Shredding machine for recycling textile fibers and method

In a waste shredding machine having at least one shredding drum with teeth for shredding said waste, the improvement comprising said shredding machine further having:

• at least one perforated drum disposed upstream of said at least one shredding drum;
• a vacuum means for establishing a strongly reduced pressure within said at least one perforated drum;
• a first transporting means delivering said waste to be shredded to said at least one perforated drum;
• a second transporting means delivering said waste to be shredded from said at least one perforated drum to said at least one shredding drum;
• a separating means disposed downstream of said at least one shredding drum, separating said waste into sufficiently shredded waste and insufficiently shredded waste;
• and
• a duct interposed between said separating means and said at least one perforated drum such that said vacuum means draws said insufficiently shredded waste from said at least one separating means to said perforated drum.