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Balers and Recycling
1. WASTE PROCESSING - GENERAL WEIGHTS & MEASURES - 1 cubic yard (i.e., of space) is composed of 46,656 cubic inches. - 1 cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet - 1 Bale (measured in Cubic Yds) = L X W X H (in inches) divided by 46,656 - 1 Bale (measured in Cubic Ft) = L X W X H (in inches) divided by 46,656 X 27 - 1 Bale with dimensions of 36”L X 36”W X 36”H equals 1 Cubic Yard
2. LOOSE WASTE VERSUS BALED WASTE The typical volume capacity, density and other characteristics of waste streams vary from industry to industry and location to location within an industry. It is fairly logical that waste streams or trash profiles with the highest air content achieve the highest benefits from compaction. Since trash profiles can vary considerably within the same industry (and even within the same exact market segment) the compaction force or benefits derived from Balers will also vary accordingly.
A) LOOSE, NON-BALED (OR NON-COMPACTED) WASTE. Loose or non-baled materials require a tremendous amount of space in comparison to baled waste. One of the main benefits of baling as much of a waste stream of recyclables as possible (such as bulky cardboard) is that the materials are removed from the waste stream. Even when there is no ‘recycling program’ in place this can lower waste hauling requirements considerably, since even a small quantity of baled recyclables would probably be picked up at no charge by a recycler.
C) TYPICAL BALER SIZES and TYPES OF BALERS. Typically, Balers are referred to by the bale size that they produce. For example, 30” Balers produce a 30” Bale (in width), which is generally about the smallest size Baler available. (Of course, the height and depth are the other two dimensions required in order to determine the actual bale size in cubic yards or cubic feet.) A 30” Baler would most likely produce a Bale Size that was close to .50 cubic Yards or 13.5 cubic feet. (For example, a Bale Size of 30” H X 30” W X 24” D = 21,600 cubic inches which is roughly one-half of a cubic yard.) Typical vertical Balers can range up to Bale sizes of 80” (in width) or even higher. Therefore, if some basic dimensions are utilized on a Baler this size (such as 40” H X 80” W X 40” D) the Bale size could be as much as 2.7 cubic yards or higher. By multiplying the three dimensions together, it is easy to calculate the actual Bale Size. As part of the bale size consideration it is important to try to size the baler so that employees or users do not have to do too much preparation of the materials before putting the material into the baler (such as bending cardboard). Therefore, before deciding on a Baler Size, it is important to evaluate the typical size of the items in the overall waste stream to be baled, in conjunction with the Loading Door Opening of the Baler and the space that is available. Extra space has to be allocated for not only removing the bales from the Baler but also any service requirements that might be necessary (usually about a foot or so from the wall on the back and sides of the Baler). Also the ceiling height is very important since the cylinder movement requires extra height beyond the normal ‘resting height’ of the unit. Some of the other typical baler sizes are 42" Balers, 48" Balers, 60" Balers, 72" Balers and 84" Balers. There are also Specialty Balers such as Bottle Can Balers and Foam Balers, Film Balers, Fiber Balers, as well as Core Tube Balers and Scrap Metal Balers. There are also Vertical Balers and Horizontal Balers. In short, whether it is corrugated cardboard recycling, paper recycling, plastics recycling, metals recycling, or other types of waste recycling, there is a baler or other recycling equipment for almost any application within reason.
D) BALE WEIGHTS – Depending upon the type of material being baled and of course the size and mechanical configuration of the Baler itself (i.e. motor, cylinder, pump, etc) the bale weights can vary greatly. Typical Bale weights for respective materials, such as cardboard (OCC), HPDE, PET, Steel Cans and so forth are usually readily available. Oftentimes the cardboard bale weight is used as a benchmark measure since it is one of the most common items baled. In addition to bale size the bale weight is also an important consideration for determining the desired Baler. The seriousness and ‘depth’ of the Recycling Program usually helps determine the level of care that needs to be taken in deciding on bale weights and sizes etc. Oftentimes bale weights and sizes are just a matter of preference based on handling routines and general logistics.
E) SOME TYPICAL LOOSE & BALED WEIGHTS OF VARIOUS MATERIALS (per cy)
F) BASIC BALER CONSIDERATIONS. By evaluating a few factors such as space available, material(s) to be baled, depth of the recycling program and the preferred bale weights and/or the bale sizes, the Baler type and size that is most suitable can be defined more easily. Knowing the volume of material that needs to be baled each week or month is a good starting point. For example, if a facility was generating 2,000 pounds of cardboard each week, they could get 2 bales per week by utilizing a Baler that produced bale weights of roughly 1,000 to 1,100 pounds, or they could get 5 or 6 bales per week if they utilized a Baler that produced bale weights of around 350 – 400 pounds. And of course, in each case the bale size (in cubic yards or cubic feet) could easily be determined by referring to the 3 ‘bale size’ dimensions (H X W X D). Therefore, in this example, using these two alternatives it would be a matter of deciding how many bales per week would be preferred as well as the bale size being produced. The more serious the recycling program and objectives, the more it will require detailed evaluations of bale sizes and weights and how they are to be transported in order to maximize payloads. Maximizing payloads involves determining the best way to maximize the bale tonnage per load, depending upon the mode of transportation such as flat bed trailer, closed van trailer or shipping container.
G) SORTING MATERIALS PRIOR TO BALING The depth of the recycling program will also determine other considerations such as the level of presorting requirements. To achieve maximum value from Balers as it relates to a recycling program, there should be adequate allocations made for proper sorting.
3. BASIC BALER BENEFITS By using some basic information it can be a simple process for determining the benefits that will be derived from a Baler. Balers that are purchased with a specific purpose in mind and are utilized properly almost always yield great paybacks. Waste from business operations is a highly neglected area and because of that there are tremendous streamlining and efficiency benefits (aside from recycling benefits) that can be derived by baling and compacting waste. Reducing loose waste to cubes of trash (whether compacted or baled) offers management much insight that is otherwise unknown and impossible to quantify. Taking control of waste processing routines can also help to pinpoint problems in other areas such as purchasing practices that might be causing unnecessary waste. A side benefit of balers (just as with compactors) is that they can provide the owner / operator with fairly accurate trash weight information. By knowing the average weight of each bale, then it is just a matter of tracking the number of baled cubes in order to derive the total estimated weight of material for a given period of time, whether weekly or monthly. With loose trash, especially when it is being discarded in dumpsters through different channels it is nearly impossible.
4. BASIC CONSIDERATIONS OF VARIOUS STYLES OF BALERS. As mentioned above, there are many different styles of Balers that are available to fit almost every (reasonable) need. This includes Low Profile Balers (that are designed to operate with less ceiling height than normal), Conveyor System Balers (for very high volume applications), High Density Balers (for baling the really tough materials), Specialty Balers (such as those designed to bale specific items such as soft drink cans and bottles), and many others. Standard Balers are oftentimes the best choice due to overall versatility and most common application of the features provided.
5. CHECKS & BALANCES - WASTE HAULER PICKUP / TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS
SUMMARY – BALERS CAN BE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND HUGE SAVINGS AND INCREASED EFFICIENCY IN THE AREA OF WASTE PROCESSING.
End Copyright © WasteCare Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Article can be reproduced only with written permission from WasteCare Corporation. An identifying link to WasteCare Corporation must be placed visibly before and after the printed article and all hyperlinks within article must remain. To obtain permission to reprint this article, please email us at info@wastecare.com . (Reference Article B9-1)
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