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Commercial waste compactors

Commercial waste compactors are specialised machines that use hydraulics to compress business waste, reducing its volume by up to 90%.

Reducing the volume of waste and recycling makes waste management significantly more efficient and lowers the frequency and cost of waste collection.

This guide provides an overview of the waste compactor solutions available to UK businesses. We offer an independent assessment of whether your business is likely to benefit financially from investing in a waste compactor.

Here’s what we cover:

Benefits of commercial waste compactors
Types of waste compactors
Costs and ROI of waste compactors
Maintenance on waste compactors
Sectors that use waste compactors

Benefits of commercial waste compactors

Here are the top three reasons businesses in the UK invest in a compactor solution for their waste storage.

Reduced waste collection costs

A waste compactor can significantly reduce the frequency of business waste collections.

Transportation costs are a significant component of commercial waste collection costs, so less frequent collections can lead to substantial savings in a commercial waste contract.

💡 A waste compactor is a significant investment that should pay for itself through reduced waste collection fees. See below for our analysis of costs and ROI of waste compactors.

Space efficiency

A waste compactor reduces the number of waste bins required for businesses that generate large quantities of waste. This is especially beneficial for businesses in towns and cities where space is limited.

Compressing waste also prevents overflowing bins, reducing the risk of pest infestations and hygiene issues.

Reduced carbon footprint

A significant portion of carbon emissions associated with commercial waste comes from waste collection vehicles.

Compacting waste lowers the carbon footprint of your waste management, supporting Corporate Social Responsibility strategies.

Types of waste compactors

Below, we explain the five main types of waste compactors commonly used by businesses in the UK.

Static compactors

A large compactor that is permanently fixed in position upon installation. When full, the waste container connected to the compactor is detached and emptied by a waste provider.

Ideal for: Sites with permanent space for a compactor. Suitable for businesses that generate very large volumes of waste.

Waste types: General waste, commercial dry mixed recycling, cardboard, wood, and pallets.

Portable compactors

A medium-sized compactor where the entire unit is designed to be collected for emptying by a specialised waste collection lorry.

Ideal for: Medium volumes of waste. It requires only a small footprint and does not need permanent fixings.

Waste types: General waste, dry mixed recycling, cardboard, wood, and pallets.

Wheelie bin compactor

Designed to compress the contents of large commercial waste bins by up to 85%. Available for 240-litre, 660-litre, and 1,100-litre bins.

Ideal for: Businesses that are extremely limited on space and want to use existing bins.

Waste types: General business waste, paper, cardboard, dry mixed recycling.

Self cleaning compactor

Sealed compactors that use a self-cleaning pendulum ram, specifically designed for wet and offensive waste types.

Ideal for: Businesses dealing with unpleasant waste types need a compactor that reliably compresses waste without regular cleaning or maintenance.

Waste types: Dry waste types, plus commercial food waste, organic waste, and sanitary waste.

Baling machines

A baler compresses segregated recycling materials into compact, stackable rectangular bales bound with plastic strapping. The compacted bales are collected by a commercial waste collection provider.

Ideal for: Businesses that generate large, homogeneous amounts of dry commercial recycling.

Waste types: Cardboard, polythene, paper, and plastics.

Costs and ROI of waste compactors

Purchasing a commercial waste compactor requires a significant investment, which will pay for itself in long-term waste cost savings through both space utilisation and reduced waste collection costs.

This section summarises the cost and savings elements used to calculate the return on investment for a commercial waste compactor.

Upfront costs of a waste compactor

The cost of a commercial waste compactor depends on its type, capacity, and features, but an upfront investment of up to £20,000 may be required if a single compactor is purchased outright.

The following leasing and rental options are available from compactor providers, allowing businesses to spread the cost over time:

Short-term rental agreement
Long-term lease for three to five years
Business equipment finance with an external lender

Typical return on investment

Waste compactor providers advertise that a reduced frequency of business waste collections can save up to 60% on collection costs.

However, this is not the only potential saving. Having a compactor can also:

Reduce the time staff spend on waste management.
Enable your business to benefit from recycling rebates for baled cardboard.
Allow for more productive use of space.

Investing in a commercial waste compactor will typically generate a strong return on investment for businesses with high waste volumes and segregated waste types, whereas smaller businesses are unlikely to benefit.

Energy costs of a waste compactor

A waste compactor requires an electrical supply to power its motors and hydraulic systems.

A medium-sized waste compactor running five times a day will use approximately 3 kWh of power daily.

Current business electricity prices per kWh are around 25p, meaning the approximate power cost is £20 per month.

Maintenance of waste compactors

Regular maintenance of a commercial waste compactor is essential to ensure efficient operation, prevent breakdowns, and extend its lifespan.

The following services should be scheduled to prevent expensive emergency repairs on a commercial waste compactor:

Monthly checks – Inspect hydraulic fluid levels, pressure gauges, and other safety features to identify any problems early.
Annual servicing – A professional technician inspects all mechanical and electrical components and conducts a deep clean in the hard-to-reach areas of the compactor.
Hydraulic fluid replacement – Typically, machines require a hydraulic fluid replacement every one to two years.

Businesses typically agree on a maintenance contract with their compactor supplier, which covers regular maintenance activities and any parts and labour associated with emergency repairs.

Sectors that use waste compactors

To understand the value proposition of waste compactors for UK businesses, here are three examples of sectors that typically use waste compacting solutions:

Retail and supermarkets

Shops and supermarkets generate large volumes of difficult-to-manage recyclable cardboard waste, which takes up a lot of space.

A cardboard baler allows employees to easily manage cardboard boxes, compressing them into a manageable size for a commercial cardboard recycling collection.

Find out more in our guides to waste disposal in retail and supermarket waste disposal.

Hospitality and catering

Restaurant chains and hotels must deal with large quantities of commercial food waste.

A self-cleaning compactor provides a hygienic way to store food waste and prevents issues with odours and pests.

Hotels and restaurants are typically situated on valuable real estate. Commercial waste compacting solutions reduce the space required for kitchens and waste storage areas, maximising the space available for customer areas.

Find out more in our guides to hotels waste collections and developing a restaurant waste management plan.

Healthcare and hospitals

Hospital waste management is complex and requires carefully handling a wide range of waste types, including clinical and hazardous waste.

Using commercial waste compactors is essential for maintaining a hygienic environment in waste storage areas and helps these facilities comply with NHS and commercial waste regulations.