Sustainable Manufacturing from Start to Finish
President Container Group’s sustainability commitment includes comprehensive waste recycling programs powered by industrial baling equipment across our facilities.
What Is a Baler?
A baler is an industrial machine used in corrugated packaging manufacturing to compress scrap corrugated material into dense, compact bales that can be efficiently stored, transported, and recycled. During the converting process — die-cutting, slotting, scoring, and stripping — significant amounts of corrugated trim and waste are generated. The baler collects this material and uses hydraulic pressure to compress it into uniform corrugated waste bales that are ready for pickup by recycling partners.
Balers are essential equipment in any corrugated manufacturing facility committed to minimizing waste and maximizing the value recovered from production scrap. The baled material re-enters the paper supply chain as recycled fiber, which can be used to manufacture new linerboard and corrugating medium.
How Balers Work
Industrial balers used in corrugated plants operate on a straightforward principle: scrap material is collected — often via conveyor systems connected directly to converting equipment — and fed into the baler’s compression chamber. A hydraulic ram then compresses the loose material into a dense block. Once the bale reaches a predetermined weight and density, it is bound with wire or strapping and ejected from the machine, ready for storage and eventual transport to a recycling mill.
Modern balers operate continuously alongside production equipment, ensuring that waste material is processed in real time rather than accumulating on the production floor. This integration keeps the manufacturing environment clean and organized while maximizing recycling efficiency.
Types of Balers in Corrugated Manufacturing
- Horizontal balers — high-volume machines that process material continuously, commonly used in large corrugated plants with automated waste collection systems
- Vertical balers — compact machines suited for lower-volume operations or auxiliary waste streams
- Two-ram balers — advanced systems that compress material in two directions for denser, more uniform bales ideal for long-distance transport
The choice of baler depends on the volume of waste generated, the available floor space, and the requirements of the recycling partner receiving the bales.
Baling and Sustainability at PCG
At President Container Group, waste recycling is a core component of our sustainability program. Our baling operations process the scrap generated across all converting lines — from President Container’s box manufacturing to Artisan Display & Packaging’s display production. The resulting corrugated waste bales are sold to recycling mills, keeping valuable fiber in the supply chain and out of landfills.
Combined with our solar-powered manufacturing and FSC/SFI certifications, our baling and recycling operations help our customers meet their own sustainability reporting requirements by providing packaging produced in an environmentally responsible facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to corrugated waste bales after they leave the plant?
Corrugated waste bales are transported to paper recycling mills where the corrugated material is re-pulped, cleaned, and converted into new linerboard or corrugating medium. This recycled fiber then returns to the supply chain as raw material for new corrugated board production.
How much waste does a corrugated plant typically generate?
Waste generation varies depending on the types of products being manufactured. Die-cutting operations, especially those producing complex shapes for displays, generate more waste than standard box manufacturing. A well-managed corrugated plant recycles virtually all of its corrugated scrap through baling operations.
Does baling affect the recyclability of corrugated material?
No. Baling simply compresses corrugated scrap into a dense, transportable form. The material retains its full recyclability and is processed at the recycling mill in exactly the same way as loose corrugated waste — it is just far more efficient to store and transport in baled form.
Partner with a Sustainable Packaging Manufacturer
President Container Group · 200 W Commercial Ave, Moonachie, NJ 07074 · (201) 933-7500