Paper and cardboard remain the single biggest packaging waste material in the EU. In 2021, 188.69 kg per capita of packaging waste was generated by EU residents, and only 120.69 kg of that was recycled. If your business faces a daily mountain of cardboard waste, a cardboard compactor machine is the ideal solution.
The right recycling equipment can help your business unleash cardboard’s green credentials. As a 100% recyclable material, cardboard has the potential to boost your eco credentials.
Let’s take a closer look at why an industrial cardboard compactor should be an essential component of your waste management solutions.
Cardboard’s Eco Credentials
Cardboard is one of the best packaging materials out there because of its recyclability. According to the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers, it can be recycled more than 25 times without losing quality.
Cardboard packaging also outshines plastic crates in 10 out of 15 categories measuring environmental impact. Impressively, this includes its carbon footprint. However, European businesses still need to do more to ensure cardboard’s eco potential is realised.
Paper and cardboard remain one of the biggest drivers of EU forest degradation. As the EU has pivoted away from single-use plastics, this has increased demand for cardboard. Therefore, every business needs robust protocols for handling cardboard waste to start things moving in the right direction.
Cardboard, Cardboard Everywhere
Businesses face a lot of challenges around cardboard recycling. Some common issues include:
- Huge quantities of cardboard waste
- Difficulties separating it from other waste types
- Preparing it for recycling
Sadly, this means that a lot of cardboard that could be recycled ends up in landfill.
Large quantities of cardboard hanging around your warehouse or production facility are also a safety hazard. It can
- Create clutter
- Form slip and trip hazards
- Catch fire easily
It’s crucial to protect it from anything that could emit sparks or from workers who are smoking.
Keep It Clean, People!
To be suitable for recycling, it needs to be kept clean and free of contamination. Many businesses find this a challenge, as cardboard can easily get walked over, splashed with contaminants, or mixed with other types of rubbish. It is crucial to have a workflow that keeps it free from contamination and bundles it ready for the next stage of its life.
Another enemy is moisture. When cardboard is allowed to pile up, it can quickly absorb environmental moisture. Not only does this make it unsuitable for immediate reuse, it could also render it impossible to recycle.
The Role of a Cardboard Compactor Machine
An industrial cardboard compactor is designed to compress large quantities of waste cardboard into bales that are easy to manage. Compactors come in various sizes and configurations.
How Channel Baling Presses Work
Channel baling presses work by taking cardboard that is fed in by a conveyor or other means and accumulating it until it reaches a target weight. Sensors detect when the baler is full and ready for compaction.
The best channel baling presses exert between 40 and more than 200 tons of main ram thrust. If more cardboard is needed to reach the required bale size, it can be added at this point before it is compressed again. Depending on the recycling equipment chosen, output can range from 2 to 60 tons per hour.
Ready for Recycling
Finally, the commercial waste compactor binds the bale with wire or other strapping materials before ejecting it. It can now be loaded directly onto a truck or stored, ready for transportation to a recycling facility.
The Impact of a Cardboard Compactor Machine on Waste Management
An industrial cardboard compactor has the potential to improve the safety and efficiency of your waste management operations. There are at least six key benefits that could have a positive impact on your bottom line.
Reduced Waste Volume
Compressed cardboard bales have several advantages, including:
- Taking up much less space than loose cardboard
- Costing less to store
- Reducing the frequency of waste pickups
Extra space can be used to make money for your business.
Lower Disposal Costs
Waste disposal can be a significant cost for businesses. If you do not compact your cardboard, you are paying for transporting thin air. Compacting massively reduces the space taken up by corrugated cardboard, which can have a knock-on impact on disposal costs.
Some recycling centres may even incentivize businesses to compact their own cardboard, further reducing disposal costs. For smaller businesses, this means fewer trips to recycling facilities for employees who care for this function.
Increase Your Recycling Rate
The longer cardboard lies around your business premises waiting to be collected, the more likely it is to get contaminated. Immediately compacting cardboard packing into bales makes it easier to keep clean and suitable for recycling. Compacting can help you recycle more of your cardboard waste and have a positive impact on the environment.
Keep Your Workplace Safe
Forget banana skins. Loose cardboard on an industrial concrete floor is a far more likely scenario for a workplace accident. It’s important to streamline your processes to ensure cardboard is never left lying around.
Having dedicated hoppers or a conveyor that leads directly to the cardboard compactor machine can solve this problem. You’ll make your workplace safer. You could avoid a nasty injury to an employee and expensive litigation to follow.
Focus on What You Do Best
You may currently have employees who make cardboard bales. When you have a dedicated commercial waste compactor, you free them up to focus on the company’s core business. You may find this boosts your operational efficiency by making the best use of human resources.
Time to Get an ANIS Cardboard Compactor Machine
A cardboard compactor machine has the potential to help you reach your environmental targets. Your business can play its part in ensuring that more cardboard gets recycled. It can also help you reduce the risk of workplace accidents and maintain your employees’ focus on your core business.
ANIS channel bailing presses can process a wide variety of materials. They are a versatile addition to any business that processes large amounts of waste each day.
Find out more about what we can do for you by requesting a quote.
