New and Improved Baler at the Waste Transfer Station

F&S has installed a new and improved baler machine that will more safely and efficiently perform its work, advancing the university’s sustainability and zero-waste initiatives.

The baler is a piece of equipment that compresses recyclables which allows for easy management and transportation. The new baler allows F&S to expand the collection of recyclable plastic materials to include plastics 3-7, rather than just #1-2 plastics shaped like bottles. It compresses large amounts of campus-wide recycling into a 65” long, 45” wide, and 30” tall block, also known as the bale.

The baler compresses recycling from all university buildings including academic and instructional facilities, laboratories, research facilities, undergraduate residence halls, dining halls, and more.

The previous equipment, due to its age, required regular maintenance. It was bought used by the university in 1997 and had been functioning as the primary source of condensing recyclables since then. In 2017 the Student Sustainability Committee awarded F&S $20,000 to fund a conceptualization of a new baler. After the final report for the baler conceptualization study was produced, the estimated cost for probable construction was budgeted as $1.21M in 2019.

After plenty of preparation and research, the Office of the Provost approved the funding for the baler up to $1.65 million. “This campus award reinforces the investment and commitment that the university is making to zero waste program,” F&S Zero Waste Coordinator Daphne Hulse said. “A new baler not only upholds the F&S strategic mission to serve the campus community, but also the Illinois Climate Action Plan strategic vision to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner.”

The integration of the new baler machine marks a significant milestone in the University of Illinois’ commitment to sustainability and zero waste initiatives. With its state-of-the-art technology and efficiency, the new baler is poised to make a substantial impact on campus-wide recycling.

This marks a significant step forward in the university’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.