If your business handles physical products of any shape or size, those products almost certainly come along with cardboard. The cardboard boxes used to package items can quickly pile up—but did you know that you can turn those piles of cardboard into revenue for your business? It’s easier than you might think. Here’s how to sell your cardboard for recycling!
It Starts with a Baler
Just piling up loose cardboard into a truck and driving it to a recycling facility isn’t the most efficient plan. For one thing, you won’t get very much cardboard in each load, so you’ll have to waste both time and money making extra trips. Also, the recycling company won’t pay as much for loose cardboard as they will for bundles that have been properly compressed.
So, the solution to this problem is to purchase a baler for your business (along with any other baling supplies you might need). The baler will make it quick and easy to create tightly-packed bales of cardboard which can then be hauled away and sold to the recycler. Find a location in your facility where you can place that baler that will allow for safe operation and easy loading of the bales onto a truck.
Create a System
Once you have a baler, it will be necessary to create a system within your company for how the cardboard will be handled. You can’t automatically create a bale each time a few boxes are opened, as there won’t be enough cardboard for the task. So, outline a plan for how the cardboard will be stored until it is ready to be baled and when the baling is going to take place. Consistency is key here so as to avoid having loose pieces of cardboard strewn around the facility.
Proper Training Required
Sending an untrained employee to use the baler is a bad idea. These are powerful machines, and while they are relatively simple to use, some training is required to do it right. Don’t cut corners on this point–anyone who is going to use the baler should be properly trained and understand all of the necessary safety precautions.
Shop Around
Most likely, there are at least a couple of recycling centers within a modest drive of your business, if not more. How do their rates compare? Remember, while the leftover cardboard from your operations might look like junk to you, it has value to recyclers as a raw material. So, like anything else in business, take the time to negotiate and make sure you get the best available price for what you are selling.
Get the Supplies you Need from Vulcan Wire
Check out the selection of baling supplies available here at Vulcan Wire to make baling your recyclables easy. We look forward to serving you!
