We've Got Cardboard Recycling All Wrapped Up
Earn dollars and rebates when you recycle
Through Waste Management's cardboard recycling programs, we offer several options to meet your cardboard recycling needs. The solution we provide will vary based upon your cardboard volumes and how the material is packaged.
Bale Route Service
This service is normally suggested for locations currently using a compactor and generating 4 - 10 tons of loose old corrugated containers ("OCC") monthly. When a client uses a compactor for their OCC, they pay a hauler to take the material to a recycling facility and receive a relatively low rebate for their cardboard. By installing a baler and using bale route service, you remove the haul charge and increase your revenue.
Once a bale is made, you will remove it from the baler and place it outside your back door. Our subcontractors will automatically pick up a minimum of 5 bales on their route. Bale route service can be performed at ground-level or dock-level and our subcontractors come with their own forklift, so all your company has to do is sign the receipt. Waste Management will send you a monthly report of activity along with remittance for your OCC.
Mill Direct
Bales sold directly to a mill (known as mill-ready) must comply with size and weight directives. For example, small retailers frequently use small balers that produce 36 inch or 42 inch bales weighing between 150 to 400 pounds (mills will not accept bales smaller than 60"). Large producers of corrugated waste may use horizontal balers because they can keep up with larger production volumes and feature auto-tying systems that reduce labor costs.
Reverse Logistics
Where supported by client logistic capabilities, we convert cardboard recycling at stores currently using waste haulers and bale route vendors to a reverse logistics system so that OCC is centralized at distribution centers or third party processing centers for baling or cross docking. Waste Management eliminates all cardboard services at stores along with corresponding costs. Cardboard is taken back to distribution centers or other third party locations and baled to market specifications.
Waste Management will buy cardboard from clients at full market rate and manage the logistics of getting the cardboard to market.
Benefits of Reverse Logistics:
- Significant cost reduction from elimination of services at stores
- Significant rebates from selling cardboard direct to market
- Piggy-back other materials like plastic shopping bags
- Be a more sustainable 'green' company
Note: There are primarily two types of cardboard balers: down-stroke and horizontal. Baler sizes are determined by the length of the bale generated and vary in size. The through-put volume of the corrugated material and space available are major factors in baler selection.