The present invention provides an environmentally-friendly, fully recyclable composite mining screen which has sufficient rigidity to replace existing metal and metal covered plastic mining screens. The inventive composite screen insert contains stiff reinforcing fibers (glass, carbon, etc.) and exhibits the rigidity of metal and metal-covered plastic mining screen inserts so as to minimize deflection in use. The inventive mining screen is also completely recyclable because at the end of its useful life, the broken and used screen can be ground into polymer particles and the particles incorporated into new screens or other parts.