Balers and waste compactors are both useful tools for making the waste management process easier and more cost-effective. However, if you are new to the waste management industry, you may not understand the key differences between a baler and a waste compactor. While they both use a compressing process to reduce the volume of waste materials, they also have many differences that are important to understand when choosing between the two systems. This side-by-side comparison will help you decide which waste handling system is a better fit for your company.
Waste Balers
You can use waste balers to condense dry, recyclable materials into consistently-shaped bales. They are an ideal option for compressing waste such as paper, metal, cardboard, and plastics. By compressing these materials into dense bales, they become significantly easier to store and transport as they take up much less space. Additionally, compacting these materials won’t just cut down on waste transportation costs, waste balers will also allow you to add an extra revenue stream to your company by selling the bales to a recycling plant.
Waste Compactors
Unlike balers, you can use waste compactors to compress large quantities of mixed waste that is often unsorted and non-recyclable. Since the average recycling contamination rate among communities and businesses is roughly 25 percent, compactors are a popular waste handling system option for many companies. By decreasing the volume of their waste onsite, businesses can greatly reduce waste-collecting costs. This is because companies pay an amount based on the volume of waste they produce in addition to how many trips waste collecting companies must take to transport it to a landfill.
Ultimately, the key difference between a baler and a waste compactor is the materials that they process. For condensing recyclable materials, you should choose a mixed baler. However, compactors are the ideal option for compressing large quantities of mixed waste. Both systems have the potential to save your company a large amount of money on waste transportation costs, and balers can even make money if you choose to sell the bales to a recycling plant. As such, purchasing either one of these systems for your business is a practical and cost-effective investment.