Waste material—it may not seem glamorous, but finding sustainable ways to deal with it is one of the century's most pressing issues.

Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) is one company that has taken on this challenge. Located here in Eugene, Oregon, BHS provides innovative turnkey systems for large-scale recycling of industrial and municipal waste.

At the UO's SPRNG conference in Portland this May, UO president emeritus Dave Frohnmayer described the company as "one to watch."

In the past year, students from several Lundquist College programs have had a chance to get an inside look at BHS and the work it does.

The company has hosted two site visits: one for Lundquist College Honors Program students in November and another for MBA and Master of Accounting students in May.

Company president Steve Miller was also a Center for Sustainable Business Practices guest speaker, and manager Richard Sweet was the featured speaker at a meeting of the Women in Business Club.

Further strengthening the connection between the two organizations is the presence of many Ducks on the BHS staff. These include marketing coordinator Peter Raschio, MBA '11, and technical sales representative JJ O'Connell, MBA '11.

"Having Bulk Handling Systems right in our backyard gives our students an unparalleled opportunity to see a paradigm-shifting green business at work," said Laura Strohm, program manager for the college's Center for Sustainable Business Practices. "Their cutting-edge waste management and resource recovery systems go to customers around the world, turning the trash problem into economic and environmental solutions for cities everywhere."