6 Different Types of Recycling Equipment & Their Uses

Using Recycling Equipment is essential for cost-effective and efficient business waste management. The huge variety of types available make it challenging to select the right recycling aid for your premises. In this guide we'll explain the following types and what they are best suited for:

• Waste Balers
• Bin Compactors
• Cardboard Packaging Shredders
• Can Crushers
• Glass Crushers
• EPS Polystyrene Compactors

Get bespoke equipment recommendations for your premises when you contact QCR.

The 6 Different Types of Recycling Equipment for Businesses

1. Waste Balers 

Waste balers are the most common type of recycling equipment. They are sometimes known as Recycling Balers because they are used for baling recyclable materials. Although most commonly used in warehouses, some balers are installed outdoors if they're rated IP55. The most popular type of waste baler is the Cardboard Baler because it aids the recycling of packaging waste such as boxes and plastic bags. Balers can be powered by:

• Electricity (13 amp, 16 amp or 3-phase)
• Compressed air

Some baler models are equipped with bale ejection systems to mechanise the baling out process. All balers can be either vertical or horizontal. Read our guide on choosing a waste baler for the full breakdown of each type and what applications they are best suited for.

Waste types: Cardboard, soft plastics, carpets, hard plastics, drinks cans, PET bottles and textiles.

Pros: Versatile, powerful, robust

Cons: Need high-quality bale tie to function (either wires or banding depending on the model you choose)

 

2. Bin Compactors

​​​​​​Bin Compactors maximise bin capacity in businesses where high waste disposal fees or limited bin storage space pose an issue. They are sometimes known as wheelie bin compactors or bin presses.There are various machine options available depending on the size of commercial bin you use including:

• 1100L Bin Compactors
• 660L Bin Compactors

Hydraulic bin compacting machines must be installed in close proximity to where bins are stored. The machine requires the user to wheel a bin under the compaction plate and operate the controls. With typical use this type of equipment crushes recyclable material 3:1 (approximately one third of its original size dependant on waste type). They are ideal for premises with a caretaker or residential blocks with an onsite property management team.

Waste types: Waste stored in commercial bins

Pros: Simple controls, provide immediate relief for overfilled bins

Cons: Must be installed onto a solid surface (for example no grass or gravel)

 

 

3. Can Crushers

Can crushers are specialised machines that compact industrial metal can waste.The application for industrial can crushers is incredibly broad, spanning numerous industry sectors including manufacturing, construction and hospitality. By mechanising the process of can compaction, businesses can safely compact can waste at their own premises.

This type of can recycling equipment is available with different compaction strengths for crushing different types of can. Specialist models are equipped with residue capture systems.

Waste types: Paint cans & tins up to 30L, 330ml drinks cans

Pros: Choose from pneumatic or hydraulic compactors to suit your premises

Cons: Material-specific equipment specifications

 

4. Glass Crushers

Glass Crushers reduce glass volume by up to 10:1 which is essentially reducing glass bottles to one-tenth of their original size. You need lots of glass bottle waste to make this type of glass recycling equipment financially viable which is why they're predominantly installed within hospitality sites. The market offers several different types of glass crushing machines, each engineered to achieve different degree of glass compaction ranging from glass cullet to a sand-like material. Glass crusher hire service are available giving seasonal businesses the opportunity to install them during peak periods when excessive glass bottle waste causes a problem.

Waste types: Glass bottles, jars and vials

Pros: Instant results

Cons: Noisy, bottle tops must be removed prior to crushing

 

5. EPS Polystyrene Compactors

Polystyrene contains 95% to 98% air making it ideal for recycling using a compactor instead of a bin. Due to it being a popular material for packaging, the resulting waste is often quite bulky making it notorious for filling up bins quickly.  Most Polystyrene Compacting Machines achieve a very high compaction ratio of up to 40:1 leading to a dramatic reduction in waste volume. When produced in bulk and of good quality, there is financial value in the briquettes made by EPS Compactors to help businesses to offset the overheads of running a machine. 

Waste types: EPS Polystyrene, Styrofoam

Pros: Can crush irregular packaging pieces into uniform blocks (also known as briquettes)

Cons: Price, material-specific, works best inside

 

6. Cardboard Box Shredders

Going green by making your own parcel fill material with a cardboard box shredder helps to reduce your environmental impact while cutting costs on packaging materials. It conforms to the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" waste hierarchy because you are processing used boxes instead of throwing them away. If you're planning on introducing this into your goods-out department, make sure you use a heavy-duty cardboard shredding machine.

Waste types: Cardboard

Pros: The uses for shredded cardboard are endless!

Cons: Staples must be removed to prevent machine damage