Do you need a cardboard baler?

If your business produces a lot of cardboard waste you might be wondering whether to invest in a cardboard baler which compacts and bundles cardboard to be sold on to a paper mill for recycling.

A baling machine is a significant investment. Some choose to hire, which spreads out the cost but means that the baler is not an asset to the business. For those who invest in a purchase, you could be looking at a few thousand pounds just for a very small machine, which then needs to be maintained and if it breaks, it will disrupt your workflow and leave you with nowhere to put your cardboard.

There are some key questions to ask when considering switching from skip to baler, because there may be a better alternative: reuse.

Is the cardboard frequently wet or damaged beyond use? If yes, a baler is more likely to be the right choice, and reuse can be ruled out. If no, let’s ask more questions to determine the best route for the waste.

Is your waste cardboard potentially reusable? For instance, is your waste made up of cardboard boxes and cardboard sheets (aka layer pads)? If yes, reuse could be an option, but there are more factors.

You might be thinking, “when would cardboard waste NOT be boxes and sheets?” We’re thinking along the lines of when it’s simply card or specific types of boxes like food containers or card sleeves.

So, if your cardboard is mostly boxes/cartons, is the waste stream highly mixed, with multiple box sizes and styles, or is it a small number of box types that could potentially be segregated?

If the waste is highly mixed, again, a compression baler could be a good option here. But if it can be separated out into a small number of individual items, then reuse could be better.

There are two main benefits to cardboard box reuse that make it a highly attractive alternative to baling.

1. The financial benefits of cardboard reuse

Reuse offers better rebates than baling recycling; that’s true for the Sadlers Cardboard Box Reuse Scheme as they are industry leaders in diverting used boxes to reuse and taking care of their suppliers to ensure a steady flow of material by matching it with a reliable collection service. In addition to that, a baler costs money whether you buy or hire, but Sadlers collects the material free of charge with no hidden fees.

2. The environmental benefits of cardboard reuse

Closed-loop cardboard recycling, which would occur when cardboard is baled and sent to a paper mill, produces 1.1 tonnes of CO2e per tonne of cardboard. This carbon emission is completely saved by reusing the material instead! Less emissions, less negative impact on the environment, and no downsides.

So, think carefully before you start comparing baler machine prices and think about whether what you’re scrapping could be reused. You might be surprised!

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