Shredding is a method for the disposing of woody plant material in which it is rendered into small shreds or chips. Shredding is performed using a special machine, models of which range in size from small garden units capable of shredding leaves and small branches from bushes to units capable of shredding the branches of large trees. Shredding is typically performed to reduce the volume of material for transport to refuse or to render the material into a form that may be easily composted or used as a mulch.