New England shredder deepens footprint with upgrade

Connecticut recycler and used auto part supplier Chuck and Eddies is upgrading its existing shredder in New Haven with a larger system as it looks to increase efficiency and deepen its footprint in New England.

The New Haven-based company has purchased Stamford, Connecticut-based Rubino Brothers' shredder after it decided to exit the shredding business earlier this year.

"We are done shredding," Anthony Rubino told Argus, noting that the company will continue to operate at its current location without a shredder.

Roxanne Ackerson, president of Chuck and Eddies, told Argus that the company outgrew its existing 1,000-horsepower shredder, which prompted it to buy the larger 2,000-horsepower machine from Rubino Brothers.

Chuck and Eddies installed its existing shredder in New Haven eight years ago but has since added more feeder yards to its portfolio. Its current feedstock volumes generated at its yards has outpaced the shredder's operational capacity.

"We are having to work seven days a week to get our own feeder yard material through," Ackerson said.

The new shredder will increase ferrous shredded scrap and zorba output by 50pc, said Ackerson, who added that the company now will no longer need to sell feedstock to other shredders in the area.

The additional shredder capacity also positions Chuck and Eddies to add more feeder yards in the region. It is looking at adding a new feeder yard in Connecticut and Massachusetts, Ackerson said.

The company is in the process of completing site work for the shredder installation, with the new system expected to be completed and running in less than three months.

Chuck and Eddies operates feeder yards in Hartford, Southington and Somers in Connecticut, as well as North Hampton, Massachusetts. The company also owns Chase Waste Materials in North Haven, which specializes in nonferrous scrap collection and processing.

By Brad MacAulay