A whole array of benefits can be achieved by using a cardboard baler to crush waste cardboard. In this guide we look at all you need to know about buying or renting a cardboard baler.
The benefits of a cardboard baler
If your business is producing waste cardboard and using bins to dispose of it, then it is highly likely that your business will benefit from installing a cardboard baler.
To put it simply, a cardboard baler will do four things for you that bins cannot including:
There are few factors which determine what size of baler will be the best fit for your business. The first consideration is the amount of cardboard waste you are generating which can be calculated by the number of skips and bins and the frequency that they are emptied. The second is the size of the boxes you dispose of most frequently. For the greatest efficiency, you need to choose a cardboard baler with a feed opening the same size as your largest box. This will enable you to open the door, pop the box in, close the door and the baler does the flat packing for you. The third consideration is the space you have and the location you wish to site the baler. If space is tight or perhaps you are looking to free up valuable space for other uses then a small compact baler would be ideal.
Our best advice is to contact us for a free site survey and we can quickly establish which size of cardboard baler is the correct one for your business.
Where to locate your waste baler?
Locating a baler next to the waste source is the preferred option to maximise waste handling efficiency. Some people wrongly assume balers are too large to be situated indoors however, this isn't the case as the footprint of some balers is surprisingly small allowing then to be installed in a variety of locations.
How much does a bale of cardboard weigh?
Bale weight depends on the size of baler the bale is being created in. A smaller baler will produce smaller bales which will weigh less. Our small QCR 102 baler produces cardboard bales of around 20-40kg. A medium sized baler like our QCR H4 waste baler will create cardboard bales weighing up to 140kg and a Mill size baler yields bales around 500kg which are optimal size for recycling and have potential to earn rebates.
How do you store baled cardboard?
Baled material should be stored in a dry area ready to be collected by a local recycler. Stacking bales will help maximise the amount you are able to store before collection. Recyclers will collect smaller volumes of bales if you don’t have the capacity to store a lot of bales, but they may have a minimum collection volume that you need to meet.
Vertical or horizontal baler?
Vertical balers have a small footprint and are most popular with SME's. For most companies, a vertical baler fulfils their recycling requirements and helps save money on waste. A horizontal baler is recommended for much higher volume users like large wholesalers, manufacturers and logistics centres. Those who produce a lot of recyclable materials will benefit from hopper or conveyor feed options available on horizontal balers.
Deciding between and vertical and horizontal baler is determined by several factors like the amount of waste going through the baler, location and space, operational requirements and budget.
Other considerations
The wrong choice of machine could turn into an expensive mistake so we'd recommend enlisting the help of a reputable supplier like QCR to help you decide whether baling is right for your business. When calculating the return on investment, in addition to the purchase or rental price, you'll also need to factor in the cost of consumables such as baler banding, in addition to servicing and maintenance costs.
Next steps
A free machine trial can give you valuable hands-on experience of waste baling and will allow you to confirm your chosen location for your new machine. The first step is to arrange a free site survey with one of our knowledge team.
01242 620903
