Five Things You Need To Know Before Choosing A Baler | Blog

08 Sep.,2025

 

Five Things You Need To Know Before Choosing A Baler | Blog

Balers might seem like simple machines performing a simple function, but the sheer amount of different designs and capabilities is a testament to the fact that they’re as varied as any kind of industrial equipment. As such, you’re going to need to know a little more about balers and their operation before you hit the market to buy your company’s trash and waste compactor. This article highlights five key fields of baler knowledge that’ll help you make a more informed decision about the baler you choose to onboard, helping you find the perfect match for your business.

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They Operate Vertically or Horizontally

One of the primary differences in balers, when you see them in showrooms or online, is that they either crush in a downwards motion or a sideways one. Hence, you have vertical balers and horizontal balers on the market. Both are effective in their work, but they occupy a different shape and space in your warehouse and require a slightly different operation. It’s the first thing to bear in mind when shopping for balers.

Some Models Are Hard to Repair

As conventional wisdom goes, you should always buy American if you’re operating in America. That’s because if your machine breaks in the years to come, you have easier access to spares to repair it, meaning you can avoid a delay in your waste disposal system which can be costly and disruptive to your business as a whole. Find baler repair or baler monitor repair companies that you can trust – like Harris balers and their spares and repairs operators to ensure longevity in your purchase.

Scale is Important

What amount of waste is flowing through your business? Will you only be using your baler periodically, or is it going to be an important part of your business processes over time? The answers to these questions will determine which type of baler you should opt for – be that an auto-tie baler, two ram baler for ease and speed, or a manual baler that’s the best fit for smaller business producing less waste.

They’re Made Per Material

While some balers are made to crush all kinds of material, most are made to do a specific job, That’s because, as you can imagine, a cardboard baler requires a different crushing function to a baler that is enlisted to crush metals. Make sure that you’re cognizant of this fact from the get-go, purchasing only the type of baler you’ll need to process the waste materials that your company produces.

They Vary in Price

Of course, with any kind of product, you’ll find a large variation in the pricing. It’s no different for the baler industry, and this is an important point to consider when you’re shopping around for balers. In general, the more expensive models are more reliable, and can, therefore, be a better one-off investment for your business. That being said, used balers can be a good fit for businesses that are looking to cut investment costs, and you’ll be able to repair them cheaply if they’re a common make.

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These tips should help you in your journey to purchasing the very best-suited baler for your business.

Baling OCC guide - Baling Wire Direct

According to the American Forest and Paper Association, 93.6% of OCC (old corrugated containers), or cardboard, was recycled in , making cardboard one of the most successfully recycled materials.

Cardboard balers compress sorted cardboard into dense bales for transportation and storage. The cardboard recycling industry bales materials to reduce transportation costs and storage space requirements. The cardboard baling process follows these steps:

  1. Sorted cardboard feeds into the baler’s hopper.
  2. Once the baler chamber is full, the baler compresses the cardboard to the desired density and weight.
  3. Operators use bale ties, or auto-tie balers secure the bales with baling wire.
  4. Finished bales are ejected from the baler and sent to recycling centers for processing.

Balers help remove cardboard and other recyclables from the waste stream, promoting sustainability and the circular economy.

What is the cardboard recycling process?

Besides baling, cardboard undergoes the following recycling process:

  1. Collection: cardboard is collected from curbside bins, businesses, and other sources.
  2. Sorting: cardboard is sorted into different types. Corrugated cardboard is separated from boxboard (thinner material) and any coated or waxed cardboard is set aside for specialized recycling.
  3. Baling: depending on the operation, sorted cardboard is baled and sent to other processing facilities or storage sites.
  4. Shredding and pulping: sorted cardboard is shredded into small pieces. It is then mixed with water and chemicals to break down the fibers, creating a slurry known as pulp. This pulp is sometimes blended with virgin fibers to enhance strength.
  5. Filtering and cleaning: the pulp is filtered to remove tape, glue, staples, ink, and other contaminants.
  6. Drying and finishing: cleaned pulp is dried and formed into sheets of paper.
  7. Converting into new products: finished sheets are used to manufacture new cardboard materials, which are ready for redistribution.

Cardboard can undergo recycling 5–8 times before the fibers become too short for further use.

Best baling wire for cardboard

We carry several wire options for baling cardboard boxes and other OCC products. The best type of wire and wire gauge for baling cardboard depends on whether you have a vertical or horizontal baler and whether it is automatic or manual tie. Storage conditions and duration also affect wire choice. Here are some of the best options:

  • Galvanized wire is less commonly used for baling cardboard. But if your bales require long-term storage, galvanization offers increased resistance to rust and corrosion to keep bales safe and secure.
  • Black annealed wire feeds smoothly through the high-volume automatic baling machines commonly used in cardboard recycling. Annealing improves wire’s ductility for baling expansive cardboard.
  • Single loop bale ties can be tied to different lengths to accommodate inconsistent bale sizes. They work with manual horizontal and vertical balers. We offer both black annealed and galvanized single loop bale ties.
  • Double loop bale ties are pre-cut to length and feature a loop (hook) at both ends. The double loop configuration accelerates the tying process, increasing productivity.

What types of cardboard are recyclable?

Most types of cardboard waste can be baled, including:

  • OCC: known as the most commonly recycled cardboard, OCC has one or more corrugated sheets sandwiched between two outer walls. Additional fluted sheets can be added to increase protection and durability. OCC includes shipping boxes, pizza boxes, shoe boxes, impact protection pads, dividers, and retail displays.
  • Chipboard: thicker than paperboard, packaging, dividers, protectors, book covers, and product displays are made of chipboard.
  • Paperboard (solid cardboard): a thin, compact cardboard sheet suitable for high-quality printing. It is used for packaging and retail displays. Paperboard products also include food packaging, retail packaging, cereal boxes, beverage carriers, and some tissue paper products.

Most types of cardboard can be baled and recycled. Cardboard coated in wax, contaminated by food or other substances, or saturated with moisture cannot be recycled.

Benefits of recycling cardboard

Some of the benefits of recycling cardboard include:

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  • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
  • Production of 50% less sulfur dioxide
  • Job creation in collection, sorting, and processing
  • Reduced volume of cardboard waste that goes to landfills
  • Conservation of natural resources
  • Community engagement around environmental impact awareness