How a baling machine handles cardboard and film

A baling machine compresses loose cardboard, film, or paper into compact bales for easier handling and recycling. This process saves space and helps organize recycling operations in warehouses or factories.

With the TONNA E60, for example, you open the upper door, load in the material, and close it; the platen then lowers automatically. Repeat this process until the machine signals that the bale is full. Secure the straps while the platen is down to keep the bale compact as the platen rises, then lift the platen and remove the bale, standing to the side of the doors.

Each time you load and close the door, the baler compresses a new layer onto the previous one. For a flat, stable bale, spread the cardboard or film evenly in the chamber before closing the door. If material is dropped in one corner, the bale may tilt and be harder to stack.

Large boxes do not need to be cut; simply fold or flatten them. Film tends to spring back more than cardboard, so tie film bales tightly while the platen holds them. Film bales are also heavier for the same size: on the TONNA E60, film bales weigh 40–60 kg, while cardboard bales are 30–50 kg.

The HSM V-Press 605 eco features a bale ejector that pushes the finished bale out of the chamber, reducing manual effort. On balers without a bale ejector, you tip the bale onto a pallet or a pallet truck. In both cases, stand to the side of the doors when removing the bale, as the compressed material will expand.

Selecting a baler machine by pressing force and bale weight

Baler machines are categorized by pressing force and bale weight. Compact vertical balers in the cardboard baler subcategory have a pressing force of 3–5 t and produce bales weighing up to 40–80 kg. Medium vertical balers offer 5.7–12 t of force and bales up to 70–100 kg. Large vertical balers like the TONNA45 and V-Press 818 plus provide 18.5–45 t of force and maximum bale weights of 150–450 kg.

Start by estimating your weekly waste volume. A small store or office with a few boxes daily can use a compact baler. A warehouse or supermarket with regular deliveries may need a medium baler. For high volumes, such as in distribution centers or production sites, a large baler like the TONNA45 or V-Press 818 plus is suitable. Higher pressing force and heavier bales mean fewer bales and less handling for the same amount of waste.

Consider how you will handle finished bales. Bales weighing 40–80 kg can be moved with a hand truck. Heavier bales, such as the 200 kg bales from the V-Press 818 plus or up to 450 kg from the TONNA45, should be placed on a pallet and moved with a pallet truck or forklift. Plan your bale handling and storage before choosing a machine.

Check your facility’s power supply before selecting a baler. The TONNA E60 operates on a standard 230 V outlet, while the HSM V-Press 605 eco requires a 400 V three-phase outlet. A bale ejector, like the one on the HSM V-Press 605 eco, reduces manual work for teams handling many bales each week.

Summary table of recycling equipment types

The table below shows the main types of recycling equipment in this category. It lists the models, pressing force, and bale weight for each machine type.

To use the table, first match the equipment type to your waste. If your waste is already collected in bins, a bin press is suitable. For sorted cardboard or film, a vertical baler is best. If you need packing material, check the cardboard shredder models. Compare pressing force and maximum bale weight to your waste volume and your bale handling equipment. For example, if you use a hand truck, compact balers with lighter bales are practical; if you have a pallet truck or forklift, larger balers with heavier bales may be a better fit.

Bin presses as waste compactors for standard bins

Bin presses like the TONNA bin press 240L and TONNA1100 are waste compactors for standard 240-liter and 1100-liter bins. They use a pressing force of 2 t or 3 t to reduce the volume of waste inside the bin.

A waste compactor is suitable for small amounts of cardboard or mixed packaging in bins. For larger volumes or when you need bales for recycling, a baler is the better option.

With a bin press, waste is compacted directly in your bin: a plate presses down into the bin, so you can keep using your standard bins and each one holds more before emptying. This setup is ideal for workplaces where waste is already collected in these bins, such as small warehouses or retail stockrooms.

The collection company empties the same bins as before, so your waste process stays the same. A bin filled with compacted waste is much heavier than one with loose waste. Always check the bin’s weight limit and ask the collection company if they accept compacted bins: the truck’s lifter has a weight limit, and tightly packed waste may not fall out when the bin is tipped.

Unlike a baling machine, a bin press does not produce bales to tie or store. The waste remains in the bin and is picked up with your regular collection. You do not get tied, sorted bales that a recycler collects or pays for, but each bin holds more, so it needs to be emptied less often.

What to Put in a Baling Machine—and What Not To

A baling machine is made for clean, dry cardboard, film, and paper. Only load one type of material per bale for recycling.

Do not put food, wood, or metal into the baler. Keep a separate bin next to the baler for items that should not go in, so no one is tempted to press them with the cardboard.

Before loading cardboard into the chamber, remove anything that is not cardboard: wood pieces, metal, foam, and plastic strapping material. These can damage the baler or ruin the bale for recycling. For film, keep stretch film and shrink film separate from cardboard. Some recyclers also want clear and printed film separated, so check with your recycler before mixing them in a bale.

Keep cardboard dry before baling: a wet bale is heavier, can start to rot, and may not be accepted by the recycler. For example, if boxes are stored outside and get wet, let them dry before loading them into the baler.

Bale Size, Tying, and Handling from a Recycling Baler

A recycling baler like the TONNA E60 produces a bale measuring 70 × 50 × 70 cm, weighing 30–50 kg for cardboard or 40–60 kg for film. The shop offers textile strap for tying bales, 16 mm wide and 340 m per roll.

Bales can be stacked and stored for pickup by a recycler. When standing upright, a TONNA E60 bale of 70 × 50 × 70 cm fits twice on a EUR pallet of 120 × 80 cm. This makes it easy to move bales with a pallet truck in the warehouse. When stacking, always put the heaviest bales at the bottom and do not stack higher than is stable. Keep a simple record of bales made, with their material and date, so you know how many are ready when you schedule a pickup.

Always store bales in a dry area, away from heat sources. Compacted cardboard is flammable, so do not keep bales near heaters or electrical panels. Label each bale or stack with its material, such as cardboard or film. This helps the recycler load them quickly without sorting and prevents mistakes that could lower the bale’s value.

Cardboard Shredders for Shipping Padding

Cardboard shredders turn used boxes into packing material for shipping. The cardboard shredder section includes four models: GREE XS, GREE ES, HSM ProfiPack C400, and ProfiPack P425.

To make shipping padding, flatten used boxes and feed them into the shredder’s slot. The machine processes the cardboard into padding that fills empty spaces and wraps products in shipping boxes. The working width is 420 mm on the GREE XS and 422 mm on the GREE ES, and both machines trim wider board, so you do not need to cut a wider box to size before feeding.

Always use clean, dry corrugated cardboard and remove any metal or plastic parts before shredding. Place the shredder where incoming boxes are unpacked and outgoing goods are packed, so boxes do not have to be moved twice. Every box turned into padding is one less in the waste, and you save on buying new packing materials for shipping.

When Recycling Equipment Makes Sense

Recycling equipment is worth it when your business produces cardboard or film daily and bins fill up quickly. If you pay for frequent bin pickups, a baler or a waste compactor reduces the number of collections, since compacted waste—either in bales or in the bin—takes up much less space.

Loose boxes and film also use up storage space in the warehouse. With recycling equipment, clean, sorted bales stay in one place until a recycler picks them up.

To see if recycling equipment is cost-effective for your business, add up your current expenses. Count the number of bin pickups per month and their cost, the floor space used by loose boxes, and the time staff spend flattening and moving cardboard. Compare that total to the price of the machine and strap, and to the value of the bales if a recycler pays for them.

Clean, sorted bales have value because recyclers often pick them up for free or pay for them, depending on the market price for cardboard or film. This is different from mixed waste, where you pay for every pickup. For example, a business that produces bales of clean cardboard can arrange for regular pickup and may get paid for each metric ton collected.

Loose cardboard around the building is not just a space issue: it is a fire hazard and a trip risk. When baled and stored in one place, away from heat sources, the same cardboard is controlled and the floor stays clear.

Space, Height, and Power Requirements

Before installing recycling equipment, check the space in front of the machine for loading and bale removal. A vertical baler like the TONNA E60 needs space in front and above the doors for safe use. The machine itself measures 83 × 70 × 193 cm and should be placed in a closed, dry room.

The correct power supply must be available where the machine will be installed: 230 V for the TONNA E60, 400 V for models like the HSM V-Press 605 eco. If there is no three-phase outlet, an electrician should install one before the machine is set up.

When planning installation, check the ceiling above the machine for beams, pipes, and sprinklers, not just the total height. Make sure nothing blocks the baler’s doors when they open. For example, in a warehouse with low-hanging pipes, you may need to pick a spot where the doors can open fully.

The floor under the machine must be level and strong enough to support both the machine and the bales stored next to it. If the floor is uneven, the baler may not work properly or could be unsafe. In a packing area, make sure the floor does not slope and that there are no drains or steps where the machine will be placed.

Plan two routes before the machine arrives. First, the way in for the baler: measure all doors, elevators, and hallways the machine must pass through. Second, the way out for the bales: make sure you can move bales with a pallet truck or forklift from the machine to storage and then to the collection point. For example, if the baler is installed upstairs, check if the elevator can handle both the machine and the bales.

The best place for the baler is near where boxes are unpacked and also close to the collection point outside. This shortens the distance staff need to carry waste and move finished bales.

What a Recycler Wants from a Bale

A recycler accepts bales of a single material, clean and dry, and a well-tied bale stays together during handling and transport.

Heavier bales mean fewer trips to the recycler: the same amount of cardboard leaves as fewer bales and fewer loads. Check which bale weight your recycler accepts before choosing a machine.

Before you order a baler, ask the recycler about their requirements. Find out which materials they accept, the bale size and weight they want, whether they pick up bales loose or on pallets, and the minimum quantity they will collect. Also ask if they take film and paper as well as cardboard, so one recycler can handle all your bales.

Clean, clear stretch film is usually more valuable than printed film, so keep them separate if your recycler requests it. Make sure the straps are secure before bales are collected, as a bale that breaks during loading causes delays for the recycler.

Coordinate with your recycler on how collections are scheduled: some pick up on a regular day, while others come when you call after a certain number of bales are ready. This helps you plan how much space you need to store bales.

Ask how bales are weighed and paid for: whether payment is based on the recycler’s scale or by the number of bales, and how the price tracks the market for cardboard and film. Always compare each payment statement with your own records of bales handed over.

Safe Operation of the Baling Machine

Only trained personnel who have read the manual should operate the baler. The press operates only when the loading door is closed. Stand to the side when opening the doors, as a compressed bale will expand when released.

Only one person should use the baler at a time, and others must stay clear of the doors during operation. Before clearing a jam, turn off the baler and unplug it or lock the main switch so no one can start it while your hands are inside. Never climb into the chamber. Keep the area in front of the baler clear to prevent tripping while loading or removing a bale.

When cutting the straps on a compressed bale, always stand to the side. The bale expands quickly when the straps are cut. Move heavy bales on a pallet using a pallet truck or forklift, never by hand.

Checklist Before Ordering Recycling Equipment

Before placing an order, review the type and amount of packaging waste you generate each week. Confirm the bale weight your recycler accepts, check the available space and ceiling height in your facility, and verify the power supply. Decide who will load the machine and where it will be installed.

The overview table above shows which type of machine matches your requirements.

For example, a packing line might fill three 240-liter bins with cardboard and one with film each week. If your waste comes in peaks, such as after large deliveries, choose a baler sized for your busiest week rather than the average. If your cardboard volume is increasing, select the next larger size instead of a baler that will be full from the start.

Plan how you will move and store bales before collection. Choose a dry storage area near the collection point and label it for each material. Decide where to put plastic strapping bands, foam, and wood removed from goods, as these should not go into the baler. For a waste compactor designed for bins, make sure your bins match the standard size the machine is built for.

Order strap along with the baler; textile strap for waste bales is supplied in packs of four rolls. Keep extra rolls at the machine so you never run out while a bale is being pressed. Assign the staff who will load the machine and arrange for their training before the baler is put into use.

Decide if one baler is enough for all your materials, or if you need separate machines for cardboard and film: one baler can handle both, but only one material goes into each bale, so mixing materials means more frequent changes.

Questions About Recycling Equipment

How heavy are the bales produced by these machines?

Bale weight depends on the machine and the material. For example, the TONNA E60 produces bales weighing 30–50 kg for cardboard and 40–60 kg for film. Larger balers like the TONNA45 can make bales up to 450 kg.

Can a baling machine compress both plastic film and cardboard?

Yes. The TONNA E60, for example, can bale both materials and has separate operating modes for cardboard and film. The TONNA T-Portable and HSM V-Press 60 are compact balers designed for film and paper.

How long does a pressing cycle take on a vertical baler?

On the TONNA E60, one pressing cycle takes 27 seconds. Cycle times for other models are listed on their product pages.

What power supply do the balers require?

The TONNA E60 operates on 230 V. Other balers may need different power supplies, such as 400 V for the HSM V-Press 605 eco. The power requirements for each model are shown on their product pages.