Waste management consists of two parts — a) recycling the recyclable materials and b) managing the waste efficiently. Two tools which will help you achieve both of these in a faster, more efficient and easier manner are balers and compactors. Let’s learn more about baler and compactor.
A) Balers
A baler is a machine that compresses and binds materials like paper, cardboard, plastic, and aluminum into bales. The bales are then easy to handle and transport to recycling centers or other facilities. Balers come in various sizes and types, such as vertical, horizontal, and two-ram balers.
Vertical balers are typically smaller and less expensive, making them ideal for small businesses that generate moderate amounts of waste. They compress materials vertically, creating small bales that can be easily transported.
Horizontal balers, on the other hand, are larger and more expensive. They compress materials horizontally, creating large bales that weigh several hundred pounds. These balers are best suited for industrial operations that generate large volumes of waste.
Two-ram balers combine the benefits of both vertical and horizontal balers. They have two rams or cylinders that compress the materials, making them versatile and suitable for a wide range of materials.
Horizontal Balers – Closed End
How Balers Help In Reducing Costs?
You can see the financial benefits within a few months of installing a baler. Instead of disposing of waste and paying for it, you can sell the baled materials to Waste Recyclers to generate a return. The value of the waste will depend on the type and volume produced.
Some of the ways balers can help in reducing costs include:
- Helps in providing a tidier, cleaner operating environment by using less space for bins.
- Reducing the cost of waste disposal
- Increasing the amount of recyclable material
- Creating an additional revenue stream, depending on material and volume of waste.
B) Compactors
A compactor is a machine that compresses waste into a smaller and more manageable volume. It uses hydraulic pressure to crush and compact waste, reducing its size by up to 80%. Compactors are typically used for non-recyclable waste, such as food waste, plastic, and paper.
Like balers, compactors come in different sizes and types, including stationary and self-contained compactors. Stationary compactors are ideal for commercial and industrial operations that generate large volumes of waste, while self-contained compactors are more suitable for smaller businesses or operations with limited space.
Stationary compactors are typically installed on-site and require a permanent location. They can handle large volumes of waste and are ideal for operations that generate more than six cubic yards of waste per week. They are commonly used in grocery stores, hotels, and warehouses.
Self-contained compactors, as the name suggests, are self-contained units that include the compactor and container. They are ideal for businesses with limited space or operations that generate less than six cubic yards of waste per week. They are commonly used in fast-food restaurants, hospitals, and shopping malls.
What Are the Differences Between Baler and Compactor?
While both balers and compactors compress waste, there are several differences between baler and compactor. Here are the key differences:
- Materials Balers are best suited for recyclable materials like paper, cardboard, and plastic, while compactors are best suited for non-recyclable waste like food waste, plastic, and paper.
- Compression Balers compress materials into bales, while compactors compress waste into a smaller volume.
- Output Balers produce bales that can be easily transported, while compactors produce compacted waste that needs to be hauled away.
- Size Balers come in various sizes and types, while compactors are typically larger and heavier.
Why Use a Baler?
If your waste mainly comprises recyclable materials such as cardboard, paper, plastics, metal, etc., then a baler would be a good fit for your business. These materials are made into dense and consistently shaped bales that can be stored and transported with ease. Eventually, you can take the bales of recyclable materials to a recycling company for resale and reuse.
Balers come in a variety of sizes which are designed to accommodate different business needs.
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Vertical Balers:
They handle small to medium volumes of waste and can be operated by a single person.
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Semi-Auto Horizontal Balers:
These are suitable if you generate high volumes of materials for recycling
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Stockroom Balers:
Perfect for retailers and they don’t require much space
Why Use a Compactor?
Compactors, on the other hand, are mainly useful when you need to send waste and trash to a landfill. A compactor is used to reduce and compress large volumes of trash into a contained area. Then the waste hauling company can pick it up and deliver it to the landfill. Compactors help in reducing the overall number of trash pickups because compacted trash takes up less space.
The key similarity between baler and compactor is that both of them are used to compress and reduce the volume of the materials into compact bales, while the major difference is the materials they process. When you compress the amount of waste you produce, the amount of waste collection is reduced, thus cutting down the costs too.
Evaluate your business needs and requirements to determine if a baler will be a better fit or a compactor. Figure out which problem you are achieving to solve — do you want to reduce waste or are you looking to recycle more? Being clear about that helps you zero down on which equipment would be best for your business
Now you decide – Compactor or Baler?
If you’re familiar with both balers and compactors, you can determine which equipment is right for your business needs. Compactor Management Co. manufactures a wide range of waste treatment and recycling solutions. Our knowledgeable sales team can help you decide which device can help you achieve maximum efficiency in your operations. As part of our proven sales process, we offer non-binding website reviews and needs assessments.
Please Contact Us Here or call us at 510-623-2323 if we can help you decide which compactor or baler is right for your specific waste compacting needs.
Compactor Management Company (former Northern California Compactors, Inc.) offers installation and support services for waste recycling equipment such as waste compactors, balers, shredders & conveyor systems. Established in 1981, it offers waste management solutions across the United States.
