Spanning over 33,000 square miles covering the entirety of the Alaskan panhandle, Southeast Alaska is home to 35 remote communities that all generate waste with few options to keep that waste from spilling into the unspoiled wildness that surrounds them. This ongoing issue is one that SEC aims to solve over a three year period aimed at finding unique solutions for each community’s needs. 

This community drive effort to find innovative solutions for Southeast Alaska’s waste is predicated on moving away from constantly packing up waste and shipping south (as communities have historically done). While this will still be a part of the potential solutions, SEC is committed to helping these communities gain the infrastructure to successfully manage waste in perpetuity. Protecting the natural environment around them and preserving the Southeast Alaskan community identity. 

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.