organic waste and exposing plastics that need to be separated, resulting in safer and more fertile compost. Additionally, properly shredder material reduces the likelihood of the compost pile becoming too compacted, which can produce foul odors and attract pests. 
• Speeds Up Processes: In applications like anaerobic digestion and composting, shredders can help accelerate decomposition. By breaking down organic waste into smaller particles, the surface area available for microbial activity is increased. Additionally, smaller particle sizes also prevent the formation of clumps, which could inhibit these processes.
• Higher Biogas Yields: Shredders help create a more homogenous waste stream, which improves the consistency and efficiency of anaerobic digestion.

JWC Environmental’s Recommended Shredders for Casinos & Resorts

JWC Environmental’s Monster Industrial® shredders, including the 1-SHRED, 3-SHRED, 4-SHRED-2, and 7-SHRED-2 are ideal for many wet-and-dry applications, including digestion/biogas, recycling, and food waste management.

All of the shredders in this series feature dual-shafted teeth that operate at low speed and with high torque to drastically reduce the volume of tough materials like bones and plastic. They’re also compact and can be easily adapted to most applications with little or no modification, feature customizable cutters, and have multiple motor and reducer options. All shredders can come available with customized hoppers and/or stands to improve application efficiency.

1-SHRED

The 1-SHRED is a compact unit designed for small waste processing applications. It comes standard with a 3-HP motor, although a 5-HP motor option is available, and has a throughput capacity of up to 43 ft³/hr. It features automated monitoring and controls and integrated steel scrapers to improve efficiency.

3-SHRED & 3-SHRED-2

The 3-SHRED comes standard with a 5-HP motor, though an even more powerful 10-HP motor is available on the upgraded 3-SHRED-2.

Other features of the 3-SHRED and 3-SHRED-2 include severe-duty seals, automated monitoring and controls to reduce interruptions and optimize overall performance, integrated steel scrapers to improve efficiency, and optional food-grade nickel-plated housing. The throughput capacity can be up to 141 ft³/hr, depending on the model.

4-SHRED-2

The 4-SHRED-2 is designed to handle harsher and higher-volume solids reduction applications. This model features strong shafts and severe-duty seals to allow for high-impact solids loading, even more powerful motors ranging from 15 to 40 HP, depending on your facility’s specific needs, and a throughput capacity of up to 393 ft³/hr.

The 4-SHRED-2 has the same features as the 3-SHRED and 3-SHRED-2, including optional food-grade nickel-plated housing and stainless steel cutting chamber components.

7-SHRED-2

The 7-SHRED-2 is our top choice for extremely large jobs, as it’s our biggest and most powerful shredder. It can be configured with motors as powerful as 100 HP and can have a throughput capacity of up to 1,504 ft³/hr.

The 7-SHRED-2 has the same benefits as the other models, including automated monitoring and controls, integrated steel scrapers, and optional food-grade nickel-plated housing and stainless steel cutting chamber components. However, unlike the 3-SHRED and the 4-SHRED-2, the 7-SHRED-2 features rugged cast housing construction and direct gear drive to ensure it can operate efficiently in the most demanding environments.

Add a Monster to Your Waste Processing Strategy Today

For over three decades, JWC Environmental has been committed to engineering the most innovative and versatile industrial processing equipment on the market. Our industrial shredders are already helping casinos and resorts across the country achieve their waste reduction and sustainability goals.

Please contact us today to learn more about our industrial shredders—we can even provide a free grind test to ensure we provide you with the best solution for your facility.