Abstract: The invention relates to a device for comminuting empty containers, particularly beverage bottles or cans made of plastic, particularly of PET or of tinplate, comprising a housing provided with a filling opening and with a discharge opening, and comprising a cutting unit mounted inside the housing and means for driving and controlling the cutting unit. The cutting unit contains at least two cutting rollers, which are mounted at a distance from one another with regard to their rotation axes, and the cutting mechanism containing the cutting rollers is a document shredder cutting mechanism.