What Cardboard Baler Is Best For Your Business?
Cardboard waste is among the top waste products produced by businesses in the UK. From parcel delivery to food packaging, most people interact with cardboard on a daily basis. In 2021, UK households produced more than 5.4 million metric tons of paper and cardboard packaging, with around 71% being recycled.
While cardboard recycling rates are higher than those for plastic packaging, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure the UK recycles more of its cardboard. As a business, you can play your part by adopting stricter waste managing processes and adopting new approaches to recycling – including using cardboard waste balers.
Learn more about the impact cardboard balers can have on your business and discover which type of cardboard baler is right for you.
What is a cardboard baler?
A cardboard baler is a specialist type of equipment that’s designed to compact cardboard waste into dense bales so that it easier to handle, transport and recycle. Balers are very simple to use, and work by feeding the cardboard into the baler, where a mechanism will compress the material tightly into bales that can then be collected for recycling. Available in different sizes and capacities, there are balers available to suit different businesses requirements and sizes.
How can a baler help your business recycle more cardboard?
Investing in a baler can be an effective way of helping your business recycle more cardboard.
Some of the ways it does this include:
1. Space saving: Compacting your waste will help save space by reducing the volume of cardboard being stores. This will help you to keep your waste management areas neat and organised and allows you to store more recycling ready for collection. Lower waste volume also means reduced frequency of waste collections, leading to potential cost savings for your business.
2. Improved recycling waste: Using a cardboard baler can help encourage higher recycling rates, with businesses able to process more cardboard so that less of it ends up in landfills or incinerators. This can provide a huge boost to the environment while also helping your business meet its sustainability targets.
3. Simpler waste management: Having a baler will make it easier for employees to segregate cardboard waste from other waste materials. With set processes put in place, your workplace will be more organised, prompting employees to take action to recycle more and dispose of cardboard boxes in more responsible ways.
Selling cardboard made easier with a waste baler
More and more people are looking to sell their unwanted recycled cardboard for a profit. Cardboard is very much in demand, and cardboard sellers prefer to purchase cardboard in manageable bales, making it easier to collect them. Using a cardboard baler to compact your cardboard will allow you to sell cardboard more easily, increasing the amount of cardboard you’re able to sell.
What cardboard baler is best for your business?
There are different types of cardboard baler, allowing you to choose machinery that best meets your needs. You will need to consider factors such as available space, frequency of use, expected volumes, and of course, budget, to help you decide on the best baler for your business.
Types of cardboard baler:
Small to medium cardboard balers:
Small to medium cardboard balers are ideal for small businesses, retail stores, restaurants and other businesses that may have limited space for waste management but could still benefit from the use of a cardboard baler. Their compact and easy to use, which make them ideal for these types of environments.
As they can handle moderate cardboard volumes, they could make a big difference to how much your business is able to recycle.
Large balers:
Large balers are better suited to larger scale businesses such as manufacturers and distribution centres. Their higher capacity means they can handle large quantities of cardboard waste efficiently, while reducing overall waste volumes – saving money on collection costs.
Most large balers feature either automatic or semi-automatic operations, which helps to reduce labour efforts from users.
Vertical balers:
Vertical balers are designed to be small, yet powerful, providing excellent compacting capabilities without taking up too much space. They can handle large volumes with ease, making them suitable for a range of workplaces looking to improve their cardboard waste practices.
Compact balers:
Compact balers may be smaller in size, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less effective. They are designed to handle moderate amounts of cardboard waste, and are easy to move around as required according to demand and available safe. Ideal for schools, hotels, manufacturers, fast food outlets and other business types.
Should you purchase or hire your cardboard baler?
The next thing you’ll need decide is whether you should purchase or hire your cardboard baler.
If you need flexibility from your waste management, using a hire service could be the easiest way to improve waste management in your business. Renting a cardboard baler could help you manage your running costs, helping you establish whether purchasing a baler will be worth it in the long term.
If you anticipate needing a bailing machine long-term, then purchasing a baler could work out as the most effective option for you. There are different deals available to help you maintain your baler, ensuring you get the most out of your equipment.
Cardboard recycling made easy with phs Wastekit
At phs Wastekit, we’re the experts in recycling, providing guidance and expertise to help you improve your waste management processes to benefit both the environment and your business. Our range of cardboard waste balers are ideal for businesses wanting to increase their recycling rates and begin selling cardboard too.
Start your journey to better cardboard waste management by taking advantage of our free Wastesaving Audit. We can advise you on how you can save space, reduce waste, free up employee time and improve sustainability. Contact us today and explore new ways of managing your cardboard waste with the help of a cardboard baler.