Keeping Your Recyclables Safe and Sound

The bale storage area at a recycling center is not typically the recipient of much attention. Not 

much happens in the bale storage area as finished bales of commodities are moved in, stacked and 

stored until the material is sold and shipped. While the majority of a manager’s time and attention 

will be focused on the actual processing of material, the bale storage area does play a critical 

role in the overall material management process at a recycling center.

The bale storage area refers to the space that is designated for the storage of processed 

recyclables. Materials are stored in the area until the bales are sold and shipped to a mill for 

further recycling. There are several important considerations for establishing and operating a safe 

and secure bale storage area:

Size: The bale storage area should be of sufficient size to safely store various commodities. The 

bale storage area should allow forklift operators to safely move materials and allow for the safe 

loading of trailers that are picking up bales of materials.

Inside and Outside Storage: Some commodities such as cardboard, newspaper and office paper are best 

stored indoors where they are protected from precipitation and sunlight. Paper fibers and other 

recyclables need to be kept dry as high moisture content can result in downgrades or rejections of 

commodities. Some commodities can be stored outside depending on the environment and provided that 

the quality of material will not be degraded as a result of outside storage. Materials that are 

stored outside should be stored on a paved surface to minimize dirt or mud on bales. Using tarps to 

cover bales that are stored outside is a good practice to prevent the degradation of commodities.

Security: The bales of finished products have a value and should be protected against theft. Metals 

such as aluminum, brass and copper can be an inviting target for theft. To prevent loss, managers 

should regularly inventory the bale storage area and use security alarms and camera systems to 

enhance security at the recycling center.

Safety: The bale storage area should be well lit so that forklift operators can see clearly as they 

move and stack bales and load trailers. Bales can weigh more than 2,000 pounds and must be properly 

stacked to prevent falling as a bale can crush a person resulting in serious injury or death.

Fire Protection: The bale storage area should have a high volume sprinkler system to retard the 

spread of a fire. Additionally, bales should not be stacked too close to overhead sprinkler heads, 

which could reduce the effectiveness of a fire suppression system.

Housekeeping: The bale storage area should be clean and well-maintained so that bales are not 

contaminated by excessive dust, dirt or other contaminants that could result in loads being 

rejected or downgraded. Bales should be neatly stacked in a manner that complies with federal, 

state and local regulations and codes that govern the stacking of bales to address safety and fire 

protection concerns.

Inventory Control: An inventory of bales in stored in the bale storage area should be done on a 

weekly or monthly basis. Bales should be rotated so that material is not stored for an extended 

period of time.

Old newspaper will begin to turn yellow over time, while steel and other ferrous metals will rust.

Training: