Let’s get straight to the point. Balers are for recycling. Period.
It all began with hay balers, which came onto the scene in the late 1800s, in sync with the rise of industrialised agriculture. These balers recycled hay by feeding it to farm animals.
Our focus here isn’t hay balers, though. It’s on paper balers. Since all balers have the purpose of compacting and bundling, paper balers bundle paper and cardboard much the same way that hay balers bundle hay.
Paper balers (or baling presses) have many uses today. Not surprisingly, one of them is preparing used paper products for recycling. So, let’s have a look into that amazing machine, the paper baler.
What Is a Paper Baler and How Is It Used?
A paper baler or baling press is part of the larger category of industrial balers. Industrial balers process paper, cardboard, office paper, and more. They also handle other materials, from aluminium to plastic wrap to car parts.
The process is fundamentally the same for any of these materials. Apply enough pressure, and you can press your bales (bundles) into various sizes and shapes.
How Do Paper Balers Work?
A paper baler compresses and binds paper into solid bales. Balers facilitate the process of transporting paper and cardboard to recycling facilities. There, it’s handled in mass quantities.
Shredding is essential when preparing paper products for recycling. Once shredded (or torn), the tiny pieces fall through a hopper and into the baler. There, it’s compacted using a hydraulic-powered ram.
The condensed material is formed into a dense block. Most machines will bind the tightly pressed material with wire or twine to keep it tightly packed until ready for processing.
Who Uses Paper and Cardboard Balers?
Balers come in a range of sizes and configurations. This puts them within reach of most businesses. It also allows them to serve organizations from schools and small businesses to large manufacturers.
Of course, balers offer a convenient and environmentally friendly way to dispose of paper waste. They’re especially popular for destroying confidential documents—especially when shredded professionally.
Mobile shredding services travel to sites needing to shred a lot of these documents. These include banks, law offices, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and others. Many use these services because of legal compliance requirements.
Paper mills, cardboard packagers, and insulation manufacturers all recycle paper and cardboard bales.
What Types of Paper Balers Are There?
Most balers handily create paper and cardboard bales. However, baled paper isn’t necessarily the only product of these machines. Several also handle other materials commonly used in business and industry.
- Mini-baler: Able to generate bale sizes up to 4.6 cubic metres and approximately 79.3 kilos, these balers are ideal for small businesses.
- Vertical baler: Available in sizes from about .75 to 2 metres, these accommodate the recycling needs of entities from private homes to large manufacturing operations.
- Horizontal baler: These giant machines serve entire municipalities, shopping centres, transfer stations, etc.
- Open-ended baler: With these efficient balers, after making one bale, subsequent bales are made by pushing the material up against the back of the forward bale.
- Full-eject baler: While more time-consuming and labour-intensive than other balers, these machines are compact and versatile (handling multiple materials).
- Multi-purpose baler: These versatile balers offer convenience. Plus, they can bundle everything from cardboard bales to flattened and bound aluminium cans.
If you want to recycle baled material, be sure to avoid mixing different materials when loading the machine.
Paper balers are often paired with other machinery like cardboard compactors, shredders, grinders, conveyor belts, and other equipment to build efficiency into the process.
How to Choose Paper Balers for Recycling
Are you interested in purchasing one or more paper balers for recycling? If so, we would like to share the following pointers to aid your decision-making process:
- Consider the specific materials you plan to compress, along with your budget and the available space.
- Determine your needs based on factors such as your facility’s size and your usage volume.
- Plan the logistics. Will you use an enclosed trailer, flatbed trailer, shipping container, or another means of transit?
- Think about the available space in your facility and who will operate the paper baler(s).
Be sure to talk with one or more sales representatives about the pros and cons of their particular paper baler options. Ask them which products can best meet your needs.
Benefits of Paper and Cardboard Balers
Cardboard and paper balers have some benefits that are predictable and others that are surprising. Let’s delve into what these are.
Monetary Value in Recycled Paper and Cardboard
Do you know you can make money by recycling paper? That’s right. Recycling companies pay brokers and businesses for recycled waste.
You also should know that these companies are likely to pay more when the different waste streams arrive already separated. Using a baler can ensure that businesses have this advantage.
Balers Save Space
Does your facility have room to store bins full of discarded paper and cardboard until a recycling truck collects them? Bales are compact and easily stacked with the proper equipment.
Balers Help Keep Facilities Tidy
It’s all but inevitable that loose paper will find its way to the floor, causing a slip and fall risk for employees. If there’s an open window, small pieces of paper can blow around, even landing in and clogging machinery.
The Sustainability Factor
One of the most significant benefits of paper and cardboard balers is, of course, sustainability. Having green credentials is another business benefit. It pleases customers and government officials alike.
Green businesses are ethical businesses because they help protect the environment. A cardboard baler promotes sustainability better than bins.
Fewer bins and less bin collection mean less time on the road for bin lorries and their polluting emissions.
Hooray for Paper Balers!
In the world of disposal, writ large, paper balers play an ever more significant role. They package paper and cardboard waste in neat bundles for recycling. They also help keep loose bits of paper from polluting the environment.
If your business is interested in purchasing a paper bailer, cardboard compactor, or related equipment, please reach out to us. We will answer your questions and direct you to the best baler business for your needs.
