Design and Fabrication of a PET Plastic Shredder

Abstract

Plastic waste management has become a serious environmental concern due to the rapid increase in the use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. Mechanical recycling through shredding is one of the most effective methods to reduce plastic waste volume and facilitate reuse. This paper presents the design and fabrication of a low-cost PET plastic shredder suitable for small-scale recycling applications. Design calculations were carried out for the shaft, blades, bearings, and power transmission system. The machine was fabricated using locally available materials and tested for performance. Experimental results show that the shredder efficiently converts PET bottles into uniform flakes with stable operation and low power consumption, making it suitable for community-level recycling.