Balers are a key part of
your business’s waste management efforts. With the spotlight firmly on
recycling, choosing the right baler could help you eliminate the chaos of storing and
transporting plastic, cardboard, and general waste.
To make business recycling easier,
understanding the differences between the various types available can help you
make an informed and cost-effective decision.
What are the different types of
balers?
Balers make it easy to compress, store and
transport materials like cardboard and plastic. These are the most common
machines for waste management purposes:
●
Vertical balers: Vertical
balers have a relatively small footprint and are ideal for small to
medium organisations. Waste is fed into the top and compacted vertically into
bales.
●
Horizontal balers: Materials are loaded from
the side and compacted horizontally. Horizontal balers have a larger footprint and
higher capacity than vertical balers.
●
Paper and cardboard balers: A cardboard and paper baler crushes office waste
into manageable bales for recycling.
●
Plastic balers: A plastic baler compacts multiple types of
plastic waste, including shrink wrap, bottle waste and polythene.
●
Multi-chamber balers: If your business
generates different types of waste, a multi-chamber baler makes sorting and baling
easy.
For more information on what balers are and
how they work, take a look at our guide to baling machine basics.
Vertical vs Horizontal Balers
For most businesses, the choice comes down to
installing a horizontal or vertical baler. However, there are benefits and
advantages to both models, depending on the size and waste management needs of
your operation.
Vertical Balers
Benefits | Drawbacks |
Space-efficient: Vertical
balers feature a space-saving design and are ideal for use when a horizontal
baler is impractical.
Versatile: A vertical baler can deal with virtually any type of waste, from
office paper and plastics to aluminium.
Low
costs: With installation costs around a tenth of those of a horizontal baler, vertical balers are easy to maintain and operate. | Labour-intensive:
Height can be a problem, as vertical balers require manual loading and unloading. Low
capacity: They have a lower and slower throughput than horizontal models, making them unsuitable for high-capacity processing.
Bale size: Smaller models produce non-standard bales that can be difficult to sell or process.
|
The reduced footprint makes vertical balers a good
choice for supermarkets, hospitality, retail and small manufacturing.
Horizontal balers
Benefits | Drawbacks |
Automation: Horizontal balers can be fully automated with belts and shredders, increasing efficiency and reducing the need for manual labour. Higher volumes: Horizontal balers can process high volumes of materials, including metal, newsprint, cardboard and paper. Bale size:Bales are consistent in size and weight, making them easy to store and transport. | Space requirements: Horizontal balers require significantly more floor space than vertical models, making them unfeasible for smaller operations. Upfront costs:Upfront costs are higher than those of a vertical baler and can increase further if you opt for full automation. |
Higher volumes make horizontal balers ideal for recycling centres, distribution centres and other large organisations with significant waste management needs.
How to choose the best baler for your requirements
When comparing vertical and horizontal balers, several key differences stand out, including capacity and throughput, space requirements, and cost. However, choosing the right baler for your business also depends on factors such as budget, waste handling requirements, and future growth.
Waste types
You can bale a wide range of materials, from cardboard and plastic to textiles, aluminium and dry waste. If you only bale paper waste, a cardboard baler should be adequate for your needs.
On the other hand, if you process multiple waste types, consider a multi-chamber baler that sorts and processes different types of recycling.
Volume of waste
If you have lower waste processing requirements, a vertical baler produces up to 10 bales a day and suits the needs of most SMEs. Dedicated waste management operations will require a horizontal baler capable of processing higher volumes of waste.
Available space
Horizontal balers can be up to 40’ in length, while vertical balers have greater height requirements. Ensure your baler has sufficient room to operate, and don’t forget to include maintenance access when organising your space.
Budget
Balance your upfront costs against potential long-term savings on labour, storage and transportation. Also factor in any profit from selling baled materials.
Future requirements
If possible, purchase a slightly larger baler than you need to allow your business to scale its waste management operations in future. It may be worth leasing equipment in the short run or at peak periods.
Find the right baler for your business
phs Wastekit is your trusted partner for waste management. We have over 35 years of experience and can help you reduce costs, manage your waste more efficiently, and navigate recycling regulations.
Our complete solution provides insights, equipment and baler training tailored to your specific needs. Contact us today to book your free waste-saving audit.