Polythene Balers - Keeping your bags tidy
Plastic pollution is an issue that has been thrust into the spotlight in recent years. Waste plastic is a blight on the planet as it takes hundreds of years to break down in landfill, harming our environment. What’s more, plastic which is thrown away frequently ends up in the ocean where it poses a real danger to marine life.
We all know we need to use less plastic and to be more responsible when we dispose of the plastic we do use. Single-use plastic items such as bottles, coffee cups and cartons have a recognised recycling route. But what about softer plastics such as plastic bags, wrapping and packaging? The good news is that polythene can be recycled and phs Wastekit can support your business to make this easier.
What is polythene?
Firstly, let’s look at what polythene is made of. Polythene is a petrochemical-based product, made from crude oil. It is a reasonably tough yet light, flexible and versatile synthetic resin and is a commonly produced plastic, made into thin sheets or bags.
These properties make it incredibly popular, increasing the need for us to dispose of it in an environmentally-responsible way.
Polythene and packaging in the form of film, wrapping, packing and bags is a burden on many manufacturing, retail and leisure facilities. When it comes to disposing of polythene which is lightweight by design, the material can be messy, causing trip and fire hazards as well as being an eyesore and storing this waste can take up valuable space.
Polythene recycling
Over the past few years, there have been several initiatives designed to reduce the use of polythene. One of the biggest headline-hitters was the levy on plastic bags which was first introduced in the UK by Wales and now also in place in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The UK Government reports that since the 5p charge was introduced in supermarkets in 2015, usage at the main retailers has dropped by 97%. With the charge increasing in 2021 to 10p and extended to all businesses, the number of bags used fell by a further 20% year on year. Due to the increased demand for plastic bag recycling, capacity has also grown to handle polythene recycling.
As part of the recycling process, polythene is processed and treated so it can be used again. First, polythene is melted down and then it is converted into small plastic pellets. These are then sold as a raw product to plastic manufacturers, giving it life after life.
Therefore, the opportunity is there for businesses to avoid disposing of polythene waste into landfill and to recycle it so it can be used again and again rather than entering landfill and harming the planet.
What is a Polythene Baler?
phs Wastekit appreciates that space is often at a premium for businesses so the last thing you’ll want is the burden of storing all of your polythene waste while waiting for it to be recycled.
The introduction of a polythene baler to your premises will help you to contain the lightweight but often bulky polythene packaging before compressing it into formed bales, ready for recycling. These polythene bales are an efficient weight and size so they can be stored neatly, taking up less space. As they are more stable and denser, this facilitates easy collection and transportation by your plastics recycler.
Benefits of a plastics baler
If you generate or handle significant amounts of plastic waste, you’ll quickly appreciate the functionality of a plastic waste baling machine. This not only helps you to segregate polythene plastic as a separate waste stream, it also prepares it ready to be recycled. Polythene balers are available to rent or purchase outright from phs Wastekit.
One of the major benefits of a baler is its ability to compress plastic, taking up far less valuable space. The bales can even be stacked, freeing up more storage space. When it comes to collection from your plastics recycler, you may be paying according to the volume of waste removed. Therefore, baling can be more economic for companies and generate savings on waste collection costs.
In addition, balers minimise manual labour as the baling machine is simple and quick to operate and does most of the hard work automatically; making them easy to use and reducing the risk of human error.
What polythene balers are available?
Plastic waste balers, or polythene balers, can be bought or rented from phs Wastekit.
The Orwak 5010-E Baler is small, easy to use, compact and can either be used for plastic or cardboard. It is ideal for small and medium-sized organisations such as manufacturers, hotels, schools, wholesalers and fast-food outlets. For those with greater baling needs is the 9020 Multi Chamber Baler. This allows plastic waste and cardboard to be separated within one machine for easy segregation and waste management, saving space with multiple applications in one solution.
phs Wastekit has 35 years’ experience in supplying high quality compactors, balers and waste handling accessories. For more information on plastic waste balers or to try a baler for yourself, contact phs Wastekit today. We even offer next day delivery on orders received by 1pm on any working day.