In the
modern climate, running a sustainable enterprise has several benefits. Your
customers may make decisions based on their environmental impact, your variable
costs may be more volatile if you use unsustainable and finite materials or
practices, or you may want to do your part to combat global warming. With climate
change awareness only looking to increase in the upcoming years, looking
towards implementing sustainable practices now may pay dividends in later
years. But just how can baling wire promote sustainability?
Use in the
Recycling Industry
One of
the most common uses of baling wire is in the recycling industry. Baling has
great usage in waste reduction and management, and in many cases, it can be
more environmentally friendly than waste compactors. Balers can compact
different types of recyclable materials in a way that minimizes their volume
and hence maximizes the value recyclers obtain by reducing storage costs.
Balers can complement existing waste management systems and increase the
efficiency of your recycling operation.
Balers
are ideal for recycling operations that revolve around reusing materials, as
opposed to applying recycling processes that do not require the materials to
retain their form. Cardboard boxes are a prime example of how balers are
preferable to compactors. If you deal with cardboard regularly, compacting it
with a compactor can often affect the durability of the cardboard and morph it
out of shape.
Even if
the flutes are not affected, this can be less sustainable as the cardboard can
only be reused if it has been shredded, mixed with water and chemicals and then
mixed with new wood pulp and processed into new cardboard. The electricity
required for these processes, as well as the chemicals, still takes a toll on
the environment. It requires fewer steps just to reuse the boxes. It is only
possible to compact the boxes that will enable them to be reused, such as
baling. This is true for any other materials that need to retain their form to
be reused without many recycling processes being applied.
Even if
the materials that are being baled are not designated for re-use, baling waste
can speed up the waste disposal process. This is good for the environment, as a
quicker turnaround at recycling plants means more waste can be recycled and
turned into renewable electricity.
Wire vs. Twine
Baling
wire is sometimes replaced by baling twine, but on farms, this is a mistake.
Baling wire can be better for the environment simply because even after it has
been used for its original purpose it has an incredible potential for reuse.
Many farmers don’t go anywhere without baling wire, as baling wire and pliers can
be incredibly handy for quick fixes. From repairing chain link fences to
holding up old mufflers, baling wire has too many uses to mention.
Baling
wire can also be more sustainable than baling twine due to its high strength. One
of the tenets of the sustainability movement is to reduce, and a set yard of
baling wire has the strength of countless yards of twine, meaning you won’t
have to replace it either. This means if you’re using twine, you may want to
consider switching to wire to reduce the amount of baling material you need.
