Industrial Compactors: Types, Use Cases and Measuring ROI
Is your business paying to move air? Many organisations unknowingly waste thousands each year by transporting poorly compacted waste.
Welcome to our straightforward guide to industrial compactors, where we’ll explain the different types of compactors available, what kinds of waste they’re best suited for and how to estimate potential cost savings.
We’ll walk you through simple payback examples using everyday site data like bin collections, haulage costs and waste volumes, helping you understand which industrial compactor is the right fit for your operation and what return you could expect.
What is an Industrial Compactor?
Industrial compactors are heavy-duty machines designed to reduce the volume of waste by compressing it into a denser form by removing air space. By doing so, they help businesses cut handling costs, reduce the number of waste uplifts, minimise floor space required for waste storage and improve site safety and cleanliness.
Industrial compactors are common across manufacturing, retail, logistics, hospitality, recycling operations and anywhere high volumes of waste are generated.
Types of Industrial Compactors
Industrial compactors aren’t one-size-fits-all. Choosing the right type for your business and its needs is a crucial step, which can greatly boost performance and provide serious return on investment.
Static compactors are fixed in one location and ideal for facilities with a high and consistent waste output.
- Where it excels: High-volume, repetitive waste streams like cardboard, mixed general waste and plastics.
- Best for: Warehouses, factories, supermarkets, distribution centres.
- Key benefits: High throughput, minimal manual handling.
Explore Static Compactors further or enquire now.
Portable compactors are movable units that can be repositioned across warehouses and sites.
- Where it excels: Sites with restricted space, sites where control of waste is paramount or where there are changing workflows
- Best for: Events, warehouses, factories and supermarkets
- Key benefits: Flexibility without sacrificing compaction power.
Explore Portable Compactors further or enquire now.
Screw compactors use an auger mechanism to continuously feed waste into a high compression chamber. This is great for adding value to certain waste streams, removing excess liquid from packaging or densifying difficult materials
- Where it excels: Dense, tricky waste streams like food waste, fibres, textiles, and organics.
- Best for: Food processing, hospitality, recycling plants.
- Key benefits: Excellent compaction ratios and consistent feed.
Explore Screw Compactors further or enquire now.
Matching Waste Streams & Volumes to Machine Class
Here’s a simple way to think about matching:
| Waste Stream | Typical Volume | Recommended Industrial Compactor |
| Cardboard & Paper | High | Static |
| General Mixed Waste | Moderate to High | Static or portable |
| Plastics (Light & Bulky) | Moderate | Static |
| Food / Organic / Textiles | Variable | Screw Compactor or portable |
| Recycling Streams | Variable | Application-specific |
Quick tip: if you’re filling bins daily or multiple times per week, an industrial compactor is usually worth serious consideration.
Hidden Savings You Might Be Missing
1. Labour Efficiency
Fewer uplifts = fewer staff hours spent moving and managing waste.
2. Floor Space Reclaimed
Industrial compactors reduce bin congestion, freeing space that can be used for production or storage.
3. Lower CO₂ Emissions
Fewer haulage movements shrink your site’s transport footprint, an increasingly important ESG metric.
4. Improved Site Hygiene
Once the product is placed in the compactor, it is contained within the enclosed compaction area, minimising windblown material scatter and significantly reducing the need for site cleaning.
5. Further Automation
Working alongside the compactors listed above, you might want to consider a conveyor or a feed tipper. Materials can be fed automatically into the compactor using a conveyor system, air-handling system or tipper feed system. These systems also allow you to reduce labour costs whilst improving hygiene and safety, while enhancing the overall operational efficiency process.
Next Steps: Checklist of Data to Assess Potential Savings
To build a tailored ROI model, gather:
- Current uplift frequency per waste stream (e.g., 5 pickups of a 26.8m3 container/week)
- Current waste weights or estimated densities
- Uplift costs (haulage + gate fees)
- Labour cost per uplift event
- Seasonal peaks in waste generation
Don’t worry if this seems a bit laborious – feel free to get in touch with us and our friendly team can guide you every step of the way.
We’ll review your site, look at your waste volumes and costs and help you understand how much you could save and which industrial compactor is the best fit for your business.
Ready to quantify your savings?
If you’re ready to optimise your waste management, book a free ROI & site survey with our team at PRM today.
Industrial Compactors FAQs
What size industrial compactor does my business need?
The right compactor depends on the type of waste you produce, how much you generate and how often it is collected. A site assessment will identify the most suitable machine size and configuration for your operation.
How do industrial compactors help reduce waste costs?
Industrial compactors reduce the volume of waste, which usually means fewer collections, lower transport costs and less time spent handling waste on site.
How quickly can an industrial compactor start delivering savings?
Savings often begin as soon as collection frequency is reduced. The exact return depends on your waste volumes, current costs and how the compactor is used.
What types of waste can be compacted?
Industrial compactors are commonly used for:
- Cardboard and paper
- Plastics and packaging
- General mixed waste
- Food and organic waste
- Textiles and fibres
- Recycling streams
Different materials suit different compactor designs, so matching the machine to the waste stream is important.
Do industrial compactors improve site hygiene and safety?
Yes – by containing waste and reducing loose material, compactors help keep sites cleaner, reduce odours and minimise manual handling, improving both hygiene and safety.
Can industrial compactors support sustainability goals?
Reducing collections and improving waste handling efficiency can help lower a site’s environmental impact and support wider sustainability objectives.
Is additional equipment needed with a compactor?
Depending on your operation, equipment such as conveyors, feed hoppers or tipping systems may be used to automate waste handling and improve overall efficiency.
Does PRM provide installation and support?
Yes. We supply, install and support industrial compactors, offering site surveys, technical guidance and ongoing service.
How do I find out which compactor is right for my site?
You can contact our helpful team to arrange a site assessment. Our team will review your waste setup and recommend the most suitable solution for your business.