Finding the right cardboard processing solution starts with understanding your facility’s space, volume, and material handling needs. Komar’s integrated portfolio delivers proven systems that reduce hauling costs, improve workflow, and support recycling goals.
Ideal for facilities with limited space that generate moderate volumes of cardboard. Vertical balers compress material into dense bales for easy storage and transport, reducing haul frequency and improving recycling efficiency.
Engineered for high-volume cardboard streams in manufacturing and distribution environments. Horizontal balers deliver continuous operation and produce mill-ready bales for maximum rebate value.
Reduce the volume of loose cardboard and mixed dry waste for efficient disposal or improved recycling workflows. A practical option when baling isn’t feasible, these compactors lower haul frequency and streamline material handling.
Ideal for continuous, high-volume cardboard waste. Auger systems pre-shred and compact material with minimal labor, making them perfect for distribution centers and packaging-heavy operations.
Operations focused on recycling cardboard typically generate clean, dry OCC in moderate to high volumes—such as warehouses, distribution centers, grocery stores, big-box retailers, manufacturers, and more. The goal is to sell it loose or produce dense, consistent bales for resale to mills or recyclers.
Most effective equipment for recyclers:
Recyclers often benefit from rebate revenue, improved ESG metrics, and reduced landfill dependency—provided cardboard remains free of moisture and contaminants.
Some facilities—such as restaurants, convenience stores, small retail operations, and similar businesses—may generate low-volume or mixed cardboard waste that’s often wet, contaminated, or unsorted. In these cases, compaction for disposal may be the most practical route.
Most effective equipment for disposers:
For these customers, the focus is on reducing container pickups, controlling costs, and keeping labor low rather than maximizing recycling revenue.
Key Consideration: Clean, high-volume cardboard can be a revenue stream. Mixed or low-volume cardboard is best handled through compaction to reduce operational costs. Many industries recycle when conditions allow, but space, contamination, and labor constraints often make disposal the more practical choice.
We offer a full suite of cardboard processing solutions tailored to your operational needs—whether you’re working with limited space, handling high OCC volumes, or managing a tight budget. From vertical and horizontal balers to stationary and auger compactors, our equipment is designed to reduce hauling costs, improve workflow, and support your recycling goals. With decades of engineering expertise and integrated material handling options, Komar can deliver the right solution for your facility and maximize long-term efficiency.
Contact us today to schedule a free materials evaluation—our team will assess your waste stream and recommend the right equipment solution tailored to your operation.
Compacting or baling cardboard dramatically reduces volume, allowing more material per container and fewer pickups. This lowers transportation fees and landfill tipping charges for immediate cost savings—and when baled, OCC can also be prepared for resale.
Loose cardboard takes time and space. Compaction eliminates manual box flattening and pre-processing, prevents overflow issues, and streamlines handling—freeing staff for higher-value tasks.
Clean, baled or often times, loose cardboard can be sold to recyclers, turning waste into a revenue stream. For high-volume operations, these rebates help offset equipment costs and improve profitability.
A space-efficient solution that turns loose cardboard into compact, stackable bales; ideal for low- to moderate-volume applications.
Designed for high-throughput environments, this machine automates the baling of large volumes of cardboard for continuous, efficient processing.
Fixed-position systems with the power needed to efficiently compress loose cardboard into a connected container, reducing hauling frequency and optimizing waste volume.
Powerful screw-drive systems pre-crush and compact high volumes of cardboard continuously, making augers ideal for industrial or distribution settings.
“We estimate that the Komar Auger has saved us 1,300 hours of labor per year, has reduced our hauling cost by two-thirds, and has given La-Z-Boy a safer process and more floor space.”
Troy Kvingedal, Facilities Supervisor, La-Z-Boy
“Since installing our Komar Auger, we have improved our operations tremendously. The auger units have reduced labor from six people down to one person, who oversees the conveyor lines and compactors. We have gone from a 2-ton payload to a 10-ton-plus payload, per 40-yard container, reducing our annual pull charges by over 75%. We have less downtime and have eliminated jams due to the slow operation of the old compactors. Best of all, we had less than a one-year return on investment.”
John Hefty, Operations Manager, GameStop
“Since we started using the Komar Auger, our yard is clean, the open tops are gone, and we’re spending a lot less on waste hauling.”
Dave McCarl, Facilities Supervisor, Traco
Proper cardboard processing reduces volume, lowers disposal costs, keeps workspaces organized, and increases recycling potential or disposal efficiency.
Cardboard can be processed using vertical balers, horizontal balers, stationary compactors, and auger compactors—our recommended solutions for OCC. Other equipment types exist, but these four deliver the most efficient results for recycling and disposal.
Vertical balers are ideal for small to midsize operations, such as retail stores or offices.
For high-throughput environments like warehouses or distribution centers, a horizontal baler or auger compactor provides efficient, continuous processing and minimizes labor. In some cases or in focused areas, multiple vertical balers can also handle high volumes when space or budget constraints apply.
Yes. Stationary and auger compactors are commonly used to compress loose cardboard, especially when recycling isn’t practical or material needs to be minimized before hauling.
Most cardboard is recyclable, but wet, wax-coated, laminated, or food-contaminated material may be rejected by recyclers. Clean, dry corrugated cardboard is ideal.
Balers and compactors can reduce cardboard volume by up to 80–90%, depending on the equipment and material type.
Yes. Clean, baled cardboard can be sold to recyclers for rebates, creating a revenue stream that helps offset equipment costs and supports sustainability goals. Even loose cardboard from compactors can generate revenue when sent to secondary processors, though rebates are typically lower than for bales.
Absolutely. Low-profile balers and short-profile compactors are available for facilities with limited space or restricted ceiling heights.
If your needs go beyond a standard Komar baler or compactor, we’ll work with you to find the right solution or design a custom-engineered system tailored to your goals and challenges.
We are a waste solutions company. With a wide array of application-specific models and advanced engineering capabilities, we look forward to guiding you to the best solution for the job.
Schedule a free waste stream evaluation to identify the right equipment and processes for your space, waste types, and volume.