Take a look at how huge this real life WALL-E is.

This isn’t some far-off, future alien world though; this is right on campus at the Waste Transfer Station (WTS).

F&S is working on integrating a new and improved baler machine that will more safely and efficiently do its work, something that advances 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. It compresses large amounts of campus-wide recycling into an 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 equipment, due to its age, requires regular maintenance. It was bought used by the university in 1997 and has 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 WTS is a unique nexus of campus sustainability, research, and outreach and education.

Campus sustainability is a valuable mission held by F&S, so employees at WTS confirm items collected are getting recycled. An example of metric tracking can be found below which shows how trash is tracked, where trash and recycling comes from on campus, and where it ends up – landfilled or recycled.

New aspects of research and learning opportunities can be found by using the new baler. The WTS hosts tours, which Hulse says are one of the best ways to get the community thinking about waste and how we can collectively reduce how much prematurely ends up in the landfill. 

To tour: https://go.fs.illinois.edu/RecyclingTour

The integration of the new baler machine will mark 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.

As the WTS continues to serve as a hub for sustainability, research, and education, the new baler will play a pivotal role in advancing these initiatives. It is a symbol of progress, a testament to collective effort, and a beacon of hope for a more sustainable future.

This new baler, scheduled to be fully operational by August 2024, will positively change the effectiveness of the WTS and to the campus’ overall sustainability goals. This marks a significant step forward in the university’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.