An excavating machine, representatively a tracked excavator, has a boom stick portion on which an excavating bucket and a gripper assembly mounted. A hydraulic breaker is protectively mounted inside the breaker assembly and extends outward therefrom. The bucket may be operated independently of the gripper assembly for digging operations. The gripper assembly may be positioned independently of the bucket and the breaker actuated for refusal material-breaking operations. The bucket and the gripper may be cooperatively operated to perform removal operations. The same excavating machine can be used for digging, gripping, and breaking operations without a tool change.