Environmental Stewardship Program Receives Grant for Baler

Thanks to a grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), KU Recycling will be able to purchase new baling equipment this year. In November, Governor Kathleen Sebelius announced $1.5 million in grants for recycling, composting, and waste tire energy recovery initiatives around Kansas, including a $66,782 grant to the Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP). Other recipients include regional solid waste management authorities, businesses, and regional programs.

Although the grant project is specifically targeted at recovering cardboard from the waste stream, it will help make KU Recycling more efficient and allow for future expansion of other recycling services on campus. The funding comes at an opportune time as ESP is nearing baling capacity with the current staff and equipment. Tom Boxberger, GMRT and warehouse manager often spends as many as 8 hours a day breaking down and baling cardboard and other materials using the vertical baler purchased in 2004. The new equipment will have a wider opening and conveyor system, which will reduce handling time and speed up the baling process. It will also be capable of producing a bale that is approximately twice the size of those currently produced.

Once the new baler is installed, KU Recycling will be able to bale all grades of paper, including newspaper and office paper, and the existing equipment will be used to bale plastic and metal containers. Larger bales and additional baled material will increase revenues for the program, which translates into better recycling services for students, faculty and staff.

In addition to expanding capacity and improving efficiency, goals of the project include educating faculty and staff on recycling cardboard and other materials, educating outside contractors on campus recycling services, and decreasing overall waste leaving campus.