Abstract: A baling press for the production of bound bales of scrap material such as refuse is of the kind which comprises a press box, a press plunger which is movable through the press box to compress refuse fed to the box from a hopper the outlet of which is closed by the plunger as the plunger moves through the press box in a pressing stroke, a press channel which forms an extension of the press box and into which the pressed bales are pushed by the plunger and a binding mechanism disposed between the press box and the press channel for binding the bales as they are pushed into the channel. The press is provided with a separator slide which is movable transversely to the direction of movement of the press plunger and is disposed between the press box and the press channel just upstream of the binding mechanism considered in relation to the direction of pressing movement of the plunger. The slide is movable between an operative position in the path of the plunger and a retracted position clear of this path.