Urban Pruning Processing for Composting, Biomass and Mulch
Municipalities and landscaping companies deal with growing volumes of branches, trunks and pruning waste that cost R$ 80-150/ton to dispose in landfills. Shredding turns this cost into revenue: biomass chips are worth R$ 50-200/ton depending on application.
Process
- Collection and transport — Prunings collected from parks, streets, squares and green areas, transported to processing center.
- Sorting (optional) — Removal of heavy contaminants (plastics, large metals).
- Primary shredding — PR4000 or PR5000 — Branches and trunks fed whole (trunks > 40 cm may require pre-cutting). High-torque, low-rotation rotors (20-40 RPM) process green materials with soil, sand and rocks. Slip clutch and automatic reverse. Particle size: 50-200 mm. Throughput: up to 20 ton/h (PR4000) or 30 ton/h (PR5000).
- Magnetic separation — Removal of nails, wires and staples. Clean biomass is worth 20-40% more.
- Particle size classification — Disc Classifier — Separation into 2-3 fractions:
| Fraction | Particle Size | End Use |
|---|---|---|
| Fine | < 20 mm | Composting, poultry bedding |
| Medium | 20-80 mm | Energy biomass, RDF, mulch |
| Coarse | > 80 mm | Return for reprocessing |
Without classification, mixed chips are worth 30-50% less.
End Uses and Value
| Application | Particle Size | Indicative Value |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerated composting | 20-80 mm | R$ 150-400/ton (final compost) |
| Energy biomass (boilers) | 20-100 mm | R$ 80-150/ton |
| Landscaping mulch | 10-50 mm | R$ 50-150/m3 |
| RDF | 20-80 mm | NCV 3,500-4,500 kcal/kg |
| Poultry bedding | 10-50 mm | Steady demand in poultry market |
Equipment: PR4000 and PR5000
| Feature | PR4000 | PR5000 |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 300 hp | 400 hp |
| Feed area | 2,000 x 1,600 mm | 2,500 x 2,000 mm |
| Rotor diameter | 680 mm | 890 mm |
| Rotation | 20-40 RPM | 20-40 RPM |
| Output size | 100-400 mm | 100-400 mm |
| Estimated throughput | Up to 20 ton/h | Up to 30 ton/h |
Bolted blades with replaceable Hardox inserts (change in 30-60 min, no welding). Optional REGEN system reduces demand peaks and energy costs by up to 15%.
Learn about the PR Series → | Disc Classifiers →
Typical Line Configurations
- Basic: PR4000/PR5000 > Conveyor > Storage
- Intermediate: PR4000/PR5000 > Magnetic Separator > Conveyor > Storage
- Complete: PR4000/PR5000 > Magnetic Separator > Disc Classifier > Conveyors > Storage by fraction
Operator Profile
- Municipalities and urban cleaning concessionaires paying R$ 80-150/ton to dispose prunings in landfills.
- Landscaping and arboriculture companies with constant green waste volumes.
- Organic compost producers needing a carbon source (“brown” material) to balance organic waste.
