Power, durability, and partnership: all elements for success

3 Nov 2025

The global construction and demolition industry is changing; rising costs and stricter regulations to reduce landfill waste and reclaim wood and other recyclables, along with sustainability targets becoming an increasingly urgent and a key priority, means that establishing reliable, environmentally responsible construction and demolition recycling plants is essential. 

GreenWay Recycling, a mixed construction, demolition sorting, and processing company, which operates in Northwest Portland, Oregon, USA, has relied upon an all-electric grinding solution from Bruks Siwertell company, West Salem Machinery (WSM), for well over a decade.

With a focus on reliability, longevity, and cost efficiency, the WSM machine has helped maintain seamless operations while minimizing costs, and even contributed to GreenWay Recycling being named construction and demolition (C&D) ‘Recycler of the Year’ in 2024, by the US Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA).

A partnership that delivers

In 2008, GreenWay Recycling made a game-changing decision, it purchased a previously-owned and refurbished horizontal-fed 4864 model grinder from WSM. It was completely rebuilt, installed with a new motor, and made ready for long-term performance. Over 15 years later, this same grinder is still in operation, handling a relentless workload with minimal downtime.

GreenWay Recycling’s facility operates on a small footprint, leaving no room for material storage. The company relies upon its equipment to work without interruption, making the dependability on WSM machinery even more critical.

GreenWay Recycling’s founder and CEO, Terrell Garrett, shares how his partnership with WSM has been instrumental in the company’s success. “We have had a great ongoing relationship over all these years,” says Garrett. 

A defining moment in GreenWay’s relationship with WSM came in 2014 when the 4864 grinder struck a large piece of iron, bending the center shaft 3.8cm (1.5in) out of alignment. The situation could have halted operations indefinitely, but WSM stepped in immediately.

“WSM dropped everything to help us,” Garrett recalls. “They pushed aside some manufacturing that was scheduled and got us back up and running. They took care of us on all the replacement parts and really acted as our business partner.”

Challenges drive innovation

From this challenging situation came innovation. Recognizing that the grinder was hitting a lot of tramp metal, and the risk of encountering further larger pieces, which could pose a significant problem to its operations, WSM introduced the limited swing hammer; a design now widely used in its machines. “It does a great job of grinding, but it also helps protect the equipment when we hit big iron,” Garrett explains.

Currently, GreenWay Recycling is the only company in the Portland metro area operating a large stationary all-electric grinder, setting the construction, demolition and recycling industry standard for efficiency and environmental protection.

“Quite frankly, I don’t understand why everybody doesn’t have one,” says Garrett. “They can take the tramp metal; they can take the hits. They are also durable, having a 2.5-inch wear liner; we are still running the same wear liners we started with back in 2008, we have not worn them out yet.

“These WSM machines just run and run and run. You treat them as a heavy industrial machine and do preventive maintenance and replacements, and they last forever,” notes Garrett. 

Electrics offer a clear advantage

Garrett also firmly believes in the benefits of electric over diesel-powered machinery. “The cost savings are significant, not having to change the oil all the time, avoiding engine and clutch issues, and dealing with fewer moving parts overall,” he says. “There are considerable costs that we avoid, which others have to absorb. So, it is not just about consistency and reliability; it is also about lower operating costs.”

WSM stationary electric-drive wood-processing machinery has been delivered since 1947. Switching to electric-drive wood-processing equipment can often transform operations. Compared with diesel-driven or hydraulic-driven alternatives, electric drives deliver substantial environmental and operational advantages to users. They are quiet, clean, highly efficient, and deliver stepless, precise controls, and also offer substantial energy savings, which reduces operating costs.

Furthermore, all-electric equipment is easy to maintain and is relatively simple to integrate and install, and condition-monitor, where applicable, through the use of all electric components.

Built for the future

Over the years, GreenWay has expanded its investment in WSM products, incorporating vibrating screens, conveyors, and disc screens into its operations. Each addition reinforces the company’s trust in WSM’s engineering and technology and in its customer service.

“The relationship with WSM has developed into a friendship,” Garrett notes. “We have a great back-and-forth dynamic. It has been an excellent ongoing relationship.”

WSM has a reputation for designing tough, long-lasting equipment, ideally suited to the demanding construction and demolition recycling sector. When combined with all electric-powered solutions, with their excellent environmental and efficiency capabilities, customer-focused service, and forward-thinking innovations, WSM ensures that companies, like GreenWay, are able to continue to thrive.

GreenWay Recycling’s success story is a testament to the power of making the right investment, not just in equipment, but in a trusted partner.

Please visit the WSM website to learn more about our recycling processes and offerings.