Entrepreneurs who are interested in improving the waste management process for their companies are surely familiar with these two pieces of machinery: balers and compactors.
They serve a similar purpose: to make handling waste easier by reducing the volume of waste materials. Therefore, many believe that balers and compactors are one and the same thing. Still, the two should not be confused.
There are key differences that set balers and compactors apart and you must be well informed on the matter if you want to choose the right piece of equipment to support your business’ waste management goals.
Balers are meant for recycling, so you can only use them to process recyclable materials such as cardboard, paper, plastic, metal, foam etc. Balers compress waste materials into compact bundles (or bales), making it easier for recycling companies to collect and transport them to recycling units. Many companies are even willing to buy bales.
Compactors are used to process unsorted mixed waste, that can’t be recycled, by compressing it into a container. A waste collection company then picks it up and takes it to the landfill. Compactors are a much cleaner solution than regular trash bins as they help store all the waste safely into a contained area, lowering the danger of cross contamination.
To sum up, it all depends on your company’s needs and the type of waste materials you have deal with. It’s also important to think about your future objectives. Are you planning on focusing on recycling or are you more interested in reducing trash volume and saving space on your premises?
There’s a wide range of balers and compactors on the market, so you’ll definitely find something that will suit your needs, regardless of your company’s size.
If you’re trying to evaluate what is most effective for your business, a waste audit can also help you determine the type of equipment that will work best and help you to create a better waste management plan.