What is the Difference Between a Compactor and a Baler?

Waste management and sustainability now go hand in hand. Strict recycling targets mean that there are ever-tighter regulations and monitoring to reduce waste generation. The good news is that things are starting to move in the right direction. In 2018, some 37.2m tonnes of waste was produced by the Commercial & Industrial sectors in England alone. By 2020, that figure has come down to 33.8m tonnes.   

In business, the pressure to save money, save time AND demonstrate our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility is ever-present and often, it can seem that these goals are conflicting. One easy way to hit all three goals is to tackle your waste management processes and that’s where a compactor or baler can help. 

Both balers and cardboard compactors are designed to reduce the volume of your waste materials, which means they take up less space and cost less to remove. So, just what is the difference between a compactor and a baler? And which one is right for your business?

What is a Compactor?

A compactor is designed to work with general, mixed waste. By crushing your waste into much smaller volumes, you can fit more waste into your general waste bins. That means fewer collections by the waste disposal company and lower overall costs!

How Do They Function?

To use a compactor, waste is fed into the compactor’s opening and it gets stored inside the machine’s chamber (which makes it a handy storage solution and eliminates the unsightly waste rooms of old!) 

When the chamber is full, the machine can be switched on and hydraulic cylinders force a platen or ram against the materials, squashing them together to leave a neat cube of waste. 

The compacted rubbish is then collected by a disposal company or popped into your general waste bin to be delivered to a landfill. Since the compacted rubbish takes up much less volume than loose waste materials, you can fit more rubbish into the waste bin or into a collection, resulting in fewer pickups. 

What Are the Common Types of Compactors?

There are many different types of commercial waste compactors to fit your business needs. Compactors come in a wide range of sizes and can be automatic or manual, depending on how much waste your business generates. They’re straightforward to operate, so you won’t need to spend too much time training up your teams to work them. 

Stationary or static compactors are designed to handle dry waste, while self-contained compactors can compress both wet and dry waste, including food. There are also portable compactors which you can easily transport to the desired site. 

Best Use Cases

Compactors are best suited to companies that do not produce significant amounts of the same waste, and as a result, don’t need to or can’t segregate their waste. It’s an ideal solution for companies where recycling is not cost-effective or viable due to cross-contamination of their waste.

For companies that generate a lot of general waste on a regular basis, a static compactor is ideal as you can literally “plug and play”. Locate the machine in the most convenient spot in your workspace and start crushing that waste! 

By contrast, portable compactors are well-suited for event management businesses. They’re ideal for easily and conveniently removing waste from catering events or festivals. 

What is a Baler?

While a recycling baler also compresses waste so that it’s easier to transport, it goes a step further than a compactor. Balers are designed to compress recyclable materials, bundling them up into a bale and binding them in twine or bailing wire for easy transportation.

How Do They Function?

To use a baler, waste is fed into the opening, much like a compactor. All of the waste accumulates inside a chamber, which enables you to save storage space on-site. When the chamber is full, the machine is switched on and the pressing plate squashes all of the material to the bottom. 

The baler will then tie the bundle up in wire, twine or a plastic banding. The resulting bundle is known as a bale. 

The bale can then be collected by a waste disposal company. Better yet, as all of the materials have been segregated and are recyclable, they can even be sold to a recycling company for a tidy sum, opening up a whole new revenue stream for your business. 

What Are the Common Types of Balers?

Like compactors, there is a huge variety of different types of balers that can suit your unique business needs (and budget!) 

Some balers can handle and sort multiple waste streams, while others are designed to only handle one specific type of material. On the whole, if a material can be recycled, there’s probably a baler for it! Cardboard, plastic, paper, aluminium foil and textiles are just some of the materials that can be compacted in a baler. 

For businesses that work with contaminated materials, there are balers that can remove liquids and oils so that the resulting bales comply with regulations. 

Hydraulic vs. Pneumatic Balers

Beyond the type of material you need to compress, you’ll also need to consider whether a hydraulic or pneumatic baler is better suited to your business. A hydraulic baler can deliver more of a power punch than a pneumatic baler, but that doesn’t always mean it’s better. 

Hydraulic balers are great for materials that result in heavy, dense bales such as cardboard. By contrast, pneumatic balers are better suited to softer materials like plastic wrap, where you need a more constant pressure. 

Best Use Cases

Balers are ideal for companies that generate similar types of waste on a regular basis, which makes it cost-effective and efficient for them to segregate their waste - a supermarket's use of a cardboard shredder and baler is a prime example.

When it comes to hydraulic vs. pneumatic balers, there are a few factors to consider before making your choice and that’s where an expert can come in and support you with a waste survey. Ease of use, how quiet the machine is, and energy use (particularly against the current backdrop of rising energy prices!) are all worth taking into consideration when you’re deciding on the right baler for your business. 

There are also variations in the way balers are loaded, and again, the type you choose very much depends on the volume and types of waste material you’re generating. Vertical balers are designed for small to medium volumes, and suited to smaller businesses. By contrast, semi-auto horizontal balers are better for high volumes of material to compress. Stockroom balers are compact and don’t take up much room, so they’re a great option for retailers. 

Which Machine is Best Suited to Your Business?

Whether you opt for a compactor or baler really comes down to your particular business needs, as every business is different. 

You’ll need to ask yourself a few key questions about what your ultimate goal is. Are you looking to save costs on waste disposal? Are you looking to reduce the volume of waste you generate? Or do you have sustainability targets to meet? 

If you’re just looking to reduce costs and you aren’t able to recycle much of your waste material, then a compactor may be your best option. However, if you’re looking to recycle more and potentially create a new revenue stream by selling on your recyclates, then it’s worth looking into a baler. 

Explore Our Waste Management Machinery

Whether you’re looking for a compactor or baler, these machines quickly pay for themselves, helping you to reduce your waste disposal costs, saving you time and space and helping you to create more sustainable waste management practices. 

At QRC, we’ve got the right machine to suit your business and budget. Our machines are highly flexible and you have the option of buying or renting, which can help to spread the cost. Get in touch with us here at QRC today to find out how our waste management machinery can boost your business.