The portable cardboard baler is an apparatus that receives, stores, compresses, and outputs recyclable items. The apparatus includes an enclosure, a bailing ram, an ejector mechanism, a control panel, a control unit, and a power source. The enclosure houses the bailing ram and the ejector mechanism. The elongated housing houses the recyclable items. The bailing ram compresses the recyclable items. The ejector mechanism pushes the bale of recyclable items out of the elongated housing. The apparatus preferably includes an input door that corresponds to a first opening of the elongated housing. The apparatus also includes a first output door and a second output door that corresponds to a second opening of the elongated housing. The apparatus preferably includes a plurality of environmental sensors to prevent a user from getting injured. The apparatus may further include a vehicle the directly transports the enclosure, the bailing ram, and the ejector mechanism.