Save time
- Free your team from endlessly breaking down cardboard boxes.
- Compact cardboard in seconds at the point of waste.
- Spend more time on productive, revenue-generating tasks.
Cardboard Balers
Reduce cardboard volume by up to 90%, cut collections and free up space.
With over 30 years of experience, we provide cardboard baler solutions to help your business handle cardboard waste effectively.
Save money
- Reduce the number of waste collections.
- Lower transport and handling costs for cardboard.
- Generate potential rebate income from baled cardboard.
Save space
- Replace loose cardboard piles with neat, stackable bales.
- Keep work areas clear, tidy and safe.
- Maximise valuable floor space in your facility.
Discover Our 3 Most Popular Cardboard Balers
A102 Small Baler
- Ideal for small volumes of cardboard.
- Minimal floorspace with simple operation.
- Perfect for shops, cafés and small sites.
A509 Wide Chamber Baler
- Large chamber for bulky cardboard.
- Heavy-duty performance in a compact footprint.
- Popular choice for warehouses and industry.
H600 Mill Size Baler
- Produces dense, mill-size cardboard bales.
- Designed for high-volume cardboard users.
- Maximises rebate value from recyclers.
Minimize your waste- grow your savings!
Pneumatic Cardboard Balers
Pneumatic balers use compressed air rather than hydraulic oil.
They keep your recycling area clean, quiet and easy to maintain, while delivering high compaction ratios.
A102 Cardboard Baler
- Bale 40 kg cardboard & 100kg plastic
- Floorspace footprint of 0.45m²
- Worlds’ fastest pressing cycle
A305 Cardboard baler
- Bale 100kg cardboard & 170kg plastic
- Deep chamber for larger materials
- Automated bale-out function
A406 Cardboard Baler
- Bale 175 kg cardboard & 225 kg plastic
- Wide chamber for larger materials
- Only 1m² footprint
A509 Cardboard & Plastic Baler
- Bale 225 kg cardboard & 300 kg plastic
- Heavy-duty baler for large waste volumes
- 1.5m2 footprint
Electric Cardboard balers
Mil-tek electric balers are plug-and-play solutions with exceptionally quiet operation and zero hydraulic oil.
Choose from a range of sizes to match your cardboard volume and available space.
E119 Baler for cardboard
- Three pressing modes for tailored compaction
- Plug & Play with single-phase power
- Zero hydraulics, zero leaks
E319 Baler for Cardboard
- Electric: almost silent running 57 dB (A)
- Electric: no hydraulic oil
- Safe and easy built-in bale ejection
E519 Baler for Cardboard
- Low: total machine height less than 2m
- User-friendly door for simple loading
- Designed for high volumes of cardboard
E619 Baler for cardboard
- Electric: quiet & free from hydraulics
- Locks pressing plate in place
- Extra wide door
Hydraulic Cardboard Balers
Hydraulic balers deliver maximum compaction force for high-volume cardboard users.
They are ideal when you need dense, mill-size bales for direct sale to recyclers.
H501 Mill-size Cardboard Baler
- Pallet-size bales of up to 450 kg.
- Send bales direct to mills for recycling
- Automatic bale ejection
H600 Mill Size Cardboard Baler
- Pallet-size bales of up to 500 kg.
- Send bales direct to mills for recycling
- Automatic door operation & bale ejection
50SD Mill Size Cardboard Baler
- Automatic door & bale ejection
- XL opening for large waste volume
- Produces 500kg Mill Size bales
Comparison of popular cardboard balers
Use this overview to compare our most popular cardboard balers. Click on a model number to view full specifications.
| Specification | A102 | A305 | A509 | E119 | E319 | E619 | H600 | H501 | 50SD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardboard bale | < 40 kg | < 100 kg | < 225 kg | < 50 kg | < 80 kg | < 300 kg | 340–450 kg | 350–400 kg | < 500 kg |
| Plastic bale | < 100 kg | < 175 kg | < 300 kg | < 80 kg | < 100 kg | < 400 kg | 340–500 kg | 350–450 kg | < 520 kg |
| Pressing cycle | 6–10 sec. | 10–20 sec. | 15–25 sec. | 43 sec. | 63 sec. | 65 sec. | 36 sec. | 40 sec. | 55 sec. |
| Degree of compaction | 85–90% | 85–90% | 85–90% | 85–90% | 85–90% | 85–90% | 85–90% | 85–90% | 85–90% |
| Bale size H x W x D (mm) | 710–830 x 655 x 450 | 760–880 x 655 x 850 | 760–880 x 1250 x 835 | 710–830 x 655 x 545 | 700–800 x 900 x 500 | 800–900 x 1500 x 800 | 800 x 1200 x 1100 | 800 x 1200 x 800 | 1120/1170 x 1270 x 770 |
| Door opening H x W x D (mm) | 505 x 655 x 415 | 570 x 655 x 815 | 570 x 1250 x 800 | 480 x 630 x 500 | 600 x 900 x 500 | 550 x 1500 x 800 | 550 x 1160 x 780 | 670 x 1200 x 780 | 610 x 1140 x 770 |
| Machine size H x W x D (mm) | 2292 x 832 x 541 | 2530 x 825 x 1034 | 2530 x 1450 x 1040 | 2260 x 800 x 720 | 1855 x 1165 x 810 | 2070 x 1915 x 990 | 2170 x 1890 x 1400 | 3100 x 1600 x 1300 | 3160 x 1885 x 1105 |
| Noise level | < 70 dB (A) | < 70 dB (A) | < 70 dB (A) | < 70 dB (A) | < 60 dB (A) | < 65 dB (A) | < 70 dB (A) | < 70 dB (A) | < 70 dB (A) |
| Pressure | 2500 kg at 8 bar | 4000 kg at 8 bar | 8000 kg at 8 bar | Up to 2.5 tonnes | 15.000 kg | 25.000 kg | < 60 tons | < 50 tons | 50 tons |
| Approvals | CE, EN16500, UKCA | CE, EN16500, UKCA | CE, EN16500, UKCA | CE, EN16500 | CE, EN16500, UKCA | CE, EN16500, UKCA | CE, GS & UKCA | CE, GS & UKCA | CE, EN16500, UKCA |
| Power supply | 1 x 230V/50Hz / 10 Amp | 3 x 400V / 16 Amp | 3 x 400V / 16 Amp | 7,5 kW – 3x400V – 25 Amp | 7,5 kW – 3x400V – 25 Amp | 7,5 kW – 3x400V – 25 Amp | 7,5 kW – 3x400V – 25 Amp | 7,5 kW – 3x400V – 25 Amp | 7,5 kW – 3x400V – 25 Amp |
Horizontal baler for cardboard
For the highest volumes of cardboard waste, a horizontal baler provides fully automatic compaction and bale ejection.
- Continuous feed for large volumes of material.
- Automatic strapping and bale-out.
- Designed for heavy-duty, 24/7 operation.
- Perfect for logistics hubs and large warehouses.
The clear benefits of compacting cardboard into bales
Scanmetals streamlined their cardboard waste and improved site safety by switching to baling.
Learn more
At HydraSpecma, compacted bales helped free up working space and reduce waste handling time.
Learn more
Trivium Packaging gained tighter control of recycling streams with dedicated cardboard baling.
Learn more
Cardboard baler hire and purchase options with Mil-tek
At Mil-tek, we offer flexible options for leasing, renting or purchasing cardboard balers so you can choose the solution that works best for your business.
- Lease a cardboard baler with low monthly payments.
- Short-term rental for seasonal or temporary peaks.
- Purchase outright for the best long-term return.
Benefits of working with Mil-tek
- Local service technicians and support across the UK.
- Installation, training and commissioning included.
- Ongoing service and maintenance packages.
- Advice on rebates, collection and recycling partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
A cardboard baler compacts loose cardboard boxes and pieces into bales, using pneumatic, hydraulic or electric pressure.
You simply load the cardboard in the chamber, close the door, press the start button, and the machine starts compacting. Once full, the bale is tied off and removed.
Common types of cardboard balers include vertical cardboard balers, horizontal cardboard balers, and twin-chamber balers.
Small businesses typically choose vertical balers, while high-volume operations benefit from horizontal or mill-size balers.
The right machine depends on things like waste volume, available space, and required bale weight.
Bale size varies by machine:
- Small balers: 40–80 kg bales
- Medium balers: 100–200 kg
- Mill-size and horizontal balers: 300–600 kg
Heavier bales are ideal for selling directly to recyclers, who often prefer mill-size weights.
A baler reduces waste collections, lowers disposal costs, and frees up valuable floor space.
It also cuts labour time spent flattening cardboard and can generate revenue if you sell baled cardboard to recyclers.
Cleaner, safer, and more sustainable operations are common benefits.
Cardboard balers are primarily designed for cardboard and paper, but many models can also compact soft plastics such as shrink wrap or plastic film. Some higher-pressure models are even capable of compacting PET bottles if specified for that purpose.
For best recycling quality, materials should always be clean, dry, and properly sorted. Mixing different material types is not recommended.
Operators should receive basic training, follow safety signage, and never reach into the chamber. Routine checks include monitoring hydraulic oil, cleaning the machine, and inspecting wear parts. Servicing is minimal but should be carried out regularly to keep the baler running smoothly.
Cardboard rebate values in the UK fluctuate monthly based on market demand. As a guide:
- Clean mill-size bales (400–600 kg) typically command the highest rebate
- Smaller or lighter bales may still be collected, but offer lower prices or free collection only
In most cases, no planning permission is required to install a cardboard baler on your premises, as balers are classified as standard industrial equipment. However, UK businesses should ensure:
- The baler is positioned on a flat, solid floor
- There is enough overhead clearance for the press plate to operate
- The baler is installed in a safe, accessible area for operators and waste collectors