Industrial Plastic Film Recycling: Why Baling Is the Only Scalable Option
The only practical way to recycle large volumes of plastic film from plants and warehouses is to bale it. Baling turns fluffy, hard-to-ship film into dense, consistent blocks buyers accept—cutting trash pulls and often earning a rebate. Start with a vertical baler near your stretch-wrap stations, keep film clean and separate, and ship full truckloads on a set schedule.
Who This Helps
Manufacturers, warehouses, and 3PLs producing steady volumes of pallet wrap, shrink overwrap, and clean bag film. (Not household or small retail drop-offs.)
What Counts as “Plastic Film” Here
Good fits: clear LDPE/LLDPE stretch film (pallet wrap), shrink overwrap, clean poly bag film, and dry liners used only for clean plastic parts.
Keep out: strapping, cornerboards, heavy paper labels/liners, foil/metalized films, anything wet or food-soiled.
Why Loose Film Doesn’t Work at Scale
You ship “air”: loose film eats space and wrecks freight economics.
Safety/housekeeping: loose wrap on floors is a hazard.
Market access: buyers want dense, uniform bales—loose loads rarely qualify.
Reliability: without bales, storage fills fast, quality varies, and pickups become sporadic.
The Payoff Once You Bale
Lower costs: fewer compactor pulls and landfill fees; baled film can earn a rebate.
Smoother ops: cleaner docks, fewer jams, faster moves.
Real impact: measurable diversion and CO₂e avoided for your reporting.
What Good Bales Look Like (Spec in Plain English)
Only LDPE/LLDPE film; keep clear separate from colored/printed when possible.
Dry and free of liquids or food.
Remove strapping, cornerboards, and heavy paper labels.
Tight, uniform bales that stack safely; simple tags help (“CLEAR FILM” / “MIXED/TINTED FILM”).
Choosing a Baler (Simple Guide)
Vertical baler: best starting point for most sites; typical film bales ~700–1,000 lb when packed well.
Horizontal baler: for very high volumes; faster cycles and auto-tie options.
Strap/wire: plastic strap avoids metal in bales; wire gives higher tension—either works if used correctly.
Placement matters: put the baler close to stretch-wrap/packout. Distance kills participation.
Set Up the Floor So Baling Is Easy
Film-only bins at every stretch-wrap and packout station.
Don’t park a trash can next to the film bin.
Direct path from collection to baler—no cross-building detours.
One person per shift checks the top of each bin and the first strap on every bale.
The Math (Why Baling Flips the P&L)
Savings and revenue show up when you:
Cut trash pulls and tip fees,
Ship dense, efficient truckloads, and
Qualify for a film rebate
Costs are the baler payment (or depreciation), a bit of labor to keep film separate, and strap/wire. Baling is what makes the numbers work.
Pickups Without the Hassle
Aim for full truckloads of dense bales to get the best net.
Tight on space? We can move partials—just keep it baled.
Set a regular cadence so bales don’t pile up.
2-Week Launch Plan (Step-by-Step)
Week 1
Walk the floor and map where film shows up (receiving, packout, shipping).
Agree on “yes/no” materials and hang the quick-guide signs.
Place film-only bins and position the baler close to the action.
Do a short training for each shift (10–15 minutes).
Week 2
Make your first bales and compare to a photo example.
Book the first pickup; confirm stacking and staging.
Start a simple log: bale counts, estimated weights, any contamination notes, and monthly CO₂e avoided.
Quick Answers (FAQs)
Can we recycle film without a baler?
Technically yes, but options are limited. Baling is what makes it practical and affordable.
Vertical or horizontal baler?
Most sites start vertical. If volume is very high or you need faster cycles, consider horizontal.
What about labels and tape?
Small amounts happen; remove heavy paper labels, liners, and cornerboards to protect value.
Can we mix film with other plastics?
No. Keep film separate. Mixing kills value and creates handling problems.
