Traditionally, when you hear shredding, you instantly think of paper and you won’t be wrong, but the paper isn’t the only material you can shred. In the kitchen and gardens, waste materials can also be shredded to help make the environment look tidy and more appealing.
Here in this article, we’ll be discussing the best waster shredders for your kitchen.
Choosing Your Garden shredders and chippers
Garden Shredders comparison
Let’s take a look at some of the best shredders available and determine which Shredder you should choose when you need a garden or kitchen shredder.
Bosch AXT 25 TC Quiet Shredder
The name says it all, this is a quiet shredder that can be used in your garden without waking up your neighbours to a massive racket.
If you’re a homeowner, this may be the best electric shredder you can get. This is a less expensive model but it doesn’t hold a candle to this model, be sure to ask for the right product. Not only will you be able to shred leaves, but you can shred foliage and small wooden pieces.
This shredder has a very powerful motor that allows it to breakdown materials with ease. In addition to its shredding capacities, this machine can automatically clear blockages with the push of a button. It is worth noting that the machine is a bit ‘top heavy‘, so when moving it around – some caution is required.
Pros
- The garden shredder is an ideal option to have when shredding any garden or kitchen waste materials.
- It can shred a variety of branch types in as much as 230kg per hour.
- As far as quiet machines go, this Bosch shredder is right up there.
Cons
- Despite the large feed diameter entrance, you might struggle to fit tree limbs over 30 mm.
Handy Impact Shredder with Collection Box
It may not be able to shred branches with a diameter thicker than 45mm, but it shreds what it can effectively.
This makes maintenance and cleaning relatively easy. The blades of this shredder are not only sharp but are reversible as well. This helps to increase the durability of the shredder, and due to the sharpness of the blade, caution must be observed when using it.
One underrated feature of this shredder model is that it can be assembled in a short time by just about anyone. Custom made gloves need to be worn when you are placing logs and tree limbs to be shredded, just as additional protection for your hand on the blade.
Pros
- It can be moved easily thanks to its wheels
- It has a childproof switch
- It has a large water storage
Cons
- This Handy Impact works well but is a lot louder than the Bosch AXT 25 TC shredder
Dirty Pro Tools 2500-Watt Garden Shredder
If you’re on a budget and looking for quality, then this is the shredder for you.
There are very few limitations where the shredder is concerned, making it arguably the best value for money shredder purchase. It can handle all types of garden waste easily, it simply requires more time than most other shredders.
Pros
- Has a large waste collection
It has a very powerful motor
Cons
- It doesn’t work as fast as some of the shredders in this list
Makita UD2500/2 Electric Shredder
This is one shredder that you wouldn’t typically have if you just own a small garden.
- Easy-to-use control panel with automatic anti block system and forward / reverse switch
- Handholds on both sides allow firm hold while in use as well as easy transportation
- Easy transportation with large, rubberized wheels
The shredder is built to cater to a heavy workload. It comes supplied with a powerful motor, a large waste collection box and strong blades, making shredding very easy.
Pros
- A very large waste collection
- It has a powerful motor
Cons
- It is a large product
Stihl GH 370 S Petrol Garden Chipper / Shredder
From the name, you can probably tell that this shredder does not use electricity. It runs on petrol so if you don’t have an electric point close to you, you can still make it work. This makes this shredder the perfect choice if you don’t have a steady supply of power or if power tariffs are too expensive.
Equipped with a powerful motor, this shredder has blades that rotate as fast as 3000 RPM. The garbage chute is built with soundproofing features allowing the shredder to work seemingly in silence. This shredder can even shred red branches effortlessly without feeling the effects.
Pros
- It has tyres making it easy to move about
- The feed chute is built to be soundproof, thus cancelling out noise
It is built with your safety in mind
Cons
- These shredders from Stihl are very popular and tend to often be out of stock.
Sun Joe UK-CJ601E 14-Amp Electric Wood Chipper/Shredder
This is one of the best electrical shredders available in the market. As it runs on electricity, it doesn’t emit harmful gasses into the atmosphere and as such, is environmentally friendly.
- POWERFUL: 14 amp motor effectively chips and shreds branches up to 1. 5-inches thick. No...
- MULCHING: Ideal for turning branches and twigs into nutrient-rich garden mulch, reducing...
- PORTABLE: 6-inch wheels for easy portability
Also, this model is built with your safety in mind, as the shredder has an auto-off feature that is activated if the shredder is opened. This way, you aren’t at risk of being exposed to the blades active when you are cleaning the shredder. As there is no built-in garbage collector, you will have to clear the output out manually. Overall, this is a great shredder.
Pros
- Environmentally friendly
- Has in-built safety mechanisms
- Equipped with a powerful motor
Cons
- It doesn’t have a built-in waste collection area
Bosch AXT Rapid 2200 Garden Shredder
The shredder has one major limitation and that is the fact that it doesn’t shred branches and heavy woods very well.
- Fitted with 2200 W Bosch PowerDrive motor
- Patented large capacity hopper for quick and easy feed
- Practical plunger for increased material throughput
It can complete the task, it just can’t do it as effectively as most other shredders. Where leaves and other soft materials are concerned, this shredder is all you need. This makes it the ideal shredder to have at home for cleaning your backyard and garden.
Pros
- It is cheap
- It is equipped with reversible blades
- It operates silently
Cons
• It isn’t the most powerful shredder
Frequently Asked Questions about Garden Shredders
Are garden shredders worth it
If you own a number of trees or large shrubs in your garden, then a garden shredder will be worth its weight in gold. The same applies if you do home composting to help improve your garden soil type.
A garden shredder will you give you an easy way to maintain your garden by allowing you shred and slice trees and branches. These can then be composted or disposed off easier.
How to use garden shredder
When using any form of machinery or equipment in your garden, it is important to wear Personal Protective Equipment. Gloves, safety goggles, boots, and just some of the items you should have with you.
You then need to ensure that your garden shredder is on a flat surface and then slowly pass your tree limbs into it. In some cases, some additional tree limb cutting may be required to help ensure it fits.
You should keep an eye on the collection box as well, it can get filled pretty quickly
Can garden shredders shred plastic
It is not advisable to shred plastic in your garden shredder as hard plastic can get caught in the teeth of the shredder. A light bendable plastic (picture a Chinese takeaway bowl) will work but is best avoided if possible.
The other thing to remember is that plastic usually remains in the teeth of the shredder when churned out and can contaminate other organic material passed through the machine.
Can garden shredders shred cardboard
Most garden shredders are good for cutting and recycling cardboard – the key thing is to make sure that they contain no staples and are cut to fit. So it’s important to be aware of what the dimensions on your garden shredders are. You can then cut your cardboard to fit it.
It can then be added to your composter if required.
Can you hire garden shredders
Most stores that hire garden equipment have garden shredders available. How much it makes sense to hire one though will often depend on how long you need it for.
As the cost of hire can quickly increase if hired for an extended period of time.
If you know you have trees and branches that will regularly need to be maintained, then buying a garden shredder is the better option.
Whilst the shredder’s abilities are enough to determine the importance of your shredder, other factors can affect your choice. You need to consider the price, the power of the shredder, and how durable the shredder is. We hope this guide helps you.
