Vertical Baler for Corrugated Cardboard

Corrugated cardboard (including pizza boxes and paperboard boxes) was a high volume item in dumpsters.  In April 1990 a vertical baler was purchased to bale cardboard.  The baler was purchased for $8100 (plus an additional $1088.46 for electrical connections).  Payback was achieved in 4 1/2 years.  In May 1990 Consolidated Papers (now Stora Enso) in Wisconsin Rapids, WI agreed to accept the baled cardboard.  Stora Enso picks up the bales and pays market value for the product.  Shipments of 22,000 to 32,000 pounds are made approximately every seven weeks.  Stora Enso reuses this material to manufacture cores for company operations. 

A replacement baler was purchased in July 2002 for $8756.50.

Vertical baler for cardboard.

Compactor for Mixed Paper 

The mixed paper program began in April 1990.  UW-SP was contacted by a representative of Harmon Associates, a brokerage firm for Fort James (formerly Fort Howard) Paper Company (now Georgia Pacific) in Green Bay, WI.  Harmon Associates provided UW-SP with Gaylord containers and pallets (which had to be unloaded before the trailer could be loaded with outgoing paper) to store and ship the paper to Eco Source, a preprocessing plant for Georgia Pacific.  This process was labor intensive and required a great deal of storage space.  It was also difficult to maintain an adequate amount of pallets.  Harmon Associates required a minimum of 40 Gaylord containers before a shipment could be scheduled.  It took 2 to 4 hours to load a trailer depending upon the weather and time of year. 

In addition, the loading area usually became littered with debris as paper was blown out of containers during the loading process.  In February 1991, a compactor ($5500) was purchased and a 42 yard receiver box leased.  The receiver box initially cost $90 a month in addition to $295 per pull for transporting to Green Bay.  However, bidding the service resulted in a pull and transporting charge of $240 and no charge for the receiver box.  A lean-to, dock and concrete pad were constructed for the equipment ($3925).  Steps were constructed and installed for $210.  Resource recovery staff remove the paper from the buildings and put it into the compactor.   UW-SP receives market value for the mixed paper. 

Paper compactor and dock.

Vehicle for Transporting Materials 

For the first year of the program vehicles were borrowed from other departments (grounds or custodial services).  In March 1991, a pre-owned � ton 1986 Ford truck was purchased ($5500).  A rear lift gate was purchased and installed ($1289) in March 1991.  Stake sides were installed for $190 by Facility Services staff.  In June 1996, a 1996 Dodge � ton, stake bed truck, with a rear lift gate, was purchased ($19814).   In July 1999, a 1999 GMC Sierra, 4x4, one ton stake bed truck with rear lift was purchased ($25745).  Winters in Wisconsin can be quite overwhelming with snow.  The 4x4 capability allows for better traction. 

Truck for transporting materials.

Vertical Baler for Aluminum Cans

In May  1991, the J. R. Larsen Company of Weyauwega, WI agreed to accept aluminum cans, in addition to other items.  The Larsen Company provided Gaylord containers to store and ship the uncrushed cans.  In addition to picking up the materials at no cost, UW-SP received market price for aluminum cans.  In August 1997, the Larsen Company advised it would no longer accept aluminum cans unless they were compacted or baled.  In November 1997 a baler was purchased ($8826) to bale aluminum cans.  Payback was achieved in 16 months.  The purchase of the baler decreased the number of shipments from once a week to once a month.   

Vertical baler for aluminum cans.

Pallet Truck for Moving 

In 1990 a manual pallet truck was purchased for moving materials in the Resource Recovery Center ($668). 

In December 1995 an electric pallet truck was purchased from WI Lift Truck in Wausau, WI  ($3347). 

Fork Lift for Stacking, Moving and Loading 

In April 1995, a Mitsubishi fork lift (5000 pound capacity) with cab was purchased from Inland Material Handling for $21706 to replace the 20 year old Yale fork lift.  The cost was split between the three main users of the fork lift and shared among a number of university units.  The shared use created additional problems.  It was not always available when needed.  In September 2001, Resource Recovery assumed sole ownership.   

Fork Lift.

Scale for Weighing 

A Toledo scale was loaned to the Resource Recovery Center from Centers Operations in March 1998 to assist with weighing materials that are not weighed by markets. 

Toledo scale.

Oil Drum for Storing Used Oil 

A 250 gallon drum was purchased in 1997 for $1491 from Northwest Petroleum for storing used oil.   

Waste oil container.

Battery Cabinet for Spent Batteries 

A battery cabinet was purchased in 1996 for $714.20 from Lab Safety Supply to store spent batteries.

Battery Cabinet.