For businesses producing regular volumes of cardboard or plastic waste, mid-to-large vertical balers are the ideal solution. They reduce bulky material into dense bales, lowering transport costs and unlocking rebates from recyclers.
We’ve compared the PHS Wastekit 860 Plus with the Compact & Bale BP18 to see which offers the best long-term value.
Build Quality and Design
The 860 Plus is a heavy-duty vertical baler with a press force of 55 tonnes. It has a tall frame (2.9 m high) and wide loading aperture (1195 mm × 650 mm), making it suited for large cardboard boxes and bulky material.
The BP18 is built as a robust mid-range baler with a smaller footprint and lower height, ideal for sites where space is limited. While not as large as the 860 Plus, it is still reinforced for everyday use in busy retail, warehouse, or hospitality environments.
Verdict: The 860 Plus is built for high-volume, bulky waste; the BP18 is more space-efficient for medium sites.
Performance and Capacity
The 860 Plus produces mill-size bales of up to 480 kg, making it suitable for high-throughput sites where maximum bale density and rebate potential are priorities. Its cycle time is just 25 seconds, supported by a 4 kW motor.
The BP18 produces bales of up to 280 kg, offering a step up from small balers but not quite mill-size. This makes it a good choice for medium producers who want savings on collections but don’t generate enough material for full mill-size machines.
Verdict: 860 Plus wins on sheer bale weight; BP18 is the right choice for sites with medium waste volumes.
Usability and Features
The 860 Plus includes a touch-pad display, dual interlocked doors, anti-vibration pads, and automatic bale ejection. It even offers selectable programs for plastics or cardboard.
The BP18 is simpler, with easy front loading, straightforward controls, and safe manual bale ejection. It doesn’t have the advanced features of the 860 Plus, but this makes it easier to operate for staff with minimal training.
Verdict: The 860 Plus is feature-rich, while the BP18 scores for simplicity.
Energy Efficiency and Running Costs
The 860 Plus uses a 4 kW, three-phase motor and includes Rapid Stroke Technology to cut energy use by up to 40%. Despite being a larger baler, it is designed for efficiency.
The BP18 uses a smaller motor (typically 2.2–3 kW) and a single-phase supply, which keeps energy costs lower and makes installation easier.
Verdict: 860 Plus is efficient for its size, but BP18 is cheaper to run and easier to install.
Specification Comparison: 860 Plus vs BP18
| Feature | PHS Wastekit 860 Plus | Compact & Bale BP18 |
|---|---|---|
| Press Force | 55 tonnes | ~18 tonnes |
| Motor Power | 4 kW (3-phase) | ~2.2–3 kW (single-phase option) |
| Cycle Time | 25 seconds | 34 seconds |
| Loading Aperture (mm) | 1195 × 650 | 1190 x 555 |
| Machine Dimensions (mm) | 1797 (W) × 1247 (D) × 2985 (H) | 1958 (L) x 1160 (W) x 2839 (H) |
| Bale Size (mm) | 1200 (W) × 780 (D) × 1200 (H) | ~1000 × 700 × 1000 |
| Bale Weight | Up to 480 kg | 280 kg |
| Ejection | Automatic | Automatic |
| Suitable Waste | Cardboard, plastics, large volumes | Cardboard, plastics, medium volumes |
Why Bale Weight Matters
Heavier bales reduce the number of collections, save transport costs, and increase rebate potential. The 860 Plus delivers true mill-size bales, making it attractive for sites with high waste volumes.
The BP18, while smaller, is perfectly suited for businesses producing medium waste volumes. Its bale weights of 150–200 kg still offer significant savings and improved efficiency without the size, cost, or power demands of a mill-size machine.
Wrapping Up
The PHS Wastekit 860 Plus is a powerful baler that produces mill-size bales and advanced features, ideal for high-throughput sites with large amounts of recyclable waste.
The Compact & Bale BP18, however, is better suited for medium producers. It offers a lower-cost, lower-energy solution with simpler operation and the added benefit of Compact & Bale’s collection and rebate service.
For large-scale recycling operations, the 860 Plus is the right choice. But for medium-sized businesses looking for the best balance of performance, cost, and service, the BP18 is the better bet.