PAPER SHREDDERS

Revision Date: 5/00
Process Code: Navy/Marines: PO-01-00; Air Force: OF01; Army: N/A
Usage: Navy: Medium; Marines: Medium;Army: Medium; Air Force: Medium
Compliance Impact: Low
Alternative for: Landfilling or Incineration
Applicable EPCRA Targeted Constituents: N/A
Overview: Shredders can be used to cut paper into approximately 1/2 inch strips to make it more suitable for composting or reuse as animal bedding or packing material. The primary materials targeted for shredding include non-recyclable paper, such as food contaminated paper and waxed paper, as well as paper generated in remote locations where recycling is not an option. Paper shredded for security purposes also can be diverted for these alternate uses. Shredding cuts the paper into strips, which has the effect of reducing the fiber length. Reducing fiber length is undesirable for recycling; therefore, shredding is not implemented in conjunction with recycling operations.

This technology processes paper that would not be acceptable to traditional recycling operations and it produces no new waste streams. The pollution prevention impact of this process is capturing and recycling a waste stream normally missed in recycling operations.
Compliance Benefit: Paper shredders permit composting or reuse of non-recyclable paper which decreases the amount of solid waste going to landfills and therefore, helps facilities to meet the requirements specified under Executive Order 13101 requiring executive agencies (e.g., DOD) to incorporate waste prevention and recycling in their daily operations. A paper shredder will increase electricity consumption. Under EO 12902, federal facilities are required to reduce energy consumption.

The compliance benefits listed here are only meant to be used as a general guideline and are not meant to be strictly interpreted. Actual compliance benefits will vary depending on the factors involved, e.g. the amount of workload involved.
Materials Compatibility:
No materials compatibility issues were identified.


Safety and Health: Safety issues for shredders concern the operation of power equipment. Operators should be specifically trained to use the shredder and exercise caution to keep limbs, clothing and hair from being caught up in the feed mechanism. Machinery should not be used if workers are on medication. Proper personal protective (PPE) equipment including gloves, eye protection, and hearing protection should be used if needed. Consult the base safety office and your local industrial health specialist to determine the proper PPE and the necessary training prior to using this technology. Consult your local industrial health specialist, your local health and safety personnel, and the appropriate MSDS prior to implementing this technology.


Benefits:
  • Permits composting and reuse of otherwise non-recyclable paper.
  • Potential reduction of 31.7% of waste currently disposed by diverting all paper products from landfill disposal (U.S. EPA, 1994).


Disadvantages:
  • Not appropriate for paper destined for recycling.


Economic Analysis: Typical Navy Application: at 1,500 tons/year generating ½-inch strips; capital cost - $35,000; operating cost - $200/year (does not include labor or electrical costs).

Assumptions:

  • Processes 1,500 tons/yr. of paper waste at 2 tons/hr.
  • Paper strips are used in an existing composting operation.
  • Produces 1,000 tons/yr. of compost.
  • Capital Costs: $35,000
  • Labor: 15 hrs/wk.
  • Labor costs: $30/hr.
  • Solid waste disposal costs: $30/ton
  • Landfill hauling costs: $5/ton
  • Hauling to on-base compost facility: $2/ton
  • Equipment maintenance: $200/yr.
  • Avoided topsoil purchases: $50/ton

Annual Operating Cost Comparison of Diversion Using Shredders and Disposal of Paper

 
Diversion
Disposal
Operational Costs:    
Labor: $23,400 $0
Landfill costs: $0 $45,000
Hauling costs: $3,000 $7,500
Maintenance: $200 $0
Total Operational Costs: $26,600 $52,500
Total Recovered Income: $50,000 $0
Net Annual Cost/Benefit: $23,400 -$52,500

Economic Analysis Summary

    Annual Savings for Diversion Method over Disposal: $75,900
    Capital Cost for Diversion Equipment/Process: $35,000
    Payback Period for Investment in Equipment/Process: 6 months

Click Here to view an Active Spreadsheet for this Economic Analysis and Enter Your Own Values.
Approving Authority: Approval is controlled locally and should be implemented only after engineering approval has been granted. Major claimant approval is not required.


NSN/MSDS:
Product NSN Unit Size Cost MSDS*
Model 007S-30 7490-01-390-6218 ea. $6,154.87  
Model 1550 CC 7490-01-390-6213 ea. $24,139.96  
Model Deskside SE 7490-01-390-6219 ea. $494.11  
Model 480 SC 7490-01-395-3342 ea. $2,049.31  
Model 4000 CC 7490-01-395-3071 ea. $1,630.16  
Model 2601C 7490-01-390-6242 ea. $1,737.95  

*There are multiple MSDSs for most NSNs.
The MSDS (if shown above) is only meant to serve as an example.

Points of Contact: Air Force:
Mr. Donald Hopson
U.S. Air Force Academy, 510 CES/CEV
8120 Edgerton Drive
Suite 40
Colorado Springs, CO 80840-2400
Phone: (719) 333-8393
 
Navy:
Mr. John Comstock
Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center
1100 23rd Avenue
Port Hueneme, CA 93043-4370
Phone: (805) 982-5315

Vendors: Allegheny Paper Shredders Corporation
P.O. Box 80
Old William Penn Highway East
Delmont,  PA   15626
Phone: (800) 245-2497 
FAX: (412) 468-5919
  Ameri-Shred Corporation
P.O. Box 46130
Monroeville,  PA   15146
Phone: (800) 634-8981 
FAX: (412) 798-7329
  Whitaker Brothers Business Machines
12410 Washington Avenue
Rockville,  MD   20852-1822
Phone: (301) 230-2800 
FAX: (301) 770-9217
URL: http://www.whitakerbrothers.com
  PCR, Inc.
North 591 County Road Pi
Coon Valley,  WI   54623
Phone: (608) 452-3651 
FAX: (608) 452-3031

Sources: Mr. John Comstock, Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center, May 1999.
Ameri-Shred Corporation, March 1995.
Allegheny Paper Shredders Corporation, March 1995.
Whitaker Brothers Business Machines, Inc., March 1995.
PCR, Inc., March 1995.
U.S. EPA Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1994 Update


[Back]