Start with your current waste costs
Use invoices and site records for a representative period. Record collection charges, container hire, material quantities and the time spent handling waste. Note seasonal peaks and any extra collections or contamination charges.
Describe how cardboard, paper or film moves through the site. Repeated handling and bulky storage may be part of the problem, but freed space and staff time are not automatically cash savings. Record what would actually change.
Keep the comparison consistent. Use the same time period and material quantities for the current process and the proposed alternative, and separate one-off installation costs from ongoing expenses.
What are the main baler running costs?
The machine payment is only one part of the calculation. Account for the people, energy, consumables and support required to keep the process working. Ask what is included in a rental or service proposal and which items are charged separately.
| Cost area | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Purchase or rental | Purchase and installation costs, or the rental charge, term and included services. |
| Electricity | Energy used over the actual working cycle and the site's electricity tariff. |
| Tying materials | The specified wire or strapping, its unit cost and expected use. |
| Labour and handling | Time for loading, tying, unloading, moving bales and housekeeping. |
| Servicing and downtime | Scheduled maintenance, parts, support arrangements and contingency. |
| Storage and collection | Handling equipment, storage needs, collection charges and contract terms. |
Where can storage and collection savings come from?
Compressing loose material into bales can make storage more organised and allow material to be collected in a different format or batch size. This is useful only if the collector accepts that format and the site can store and move the finished bales.
Ask your collector for a proposal covering the actual material, expected quantities, bale specification and collection frequency. Confirm minimum loads and any charges. A lower waste volume does not necessarily change a fixed collection fee.
There is no universal percentage saving. Material condition, bale size, current container use and collection terms all influence the result. Compare the proposed arrangement with your existing invoices.
Can selling baled material provide income?
Some collectors purchase suitable recyclable material, but acceptance and payment depend on the material grade, contamination, quantity and commercial agreement. Confirm these terms before counting any income in your comparison.
Use a current quote from the collector and assess what happens if that payment falls or disappears. Keep material income separate from collection savings so that the same benefit is not counted twice.
If your existing arrangement already includes a material rebate, compare the change in that rebate rather than treating the proposed payment as entirely new income.
How should you estimate electricity and labour?
A motor rating in kilowatts is not a daily electricity bill. Consumption depends on how long and how often the machine operates and its power demand during the process. Ask for relevant operating information or use measured consumption for a representative workload.
Record the full handling cycle for labour estimates. A baler still needs material loading, tying, bale removal and routine care. An arrangement that reduces trips to a container may save time, while a poorly placed machine can introduce extra handling.
Review where the baler will sit, how material reaches it and where finished bales go. These layout details can affect running costs as much as a headline machine specification.
How do you compare purchase and rental?
Purchase involves an upfront commitment and responsibility for the costs agreed in the supply and support terms. Rental spreads machine payments over an agreed period, with servicing, installation and other inclusions depending on the contract.
Compare both options over the same expected period of use. Include delivery, installation, electrical work, maintenance and any return or end-of-term costs that apply. Discuss changes in waste volume and what happens if the machine no longer suits the operation.
A useful first check is the current process cost minus the proposed baling process cost for the same period. Include verified material income consistently in both. If the result is positive, assess the one-off investment and operational assumptions before deciding.
What should you send with a baler enquiry?
Send your material types, representative quantities, existing collection arrangement, available power supply and a simple site layout. Include the handling equipment already available and whether you prefer purchase or rental.
NORKAM can use these details to discuss suitable machines and installation needs. Combine that proposal with your collector's terms to build a cost comparison based on your own operation.
Common questions
Will a baler always reduce collection charges?
No. Charges depend on the collection contract and the proposed service. Confirm a revised collection arrangement before treating reduced volume as a financial saving.
Can I calculate electricity costs from motor power alone?
No. You also need operating time and a realistic power-use profile or measured consumption, together with your electricity tariff.
Is buying always cheaper than renting?
The answer depends on the period of use, upfront costs, maintenance responsibilities and rental terms. Compare the full cost of both options over the same period.