How does a Bin Compactor work and do you need one for your business?

Whatever your business sector, commercial waste costs are inevitable. And unfortunately for most businesses in the UK these costs are on the rise. Despite us all trying to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible, unavoidably some waste will end up in a commercial bin. All organisations should shop around for the best value waste collection service provider however, there is also another lesser-known way to reduce the costs of commercial waste disposal called a bin compactor.

What is a bin compactor?

A bin compactor features a pressing plate that fits inside a bin. When pressure is applied, the pressing plate is lowered which then compacts the waste material beneath it. This pressing force not only compacts the waste itself but also removes air pockets.

How does a bin compactor work?

Once your bin is seemingly full of waste, the hydraulic or mechanical system of a bin compactor will apply a powerful force to squash down the contents of the bin freeing-up more space within in. This simple bin press mechanism will compact both general waste and recyclable waste such as cardboard and plastic. 

The degree of waste compaction achieved can be calculated by measuring the volume of waste before and after compaction. It is closely linked to the type of waste within the bin and how much it has already been compressed. The greatest level of compaction is achieved on squashable materials such as food packaging, whole cardboard boxes or polythene. With typical use in a commercial setting you can expect an average compaction ratio of approximately 33% which could mean that an organisation with 3 full bins on site could condense their rubbish down to only 2 bins of waste.

What types of are available?

The 2 types available are those that are powered by hydraulic rams that are used in a commercial setting and those that are manually operated and therefore best suited to a domestic setting. The most common type of bin press found in a large commercial premises is the QCR 1100L Wheelie Bin Compactor which is specifically designed to efficiently and safely compact the contents of an 1100 litre commercial bin. However, there are also options for smaller bins such as the QCR 660L Wheelie Bin Compactor or individual bags of rubbish such as the QCR Business Waste Compactor.

What is the benefit of compacting your waste?

• Reduces the frequency that bins need to be emptied

Frequent visits from a waste collection company are not only expensive but can also cause disruption. By condensing waste it’s likely that you’ll be able to reduce the frequency that they are emptied leading to a reduction in your overheads.

• Negates the need to manually flatpack cardboard boxes

Manually flat packing boxes prior to putting them in a bin can be strenuous and can take up a significant amount of time. By compacting waste with a machine, it alleviates the manual handling involved.

• Reduces the number of bins at your site freeing up space

Bins are notoriously troublesome. They can be smelly, visually unappealing, cumbersome to move and attract undesirable visitors. By compacting your commercial waste, it’s likely that you can either reduce or downsize your bins. This is particularly appealing for organisations based in parts of the UK where waste segregation is now mandatory for all businesses.

• Reduces the likelihood of overflowing bins

Despite your best planning skills, unforeseen peaks in waste volume may lead to overflowing bins at your site. A sunny bank holiday, a large delivery or a maintenance task may lead to your waste volume exceeding the capacity of your bin. Having the ability to compact your waste is likely to offset the need to arrange an additional emergency collection of waste.

• Boosts sustainability

Put simply, compacted waste takes up less space in bin lorries leading to fewer vehicles on the road. It also reduces the need for waste collection businesses to produce new bin containers.

What are the alternatives?

Cardboard Balers

For a higher degree of compaction and the opportunity to remove cardboard bins altogether, organisations with a recycling bin of full of cardboard waste should also consider a cardboard baler. Baling instead of simply squashing cardboard enables some organisations to monetise their waste providing the bales are produced in quantity and are of a specific size and standard.

Plastic Balers

Some types of plastic are highly flexible which can be problematic when attempting to compress it, this is where plastic balers come in. For some types of plastic, baling is likely to be more effective because the banding or wires prevent spring back.