The Uses and Benefits of a Hydraulic Baler

If your business produces a lot of recyclable waste, you might be considering a hydraulic baler to help manage it easier. This blog will cover all the basics of what these machines are used for and why you might benefit from getting one. 

What is a Hydraulic Baler? 

Powered by hydraulics, waste balers use pressure to compress materials such as cardboard and plastic packaging into tight bales. Doing so reduces the volume of the waste and therefore the space required for storing it at your premises. As a result, balers are often used by businesses as an alternative to 1100L Wheelie Bins. They’re available in different sizes and with different capacities enabling your business to find a machine to suit your needs.

What Waste is a Hydraulic Baler Best Suited For? 

The most popular use for a hydraulic baler is to compact loose cardboard waste into bundles. However, they are not only suitable for cardboard as they can be also used to compress other recyclable materials such as plastic, paper, carpets, artificial grass and textiles although different waste types must always be baled separately. For added ease, the material does not have manually flattened before being placed inside the chamber. This is because a hydraulic machine is powerful enough to compact whole boxes. When baling always ensure any plastic and polystyrene inserts have been removed first. To make sure your bales don’t get rejected by recyclers, it’s important that you full training from an expert. 

What Waste is a Hydraulic Baler Not Suited For? 

The waste that you’re baling shouldn’t be contaminated. Cardboard which is wet, has food waste attached to it, or is generally dirty shouldn’t be put into a baler. This is because it’s not possible to recycle cardboard when it’s not dry and clean, so recyclers are likely to reject your bales. Different materials shouldn’t be baled at the same time as each other in your hydraulic machine. E.g. If you’re creating a cardboard bale, you should make sure there’s not any other materials within it, like metal or polystyrene. This, again, will mean it won’t be able to be recycled so is very likely to be rejected by recyclers. 

The Benefits of a Hydraulic Baler  

• They’re a sustainable solution – By reducing the volume of material being transported, less trips are needed to transport it for recycling. By implementing this environmentally friendly solution for your waste, you can create a positive reputation for your business. Recycling shows that your organisation cares about responsible waste management which is desirable for both prospective customers and stakeholders.
• They can save your business time – If your bins are located at the perimeter of your premises, it can take a while for staff to walk over to them and then spend time flattening boxes and sorting materials. Balers in contrast, can be installed inside your building. Plus hydraulic balers have fast compaction cycles so staff can spend time doing something more productive than manhandling boxes into bins.
• Using one can save money and even help you make money – Because using a baler reduces the amount of waste being placed in a commercial bin, you can often reduce your waste collection costs. By diverting waste away from bins, you may be able to reduce the number of bins you have at your site or downgrade them to smaller containers. This also has the benefit of giving your company more space to work with. When produced in quantity and of an agreed specification, many recyclers will pay for your bales, which can provide an extra stream of revenue if you produce a high amount of waste.
• Your company’s operations can be improved – All the above benefits can work towards the overall performance and productivity in the workplace. Using a cardboard baler can be useful for those who have goods or consumables delivered in recyclable packaging. Hydraulic balers can be a useful addition to the company to make sure waste is handled smoothly and sustainably by your colleagues.

What are the alternatives to a Hydraulic Baler?

1100L Wheelie Bin Compactors are a popular alternative to a baler. These machines work by using hydraulic rams to compact waste inside your bins. Sometimes known as in-bin compactors, they’re a great way to help you to get more waste inside your bins. These rubbish compacting solutions work in conjunction with your existing bins therefor you do not need to change your waste management company. You also do not need to notify them that you are using one but it’s likely that you’ll may be able to reduce the frequency that your waste is collected helping to save money.

Renting a Hydraulic Baler  

At QCR, we’re a leading supplier of recycling machinery in the UK. We provide businesses with high quality hydraulic or pneumatic balers for a variety of waste streams. We have both new and refurbished balers available to hire on a long or short-term basis.

Our waste balers can lower your business waste costs by up to 75% and boost overall sustainability. The price of renting a cardboard baler start at £14.91 a week (excl. VAT) where we’ll provide you with free delivery, free servicing, and free installation (some geographical restrictions apply). Subject to availability, free baling equipment trials are available too.