Plastic Balers for Hire or Purchase

Why should I choose QCR Recycling Equipment?

QCR have supplied high-quality waste balers and compactors for plastic waste for over 25 years and are recognised as a leading baler hire specialist in the UK. QCR are trusted by businesses who want baling equipment that is safe, reliable, efficient and proven to deliver savings on commercial waste and recycling.

• Fully Accredited & Certified: You'll receive professional support from our knowledgeable team who have been awarded SafeContractor™ status due to our excellence in health & safety standards. 
• Complete Aftercare: All machinery is supplied with a comprehensive warranty (including replacement parts and labour). Customers have the option to enhance the level of support provided by upgrading to a QCR Baler Service Package or Hire Agreement. Our knowledgeable nationwide team provide free advice on maintenance and bale collection.
• Industry-Leading Team: If you need proof, check out our most recent Customer Reviews on our Google Business Profile where we've been highly rated 4.8 stars on average by our customers (June 2026)
• Tried-and-Tested Equipment: All our industrial-grade balers are CE marked and are supplied with a Declaration of Conformity for extra confidence that you have quality equipment installed. Every baler meets the highest standards for quality, safety and compliance.

QCR Customer Review

After a free trial of two QCR Waste Balers, Lealans Garden Centre near Wolverhampton realised what a positive change they could make to waste management by switching to baling as evidenced in this testimonial:

"We're thrilled with our new balers and the amount of money we are saving because of them. Not only that, our skip now looks much tidier and doesn't overflow. Many thanks to QCR for massively improving the way we handle waste" - QCR H7 & 205 Baler review by the Director, Peter Lealan

Choosing the right size and type of plastic baler for your needs

QCR offers a wide selection of vertical balers for plastic, each specially designed for compacting different volumes and types of waste plastic material. Vertical balers can be broadly categorised into 2 distinct types - pneumatic or hydraulic.

Pneumatic balers

Pneumatic balers are a cost-effective choice for those who want to bale. They feature straight-forward controls and have a small footprint making them ideal for workplaces with limited floorspace. This type of compactor is connected to an airline or a compressor. 

Hydraulic balers

Hydraulic balers need a 13 amp or 3 phase electrical connection for operation. There are a broader range of machine sizes available including small, medium and mill size. They can be installed indoors or outdoors.

Key points to consider when choosing a baler

• Capacity: The capacity of a baler is determined by the size of the compaction chamber. The larger the chamber, the greater amount of waste that can be added between each compaction cycle. It's important to match a machine to the amount of waste produced to ensure that it doesn't create a bottleneck within your operations.
• Bale Size: Mill size bales offer the greatest revenue potential for large sites such as distribution centres. However, this size of bale requires a huge amount of waste before it is ready to be ejected from the machine. 
• Machine Maintenance & Operator Training: The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1999 (PUWER) apply to all plastic baling machinery within a UK workplace. The legislation makes it essential your baler is regularly serviced by a competent person and all operators are trained.
• CE Marking: Plastic Balers sold in UK must have a CE mark and a declaration of conformity.
• ROI: Calculating the return on investment (ROI) of a plastic baler will help you measure the financial payback of installing a baler. The payback period can be shortened by choosing a refurbished machine or by selling your baled plastic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Plastic Baler?

A plastic baler is a machine which compresses waste plastic into easily manageable bales which are secured with banding or tape. Plastic waste balers can significantly reduce the costs of disposal when compared to using bins or skips. 

What types of plastic can be compacted using a Plastic Baler?

Plastic Balers are used for crushing plastic fruit trays, PET drinks bottles, milk bottles, polythene, shrink wrap, plastic packaging and jazz plastics into neat bales ready for recycling.

What are the benefits of using a baler for plastics?

• Lower Waste Disposal Fees: Plastic is highly compactable making it suitable for compacting into a dense bundle known as a bale which is more cost-efficient to uplift and process for recycling.
• Improved Workplace Safety: The process of baling secures waste within a tied bale reducing the risk of loose material causing workplace injuries from slips or trips.
• Revenue Generation Potential: Baled plastic is a valuable commodity offering a potential new source of income to businesses producing lots of good quality bales of compacted plastic.
• Enhanced Sustainable Credentials: Baling cuts the carbon emissions associated with the transportation of waste from your premises to a recycling facility.
• Space Optimisation: Balers can compact the equivalent of multiple bins of commercial waste in a single bale to reduce the number of bins needed.

Can you bale different types of waste using a plastic baler?

The power and versatility of plastic baler makes it suitable for baling other types of waste such as cardboard boxes. Users must ensure that different materials are baled separately to avoid contamination.

How are bales of waste secured?

Loose waste material is secured inside the chamber of a baler using strong polyester strapping or baling wires.

What types of businesses use a baler for plastic?

From our experience of supplying balers to both national and independent businesses across the UK since 1999, we’ve evidenced how baling can deliver many benefits to businesses in detailed industry-specific case studies.