Sedona Recycles is in the process of a capital fundraising drive to raise $340,000 to replace its aging and failing bailer, an Excel 2R63 that was installed on April 1, 2017, with an Excel Model HV10 Close Door Horizontal Baler.
“We don’t exist if we don’t have this baler,” Executive Director Kathleen Ventura said. “If we can’t bale the material, we can’t move the material, and if we can’t move the material, then we’re dead in the water.
“All the recycling that we do, we have three free public drop-off sites, and those would have to be closed. Our facility here would have to be closed temporarily, and our commercial accounts, where we pick up from restaurants and various organizations in the Verde Valley, would all have to stop.”
In 2024, the Sedona Recycles baler processed 1,129 tons of material, averaging 21.7 tons, or 43,400 pounds, per week according to Ventura.
The new baler has a price tag of $293,000, with a required deposit of $88,710. Additional expenses include approximately $1,000 for crane rental, “to get it up and over the building,” Ventura said, around $22,000 for freight and installation, and an estimated use tax between $25,000 and $30,000. Additionally, there are also extra costs related to upgrading the electrical system to support the new equipment.
“$340,000 is a lot for a little nonprofit … it’s right on par with our annual budget,” Ventura said.
“The baler that we have is about seven, going on eight years old, and unfortunately, it was the last unit that the company who makes it sold before they went out of business,”Ventura said. “So for the last seven or eight years, we have had to maintain it without any sort of real support, as far as replacement parts or troubleshooting.” The software for the baler is no longer available, as it is no longer produced or supported, and replacement parts are unavailable. The equipment itself is experiencing significant issues, including ram pin failure which helps to physically compress the material in the baler and excessive wear on the platen, which also compresses the material. Additionally, the conveyor system that feeds material to the baler is severely worn; this system dates back nearly 25 years from a previous baler. The baler floor also shows excessive wear.
The new model is scheduled to be delivered in September and Sedona Recycles aims to get 15 to 20 years of use of it, and a down payment has been made.
“We were hoping to secure the current price before any tariffs could potentially increase the cost of [steel,] and because the estimated delivery schedule was up to 10 months,” Ventura said.
“For the financial stability of the organization, it is not prudent for us to deplete our cash reserves, given the significant costs associated with maintenance and repair of our trucks, forklifts, and conveyor belt systems,” Ventura said. “This is why we are hoping that the community can help support us to minimize the amount we would have to finance.”
The current baler will probably go back to the manufacturer who “will refurbish it and probably sell it to someone else,” Ventura said.
“Any support from anyone who uses our services or appreciates what we’re doing for the community or the planet would be extremely appreciated,” Ventura said. “Whether it’s $10 or $10,000, we’re very grateful as a small nonprofit trying to do our best and be as efficient as possible.”
To make a donation to help Sedona Recycles replace the baler, visit sedonarecycles.org/donate or mail checks to Sedona Recycles, 2280 Shelby Drive, Sedona, AZ 86336.
