Frequently asked questions about balers and compactors
Vertical balers
A vertical baler is an industrial hydraulic machine used to compress and bale cardboard, plastic, non-ferrous metals, and shrink wrap. The rectangular bales it produces come in different sizes and are extremely compact and dense. The purpose of baling is to recover these materials in order to optimize transportation costs, with less air and more material. Important note: a vertical baler cannot be used to make clothing bales for export.
Click here to see the IBV1010 vertical baler in action.
Different models of vertical balers are used for various types of recycling and can be adapted to the specific needs and volumes of each of our clients. The available space at your operation site is also an important factor to consider. A quick call with one of our advisors will help guide you toward the right vertical baler solution for your organization. Important note: a vertical baler cannot be used to make clothing bales for export.
Recycled materials can be recovered, and some may even be sold. Each bale of cardboard, plastic, non-ferrous metals, or shrink wrap could generate potential revenue for your organization. Landfilling recyclable materials is costly and should be reduced to a minimum to protect the health of our planet. By removing recyclables from your waste stream, you reduce both the weight and frequency of waste collection, which lowers your ultimate disposal costs. Consult the rest of this FAQ to learn more about our products. Book a free appointment with one of Industek’s expert advisors.
Installation must be carried out by a professional. Industek will provide you with a turnkey installation solution. Our experienced team of installation experts will inspect your site to ensure it is properly suited for your equipment setup, then schedule the delivery and installation of your unit at the right time. Our expertise goes far beyond manufacturing. Consult the rest of this FAQ to learn more about our products.
Yes, and this is very important. During the installation process, our installers will show you how to properly use your baler. Each baler also comes with an instruction manual. It is also essential to ensure compliance with the safety measures and guidelines of each company and province.
Our vertical balers are designed for many years of trouble-free operation and come with a standard 2-year warranty on parts and labour. Preventive maintenance programs are available. Industek also provides repair services for all makes and models of vertical balers. Consult the rest of this FAQ to learn more about our products.
It is the ratio by which a baler will reduce the volume of your recyclable material.
That depends on three factors.
- The type of material;
- The total pressing force of the baler in PSI;
- How the material is managed inside the baler (i.e., carefully placed or simply thrown in).
The average compaction ratio of commercial cardboard (OCC: Old Corrugated Containers) in a baler is 10 to 1 and up to 15 to 1. Example: With an IBV1010 baler, you could compress 10 to 15 pallets of loose, flat cardboard into a single bale. The ratio is even better for plastics and shrink wrap — you’ll be impressed.
Avoid mixing different recyclable materials together. It is strongly discouraged to insert wet recyclables and/or other types of waste into your baler, such as wood, metal, soil, or stones.
Your bales must weigh at least 350 kg (770 lbs) in order to be considered by national recyclers.
Old corrugated cardboard (OCC) #11 packaging
They consist of bales of old corrugated cardboard packaging made from linerboard or special linerboard (testliner) containing 100% recycled materials.
Prohibited materials
Any material whose presence, in quantities exceeding the permitted limit, would render the load unusable for the specified grade. Any material that could damage the equipment. All recovered and sorted pre-consumer paper must be free of food debris, medical or hazardous waste, as well as toxic substances and other harmful materials or liquids.*
The recycler’s facility reserves the right to reject bales if the content of these materials exceeds 1%.
- Metal in all its forms, excluding the staples on corrugated cardboard boxes.
- Plastic, including bags and bottles.
- glass
- wood
- rubber
- Wet-strength paper.
- newspaper and magazines
- polyethylene-coated cardboard
- waxed boxes, containers, or paper
Rejects
*All papers that have been manufactured or treated in a way that makes them unsuitable for use in the specified paper grade.
The facility reserves the right to reject bales if rejects (including prohibited materials) exceed 5%.
- old corrugated cardboard packaging originating from Asia.
- Carboard for boxes
- Writing paper
Other specifications: Moisture: maximum 8% (+/- 2%) **
Containers that have been in contact with toxic or harmful substances will be refused.
Per example :
- Fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, rodenticides, or containers contaminated with these substances.
- Bags or containers of chemical products that may have contained and absorbed questionable chemicals, including but not limited to heavy metal compounds of antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium, silver, and zinc.
- Toxic, carcinogenic, and potentially carcinogenic substances such as dyes, formaldehyde, PCBs or phenolic resins, pigments, etc.
If any of the above-mentioned materials are detected in the bales, the entire shipment will be rejected, and all subsequent shipments will be withheld until the recycler is sufficiently confident that such a situation will not occur again.
Credit: recyclage.kruger.com
subject to updates based on industry standards
* Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. Scrap Specifications Circular, 2016.
Compactors
A compactor is a heavy-duty industrial machine used to compress waste, reducing the number of times a hauler needs to pick up and empty your waste container. By lowering the frequency of waste collections, you can significantly reduce your collection fees.
As a general rule, there are two types of materials that can be processed in a compactor: wet waste and dry waste.
Dry waste consists of dry materials such as paper, plastic, and textiles that cannot be recycled, as well as wood, iron, and industrial production rejects.
Wet waste includes moist materials such as liquid or semi-liquid food waste generated by grocery stores, restaurants, cafeterias, or other types of industries.
It is the ratio by which a compactor will reduce the volume of your material.
That depends on three factors:
- The type of material: very dry or more or less moist.
- The total pressing force of the compactor in PSI.
- The type of compaction container.
The average compaction ratio for mixed waste in a compactor is 4 to 1.
Example: You could expect to compact up to 160 cubic yards of loose mixed waste into a 40-cubic-yard container.
Exceptions in the compaction ratio. Dry industrial waste, mainly consisting of wooden pallets, furniture, concrete, or large shipping boxes such as Gaylord boxes, can reduce the compaction ratio to as low as 2 to 1. Climate conditions also affect the compaction rate of a stationary or integrated compactor. Frozen waste is more difficult to compact than wet waste. Be sure to take all these variables into account before confirming your compaction rate estimates.
Wet waste must be compacted in an integrated compactor. These compactors allow wet waste and any liquids to be poured directly into the unit. The integrated compactor is leakproof. When the compactor is full, a hauler will collect the entire unit, empty it at a dedicated site, and return it empty to your location. You can include both dry and wet waste in an integrated compactor.
