Buying Used Waste and Recycling Machinery: What to Check

Buying used waste and recycling machinery is one of the bigger calls a yard can make. Get the right shredder, baler or trommel and it earns its keep quickly. Get it wrong and you are left with downtime, expensive wear parts and material sitting in the pile. Good used kit can cost a lot less than new and is often available now, instead of waiting months for a factory slot.

This guide covers the main machine types you will see on the market, what to check before you pay, and where to go for a deeper read. For a full walkthrough of shredders, balers, separation kit and complete plants, see the complete used waste and recycling machinery buyer’s guide on Machines on the Market, written by Richard Cross’s Stockport team.

Know what each machine is for

Start with the material you process and the output you need to sell or tip, then match the machine to that job.

Twin-shaft slow-speed shredders – primary shredding of bulky, tough or mixed streams such as commercial waste, wood, tyres and metals. High torque, tolerant of contamination. Typical brands on the used market include Lindner, M&J, Arjes and Terex Ecotec.
Single-shaft shredders – secondary shredding to a more controlled size, often with a screen. Common for RDF/SRF and plastics. The Untha XR range is a well-known example.
Balers and shear balers – compress cardboard, paper, plastics or scrap metal into dense bales that are cheaper to store and move. Shear balers cut and bale ferrous scrap in one process.
Trommels and screeners – separate by size, for example taking fines out of waste or grading compost and woodchip.
Separation kit – overband and drum magnets for ferrous, eddy current separators for aluminium and copper, and air separators for light film and paper.
Full plants – a shredder plus screening, separation, conveyors and controls already designed to work together. A used plant can save a lot versus building a line from new.

Mobile tracked or wheeled machines suit contractors and yards that move kit around. Static electric machines usually cost less per tonne to run once you have the power supply.

2024 Lindner Urraco 95 DK twin-shaft slow-speed shredder listed by Machines on the Market — Image: Machines on the Market — 2024 Lindner Urraco 95 DK slow-speed twin-shaft shredder

What to check before you buy

Hours and service history come first. Ask for the hour reading, recent work and any rebuilds on gearboxes or hydraulic pumps. On shredders, look closely at shafts, cutters, counter-knives and screens – wear parts are expensive and make a big difference to what the machine is worth.

Walk the machine for hydraulic leaks, listen for gearbox noise, and check that the control panel and PLC fire up cleanly. Confirm the kW rating against the power you have on site: a big electric static shredder can need a serious supply. Match claimed throughput and output size to what your customers actually want, and plan transport and installation before you agree a price, especially for large static units.

Ask for manuals, CE or UKCA marking, and check that guards and safety systems are in place. Wherever you can, see the machine running on material similar to yours. Machines on the Market’s used waste and recycling machinery buyer’s guide goes into each of these checks in more detail.

2023 M&J Pre Shred 4000 twin-shaft shredder listed by Machines on the Market — Image: Machines on the Market — 2023 M&J Pre Shred 4000 twin-shaft shredder

Idromec T800 diesel scrap metal shear baler listed by Machines on the Market — Image: Machines on the Market — Idromec T800 diesel scrap metal shear baler

Powerscreen 600 three-way split screener listed by Machines on the Market — Image: Machines on the Market — Powerscreen 600 three-way split screener

2018 Terex Ecotec TDS 820 twin-shaft shredder listed by Machines on the Market — Image: Machines on the Market — 2018 Terex Ecotec TDS 820 twin-shaft shredder

New vs used recycling machinery

New kit makes sense when you need a very specific layout, the latest control technology or a full manufacturer warranty. For many operators adding capacity, replacing a worn machine quickly, or starting a line on a budget, a well-maintained used machine is better value. Proven models from the major brands also tend to have parts and service support that is easy to find.

Where to look for stock

Browse current used waste and recycling machinery for sale on Machines on the Market, including shredders, shear balers, trommels, screeners and plant. You can also check plant and recycling kit listed by UK and Irish dealers on Plant And Tractor Trader, and sign up for new stock alerts so you hear when fresh machines land.

If you are selling a shredder, baler or plant as you upgrade, MOTM can help place it with UK and export buyers – details are in their buyer’s guide and on their site.

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