Solid Waste Management
Overview
Supporting Regional Communities and Businesses by Collaborating on Waste Management Issues and Finding Solutions.
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Southeast Alaska is home to 35, mostly small and all rural, communities and 19 Tribes spread across approximately 33,500 square miles separated by mountains and waterways. Collectively, the region produces approximately 60,000 tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) annually. Most of these communities remain disconnected from each other due to natural barriers and a lack of traditional roadways. As islanded populations, MSW Management is generally handled on a community by community basis in a variety of ways, from permitted landfilling, open burning, uncontrolled open dumping, composting, incineration, limitedly recycling and, the growing practice of baling and shipping solid waste to the lower 48 States for final disposal. SEC and its partner organization, the Southeast Alaska Solid Waste Authority (SEASWA), work with communities and the State to address growing challenges in local MSW Management.
Communities
Federally Recognized Tribes
Tons of Waste in the Region Annually
Regional Strategy
Regional Municipal Solid Waste Management Strategy
The Southeast Alaska Solid Waste Authority (SEASWA), in collaboration with Southeast Conference (SEC), has received Federal grant funding to pursue a regional solid waste planning effort to develop a MSW strategy for Southeast Alaska. During this project, the lead contractor will research and map MSW disposal needs in Southeast Alaska, research MSW disposal best practices being used in other parts of Alaska and the Lower 48, and work with SEC and SEASWA to develop a strategy for efficiently managing MSW within and between communities in the region. The final work product will be used by communities in the region to guide cost effective long-term disposal practices.
“Develop best practices solutions handling MSW, including baling and compacting solid waste for shipping. Increase utilization of regional recycling and composting programs and increase use of commercial burn units. Encourage businesses and entrepreneurs to find ways to reuse solid waste materials to keep them out of landfills or from being shipped out for final disposal. Raise awareness of upcycling opportunities with community art projects and outreach to the schools with creative competitions. Communicate the importance of waste sorting to citizens in communities that ship their waste. Procure equipment to manage increasing amounts of tires. Create partnerships to share equipment, such as balers and shredders, across communities in the region. Encourage collaboration and partnerships between communities and organizations to develop collective, regional programs and solutions.” -2030 CEDS: Support regional solid waste management solutions
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Project Phases
1. Waste Profile Development
Conduct research and literature review to develop a Regional Profile with Community Narratives of Current Waste Streams and Existing MSW Infrastructure.
2. Local Engagement to Assess MSW Needs
Share findings with communities, identify highest cost MSW communities and reduce gaps in data.
3. Solution Evaluation & Matching
Based on current and future infrastructure as well as MSW processes identified regionally, throughout the state and nationally, form a white paper on feasible solutions.
4. Solid Waste Strategy Development
Put data and feasible solution findings from steps 1-3 into a Regional Solid Waste Strategy including: strategy on weaknesses and ways to mitigate them and an implementation action plan.
5. Strategy Implementation
As funding allows, work with communities to begin implementation of the Strategy.
SEASWA
Southeast Alaska Solid Waste Authority
SEASWA schedules monthly board meetings covering regional solid waste issues.
The Southeast Alaska Solid Waste Authority (SEASWA) is a public agency created pursuant to section 29.35.800 of Alaska Statutes. Established in 2007, SEASWA was formed by member communities in Southeast Alaska with support from SEC. The intent of SEASWA is to reduce or stabilize cost through a combination of a long term disposal contracts and increased diversion through recycling.
Current member communities are Hydaburg, Wrangell, Petersburg, Thorne Bay, Craig, Klawock, Kasaan, Coffman Cove and Tenakee Springs.
Next Meeting Date
TBD
Meeting Materials
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Past Meeting Minutes
SEASWA Board Members
Information coming soon
SEASWA Tire Shearer
In 2020 SEASWA purchases a Desco 4000 Model Portable tire shearer & derimmer. Thanks to a partnership with the Alaska Marine Line, this piece of equipment travels between SEASWA member communities to manage tire waste.
SEASWA Communities
Resources
Resources on Solid Waste in Southeast
Solid Waste Studies
Past Regional MSW Strategies
