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| February 2009 |
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A recent report in the Journal of Rural and Community Development (Volume 3, Number 3) about the impacts of solid waste on community sustainability in Alaska has been published online. The report examines solid waste issues in several Alaska communities, including Tyonek, Tanana, Buckland and Bethel. The authors concludes: "Therefore, to reduce the negative human and environmental health impacts of solid waste disposal, communities must rely in large part on themselves to initiate local waste disposal ordinances and practices that will reduce these impacts and increase recycling in their communities. Such recommended measures may include: (a) identifying and diverting hazardous wastes (electronics waste, lead acid batteries, liquid hazardous waste, and the like) from the waste stream; (b) selecting a location at the dump or elsewhere to store these materials safely for later removal; (c) restricting public access and exposure to the landfill by hiring a landfill operator/waste hauler who is properly trained in safety issues; (d) identifying burn practices and burn-box technologies that reduce toxic emissions and prevent smoke from blowing toward the community while burning trash; and (e) working with local retailers, shipping companies, and residents to reduce the volume of excess and unnecessary packaging materials from coming into the village in the first place as well as find new, cost effective ways to divert recyclables into the commodity market." The report may be viewed at: |
