Lead Shot Recovery Equipment – Historical Green Machine & Current Systems
See The Green Machine In Action
Requires Windows Media Player or Realplayer
This article concludes with the voiceover for an excellent video showing The Green Machine
in action (see hyperlink above).
Updated 25 February 2026 because the above film is archival footage of an early-generation
lead shot recovery unit known as the “Green Machine”.
Please note that The LEAD Group is a charity running an independent
information service as well as the Lead Safe World Project of which Green
Range and Lead Pro Aus is a Lead Safe Partner as of 2026.
Historical Background
The “Green Machine” was an early surface lead recovery unit that operated in Australia
during the early 2010s.
The machine was used to extract accumulated lead shot from clay target shooting grounds as
part of environmental management programs.
That equipment was decommissioned in 2014 following the transition to newer, purpose-
built recovery systems.
Current Lead Recovery Operations in Australia
Lead shot recovery at shooting facilities is now undertaken using custom-designed
equipment engineered specifically for Australian conditions.
Lead Pro Aus Pty Ltd operates “Lead Miner” recovery units, Lead Miner #1 and Lead Miner
#2, both manufactured in Wisconsin, USA and imported into Australia. These machines
were introduced following the retirement of earlier equipment and remain operational today.
Modern recovery systems are designed to:
• Recover surface lead shot from managed fall
zones
• Reduce operator exposure
• Minimise manual handling
• Support licensed recycling pathways
• Operate in accordance with environmental
and workplace safety requirements
Recovered lead is processed through approved
recycling facilities.
Environmental Management Context
Clay target shooting produces accumulated lead
shot over time. Responsible management of
this material is an important part of long-term
site sustainability.
Surface recovery is typically conducted as part
of broader site management programs, which
may include:
• Containment systems
• Fall zone management
• Surface maintenance
• Ongoing monitoring
Lead Pro Aus Pty Ltd works nationally with shooting clubs and facility operators to assist
with sustainable lead recovery practices.
For current information regarding lead shot recovery services in Australia:
Director: Craig Mitchell
Chief Operating Officer: Sharon Mitchell
office@leadproaus.com.au
www.leadproaus.com.au ; www.greenrange.com.au/leadpro
www.greenrange.com.au/leadpro
See the Volcano Art Prize 2026 Video showing ShotStop Shooting Curtain System and Lead
Pro Aus “Lead Miner” machine collecting spent lead ammunition (for later recycling) from
shooting range soil, at https://volcanoartprize.com/portfolio-item/green-range-and-lead-
pro-aus/
VOICEOVER / TRANSCRIPT for archival Green Machine video
Text by Robert McClelland of LeadPro
Clay target shooting has proved itself to be one of the world’s most popular shooting
pastimes, with tens of thousands of recreational shooters worldwide enjoying this popular
pastime every week.
An unfortunate by-product of clay target shooting has always been the tonnes of lead shot
left behind to leach into the ground and waterways causing untold environmental damage.
Until now, this lead shot has not been easily recycled.
Using a revolutionary process, the Green Machine extracts approximately 95 percent of lead
shot from the ground.
Operating at levels down to 250 millimetres below the surface, the Green Machine extracts
and cleans in a single pass over the affected area.
The extracted shot is ejected from the machine into readily available and easy to handle 44
gallon drums.
Each drum weighs in at 1.25 tonnes when full.
The Extracted shot is 95 percent clean so there’s no need for extra refining after extraction.
The specialised gear system allows the unit to travel at less than 1 kilometre per hour.
In fact, when the green machine is operating, the prime mover is not running at all.
From the time the green machine arrives at a location it can be fully operational within an
hour.
And depending on the size and length of operation of the gun club, the green machine can
extract up to 4 tonnes of lead shot per hour.
The machine has the capacity to operate 24 hours per day using an overall crew of just 2
people per shift.
If need be the machine itself can be economically operated using just one person per shift.
The green machine is a low maintenance, hydraulically operated lead shot extraction system
that relies only on readily available hydraulic equipment and standard bearings. This reduces
any down time due to wear and tear to a complete minimum.
In 1999, LeadPro was developing modifications to the green machine that will enable the
extraction of lead shot and slugs from rifle and pistol clubs and military ranges.
We expect this unique recycling function to be available early in the year 2000.
Lead shot, when extracted by other means, is currently dumped into toxic waste sites instead
of the environmentally friendly solution of recycling.
The green machine ensures that this valuable commodity is re-used for such purposes as
bullets, batteries, boat keels, ballast and even straight back to new shot gun cartridges.
Lead shot is in high demand around the world as a readily saleable commodity, but until now
it has been almost impossible to extract in a user friendly form. And the benefit to the
environment is incalculable.
It's taken 4 years for LeadPro Australia to perfect the green machine.
We believe that this system has huge potential for any investor, not only for use in gun clubs,
but also on government sites and military installations.
In summary, LeadPro Australia believes that the green machine is a one of a kind lead shot
extraction system with high yield returns and reliability second to none.
