Baling waste

What is a baler?
Balers compact waste into blocks which can be stacked at a landfill or “balefill".
The blocks of waste that come out of balers vary in size and weight depending on how big of a baler you have. A small baler may produce bales 2’x2.5’x2.5’ and weigh about 400 pounds where a larger scale baler may produce very compacted blocks approximately 3’x3’x6’ and weigh approximately 4000 pounds. Several communities in Alaska bale their solid waste.

Advantages and Disadvantages to baling waste

Advantages

• Reduces volume of garbage by about 30%
• Requires less landfill land, reduces area of impacted land, and increases number of suitable landfill locations
• Reduces amount of cover material needed
• Makes shipping waste less cumbersome and potentially less expensive
• Reduces waste scatter by animals and birds
• Reduces maintenance at landfill/balefill, makes balefill operation easier, and results in a cleaner facility

Disadvantages

• Can be expensive to purchase and operate a baler
• Balers need a power source and can use a lot of electricity
• Balers require a heated building in cold temperatures
• A trained operator is necessary
• Frequent maintenance and upkeep are required

Where can I purchase a baler?
Harris Balers manufactures many of the larger balers used by communities in Alaska. They are a good place to start when looking into the costs of a baler for your particular community size. The Harris representative for Alaska is Larry Fagnani (907) 373- 5337 (Anchorage) or Bob Pfeffer (360) 577-4857 (Longview, Washington). www.harriswaste.com.

You can also contact:
Recycle Systems: Steve Anderson 1 (888) 453- 9300 (Bellvue, Washington)

For smaller balers (more appropriate for communities with under 700 residents), contact Doug Decker at Auger Pak Inc. in Bellevue, Washington.

Note: some communities also use their waste balers to bale recyclables as well (such as aluminum, paper, cardboard, and plastic). If you are interested in baling waste and recyclables, ask the companies you call to recommend a baler that can do both.

The vendors are listed on this web site as a directory to assist people in identifying and locating the resources they need to apply to their individual, company, or community situations. CCTHITA neither endorses nor underwrites any of the vendors listed here and is not in any financial relationship with any vendor listed here. CCTHITA does not portray this vendor list as a final or complete list. CCTHITA invites vendors whose products and/or services fit the category of Solid Waste Management to contact Ray Paddock, Environmental Technician, 1-800-344-1432 x7184, about inclusion on the vendor resource web list.

Examples and costs of successful waste baling systems
For communities OVER 700 residents
To read examples of three communities, with populations over 700 people, that are currently operating successful waste baling facilities, as well as typical costs for running a waste baling program, click here or on the box below.

You can also view pictures of Kotzebue's baler facility at this link: http://kotzpdweb.tripod.com/city/refuse.html

Examples and costs of successful waste baling systems
For communities UNDER 700 residents
Smaller communities can consider using a vertical “recycling baler” with manual strapping, for baling waste. These kind of balers cost a lot less money to purchase and operate. Vertical recycling balers can be purchased from:

These smaller balers cost around $8,500-$11,000 (not including shipping). A more basic baler/balefill program for a smaller community may cost each 4-person household about $10 to $40 per month, depending on the specifics of the chosen operating plan.

Baling operation success story – Gustavus, Alaska

The 400 person Southeast community of Gustavus runs a manual baler and operates a smaller-scale balefill. They are able to operate their program at about $10 per household.

To read more about Gustavus’s solid waste program, including their great composting program you can check out their website at: www.gca.gustavus.ak.us/committee/landfill.

Also, you can contact the person in charge of Gustavus’s program and balefill, Paul Berry the Dumpmaster, by phone at 697-2118. Or by e-mail dumpmaster@gca.gustavus.ak.us Paul runs a great program and is a really nice guy. Give him a call to ask his advice about getting started with a baler!

See below for a guided tour of their baling system!

Tour of Gustavus's solid waste baling operation

Gustavus now has two balers. The photo above shows their original small vertical baler made by Compaction Technologies (note the wooden platform can be inserted for compacting cans).

In the pictures above, Paul the Dumpmaster is manually tying the compacted waste and ejecting the waste bale. The bale is now ready to go to the balefill!

In the picture above is Gustavus’s newest baler which is a bit bigger then their old one. It is made by GPI and is model M30HD.This baler can be used to bale garbage and recyclables (like cardboard, metal cans, and plastic bottles, etc.).

The photo above on the left is a typical Saturday’s trash collected on the floor of Gustavus’s Landfill building. The photo on the right is Saturday’s trash after being put through the GPI baler – lined up and ready to be taken by bobcat out to the balefill!

Gustavus’s balefill. You can see a plastic cover over the bales which flips back. This cover is used to prevent litter scatter and birds/other animals getting into the trash.

Baling Recyclables
Click here to read about baling recyclables.