United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Research and Development
Environmental Research
Laboratory
Corvallis OR 97333
EPA-600/S3-84-059 Sept 1984
&EPA Project Summary
An Assessment of Solid Waste
Disposal Practices in Rural
Communities in Alaska
Timothy Tilsworth
A study was conducted of solid waste
management practices in remote
communities of Alaska during 1980-
1982. This study was conducted in
cooperation with the Alaska
Department of Environmental
Conservation.
Solid waste management problems
were identified for small communities
in cold regions and analyses were
conducted to determine viable
alternatives, including open dumps,
modified landfills, and incineration. A
very limited sampling program was
conducted to determine solid waste
characteristics. National and
international literature was reviewed,
including that of Canada. The project
included site visits to several small.
villages, consultation with regulatory
officials and discussion with several
Canadian agencies and communities. A
national survey was conducted
relative to state regulations pertaining
to small community practices.
The results of the study identified
many problems existing in small
communities in cold climates and found
that in many cases state regulations are
either not enforced or, if they are,
considered inappropriate in view of the
community's very limited resources.
The study includes an analysis of solu-
tions and alternatives available.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Environmental Research
Laboratory, Corvallis, OR, to announce
key findings of the research project that
is fully documented in a separate report
of the same title (see Project Report
ordering information at back).
Introduction
Environmental engineering in Alaska
often requires unique and/or modified
design concepts because of the severe
climatological conditions and other
limiting factors and constraints which
include a widely dispersed population,
permafrost, land litigation problems, a
lack of an economic base for many small
communities, and a severely restricted
transportation system.
The severe climatological conditions in
Alaska can seriously affect modes of
operation for solid waste disposal
systems Low temperatures impede
biodegradation and restrict the latitude of
operational options. Excessive precipita-
tion can result in solid waste leachate,
and limit or reduce the number of ac-
ceptable disposal sites Frozen ground is
expensive to excavate. If not properly
managed, it can subsequently produce a
water quality problem in addition to
erosion control problems.
An appendix to the final report details
solid waste disposal conditions for
Alaskan villages, and provides basic
information for some 206 Alaskan
community solid waste operations The
final report also documents prevalent
social conditions and provides a bleak
view of the solid waste management
conditions Of the villages included in the
survey, 70 had populations less than 100,
180 had populations less than 500, 200
had populations less than 1000, and six
had populations greater than 1,000. A
large percentage of these sites were
categorized as open dumps, and many
were located in continuous/discontin-
uous permafrost.
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Solid Waste Management in
Alaskan Communities
In Alaska solid waste is usually
disposed of by landfilling and open dump-
ing. Unhealthy and unsightly open dumps
exist in most small villages of Alaska
where 76% of the communities use open
dumps, 11% use modified landfills, and
the remaining 13% use ocean or river
disposal. A few communities use
incineration, but all incinerator
operations are in federal facilities. A
statewide survey initiated in 1977 by the
Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation (ADEC) found that open
burning was practiced at 22% of the
communities and that only 12% had any
form of centralized collection svstem
Bears were problems at several sites and
littering was widespread Several of the
landfills were designed and operated by
the United States Public Health Service
and the Alaska Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities.
In 1981, the Northern Region of the
ADEC inspected 25 remote solid waste
dumps. Numerous problems were
identified including dead animal remains,
honeybucket wastes and possible con-
tacts with potable water supplies. Addi-
tionally, several sites were inhabited by
fox which could be rabid. Many villages
did not have centralized disposal sites
and indiscriminate dumping occurs
throughout and around the villages.
Most of the disposal facilities do not
meet the RCRA criteria established for
sanitary landfills for a variety of reasons,
and are in violation of state and federal
laws. The attendent problems include
open burning, littering, discharge into
waterbodies, nuisance factors and lack of
vector control.
Results and Recommendations
The final report fully documents
conditions in 200 Alaskan communities
with populations less than 1000. About
three-fourths of those communities use
open dumps as a means of solid waste
disposal. Few, if any, solid waste disposal
facilities in Alaska meettheRCRAcriteria
for sanitary landfills.
Where cost prevents the use of
expensive solutions such as incineration,
the final report recommends operation of
modified landfills and/or regulated and
controlled open burning. Indiscriminate
open dumping of solid waste and human
sewage must be replaced by controlled,
supervised and approved methods of
disposal Given the present state-of-the-
art in Alaska, RCRA goals cannot be
attained for most of the State's small
remote communities However, these
goals should be retained as an ideal to be
met in the future
Timothy Tilsworth is with Engineering Experiment Station, University of Alaska,
Fairbanks, AL
James C. McCarty is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "An Assessment of Solid Waste Disposal Practices
in Rural Communities in Alaska," (Order No. PB 84-187 970; Cost: $10.00,
subject to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Environmental Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Corvallis. OR 97333
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
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US GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 1984—759-015/7779
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