The Complete Guide to Mill Size Balers

DISCOVER THE EFFICIENCY AND POWER OF MILL SIZED BALERS

If your business generates large volumes of waste, from cardboard and paper waste to plastic wrap and aluminium cans, it’s likely that you’ve heard of Mill Size Balers. But what exactly are they, how do they work, and can they help to transform your recycling process?

In this complete guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Mill Size Balers: how they function, who they’re for, and how they can unlock new revenue streams while cutting down on costs. Whether you’re new to waste compaction or considering an upgrade, our helpful team at Mardon Recycling Machinery can help you make an informed decision.

WHAT IS A MILL SIZE BALER?

A Mill Size Baler is a type of recycling machine engineered to compress high volumes of recyclable materials, such as cardboard, paper, and plastics, into large, dense bales that meet the specifications required by recycling mills. These bales typically weigh between 450kg and 650kg, making them ideal for direct sale without the need for rebaling or further processing.

At Mardon Recycling Machinery, our Mill Size Baler range includes both Vertical Baler and Horizontal Baler models, giving you flexibility based on your volume, available space, and workflow.

WHY ARE THEY CALLED ‘MILL SIZE’ BALERS?

The term refers to the standardised bale size accepted directly by paper mills and plastic recycling plants. By producing bales to these specifications, you avoid intermediary fees, improve your environmental compliance, and can often secure better rebates from recycling processors – as you don’t have to repackage or resize the bales.

Mill Size Balers work by compacting waste into a chamber using powerful hydraulic rams. Depending on the model:

Vertical Balers: loaded from the front and compress waste downwards.

Horizontal Balers: can be fed manually or automatically and compress waste sideways.

Once full, the material is compressed into a uniform bale, which is tied using baling wire or tape and ejected from the chamber. These dense, stackable bales are ready for immediate sale or transport. Mill Size Balers require 3-phase power and operate with pressing forces from 25 to over 120 tonnes, depending on the model.

WHAT CAN YOU BALE?

Mardon’s Mill Size Balers are designed to handle a wide range of materials:

Cardboard (OCC)
Paper (newspaper, office paper, mixed paper)
Shrink Wrap & Plastic Film (LDPE)
PET Bottles
Textiles
Aluminium Cans
Rigid Plastics (in certain heavy-duty models)

WHO SHOULD USE A MILL SIZE BALER?

Mill Size Balers are best suited for:

Warehouses and Distribution Centres
Retail Chains and Supermarkets
Manufacturers and Industrial Facilities
Recycling Stations and Transfer Facilities
E-commerce and Fulfilment Warehouses
Arable & Commercial Farms

If you’re generating multiple bins or skips of cardboard or plastic per week, a mill size baler can drastically reduce your waste volume and costs, while bringing you increased income from the instantly sellable bales.

Investing in a mill size baler doesn’t just streamline your recycling, it can save you thousands annually through:

Reduced transport costs (fewer collections needed)
Higher rebates for baled materials
Less storage space required
Improved site safety and cleanliness
Faster handling times for waste and recycling teams

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MILL SIZE BALER FOR YOU

VERTICAL BALERS

Mill Size Vertical Balers are best for businesses with less space, and medium waste volumes. They’re manually operated, but powerful and compact, taking waste from above and producing compact bales ready for sale.

RamPack range:

SEMI-AUTOMATIC HORIZONTAL BALERS

Mill Size Semi-Automatic Horizontal Balers are great for higher throughput operations that will have a constant feed of material. Material can be manually loaded or loaded by telehandler / bucket feed. The baler automatically detects the material and produces a bale that then requires an operator to tie and eject the bale onto a pallet.

RamPack range:

FULLY-AUTOMATIC CHANNEL BALERS

Mill Size Fully-Automatic Channel Balers are ideal for 24/7 operations and facilities with conveyor-fed waste streams. They have an extremely high output around the clock, with low labour input.

RamPack range:

We also stock Fully Automatic Twin Ram Balers, which are a heavy duty version designed to cope with much harder bale material and switch when you have multiple waste streams.

Rampack range:

MILL SIZE BALER CONSUMABLES

To keep your baler running with optimal performance, you’ll need the right consumables.

Mardon Recycling Machinery offers everything you need for efficient, trouble-free baling:

Baling Tape

READY TO REDUCE YOUR WASTE AND BOOST REVENUE?

Whether you’re looking for a space-saving Vertical Baler or a high-output Horizontal Baler, Mardon’s Mill Size Baler range is built to deliver long-term savings and sustainability benefits.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our helpful team today, or explore our other blogs.

Simpler Recycling Legislation