What You Can Do
' Reduce. You can reduce the amount of waste you generate by using durable,
long-lasting goods and avoiding disposable items; buying products in bulk; and
looking for products with less packaging.
1 Reuse. Reusing items is another way to reduce the amount of waste you
generate. Repair, sell, or donate used or unwanted items or organize a
community swap event. One person's trash is another person's treasure!
1 Compost. In certain climate zones composting can be a great way to dispose of
yard trimmings and food scraps, while creating a natural, free fertilizer. Some
tribes offer classes on how to compost, and some even provide composting bins
at a reduced cost or show you how to building your own.
1 Recycle. Talk with your tribal government or other community groups about
recycling programs that might be possible.
• Properly Dispose of Waste. Don't litter or dump illegally. Use a waste
collection service, if available, or take your waste to a transfer station or landfill.
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The Removal of Home Barrel Burning in the
Native Alaskan Villages
Air Quality and Solid Waste Management
Success Stories
Edited by Rashmi Sahai, Intern
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
Summer 2007
Other Burning Resources
• Health Risks of Burning Waste
http: //www. ccthita-swan. org/pdf/
open_burning.pdf
• Burnbarrels
http://www.ccthita-swan.org/Planning/
burn_barrels. cfm
• Burnboxes
http://www.ccthita-swan.org/Tutorials/
burnbox.cfm
• Incinerators
http://www.ccthita-swan.org/Tutorials/
incinerate.cfm
• Education
http: //aknextgeneration. org/
Kake
This booklet was developed by and with cooperation of the environmental staff from nine Alaska
Native Villages that have successfully addressed the use of burn barrels in their communities.
Their stories are shared in this way as a means of helping other Alaskan tribes to take action to
similarly protect the health of their members from this source of toxic air pollution.
Air pollution created by burning household waste in such barrels in the midst of residential
communities can substantially increase the risk to tribal members' health, particularly those with
greater vulnerability such as elders, children, and individuals with asthma and other respiratory
weaknesses. By eliminating the use of burn barrels with better alternative waste disposal
methods, the risk to community health can be substantial reduced. The individuals who have told
their stories here hope that their experiences will help others to begin similar programs to
protect public health and the environment in rural Alaska. We thank them for their willingness to
share for all to benefit.
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Map of Village Locations
Hughes
Huslia
BfflbMdore's Slough
Reasons to Not Bum Household Waste in
Burn Barrels or Near Homes
Residential burning is a more serious threat to public health and the environment
than previously believed. Burning household waste produces many toxic
chemicals and is one of the largest known sources of dioxins in the nation. Tribes
across the nation are beginning to ban this practice.
Dioxins accumulate in the food chain. They can settle onto berries and forage for
game animals that contribute to subsistence foods that Alaskan tribal communities
rely upon as part of traditional hunting and gathering practices. Dioxins also can
settle on water or enter rivers and streams through soil erosion. They accumulate
in the fats of animals, and then in humans when we consume meat, fish, and dairy
products.
Smoke from burn barrels contains hazardous pollutants such as particulate matter
(PM), sulfur dioxide, lead, mercury, and hexachorobenzene that can have
immediate and long tern health effects such as:
• Asthma, emphysema, and other respiratory illnesses.
• Nervous system, kidney or liver damage.
• Reproductive or developmental disorders.
Ash residue from burning can contain toxic pollutants, such as mercury, lead,
chromium, and arsenic, which can contaminate subsistence foods such as berries.
Children can accidentally swallow toxic materials from dirt on their hands while
playing near discarded ash.
Help protect yourself, your family, and your community from the health risks
from outdoor burning. These stories provide examples of how use of burn barrels
can be eliminated in your community.
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Hughes: Small village...big strides
Tuntutuliak: Little steps can go a long way
Hughes is made up of only 70 people and 30 homes. The village has not let its small
size stand in the way of drafting a solid waste management plan. It combined forces
with the city and secured a grant that pays for weekly curbside household waste pick up.
This, along with education on health hazards through flyers, newsletters, and radio
announcements, enabled Hughes to rid their village of home barrel burning.
Contact: Eileen Jackson
907-889-2261
eileenrj ackson @ hotmail. com
Kiana: All it takes is a personal touch
Kiana was able to rid its village of solid waste burning through outreach and
education. Public notices were posted around town and an article was published in the
newspaper on the health hazards of home barrel burning. Flyers were also given out to
all the children at school for them to take home and share with their families. However,
it was the home visits that Gloria made herself that really made the difference. Even
though the village has a population of over 400, Gloria visited every home with burn
barrels, giving each household a pamphlet on the health hazards of home barrel burning.
Most residents were surprised that no one had educated them on these health hazards
before, and received the information willingly.
Loading trash into Kiana burnbox in preparation
for burning.
Burning of waste in burnbox at Kiana dumpsite.
Burning at the Kiana main store was also addressed. Initially the environmental
program offered to haul the store's solid waste to the dump. However, the store itself
has now taken up this responsibility. It has also started a recycling program, where
cardboard is turned into logs and is distributed to residents for wood stove burning.
The many burn barrels that are no longer in use have been relocated to a gravel pit
area outside the village. Kiana will try to reuse as many of the barrels as possible for
garbage cans. The rest will be hauled over to the dump.
Contact: Gloria Shellabarger
907-475-2252
Gloria, shellabarger@katyaaq.org
In 1996 Tuntutuliak was able to rid most of its homes of burn barrels. They now provide
a trash pick-up service that makes a stop at every residence. The village also focused
great efforts on the education of waste separation. In addition to providing articles in
newspapers, the environmental coordinators went door to door explaining to each
residence why household waste separation was so important and how to go about doing
it. Just like in Kiana, this method proved very effective.
Burning still takes place at some local businesses and at the village school. However,
the schoolchildren, who were bothered by its smoke, have been able to make
improvements. They each wrote a letter to the principle asking not to burn the school
waste during unfavorable wind conditions. The principle complied, showing how little
steps can go a long way.
Contact: David Enoch
907-256-2103
deeaq@yahoo.com
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Minto: A work in progress
Ninilchik: Taking advantage of urbanization
Minto has been able to make a lot of improvements using the IGAP grant, but its
solid waste management plan is still a work in progress. So far, it has eradicated most
home barrel burning through education in the form of flyers, newsletters, and
announcements at gatherings.
Minto's new sanitary landfill.
Burnbox located at the landfill.
Melanie works hard on Minto's solid waste
management program.
Minto has also established a new sanitary landfill five miles from the closest home.
Although the village is working on a home trash pick-up program, the residents
currently haul their trash to the landfill themselves. It is only those residents who do not
haul their trash to the landfill that still use home barrel burning. This problem will
hopefully be solved when curbside pick up is established.
To reduce the amount of waste in the landfill, Minto burns appropriate trash in a
burnbox located at the site. Because the landfill is a good distance away from the
village, burning in the burnbox is a much safer and healthier option for the residents.
Nilichik has been fortunate to have readily available access to Kenai Borough
managed solid waste collection and disposal sites. In addition, long-term development
and land status impacts have allowed it to become relatively urbanized. This has enabled
the village to undergo a smooth removal of home barrel burning from the village.
Burn barrels were eradicated through education. Information on the health hazards
of burning was provided in tribal newsletters, and brochures were presented at local
Environmental Awareness community meetings and made available at the office media
center.
On the rare occasion that burning might still occur, contact is immediately made with
the household and education is provided. This successfully discourages the continued
use of home barrel burning, and the household willingly switches to an alternative form
of waste disposal.
Contact: Bruce Oskolkoff
907-567-4394
bruce@ninilchiktribe-nsn.gov
Kake: A creative solution
Kake does not have home barrel burning because it has an established landfill five
miles from the village. It has regular garbage pick up 3 times per week. To pay for the
garbage pick-up, along with water and sewer services, each household pays $36 per
month. However, this does not cover the total costs of maintaining the solid waste
disposal system; the rest is subsidized from local store sales.
Contact: Edna Jackson
907-785-6471
eljackson@kakefirstnation.org
Bill Moore's Slough: A ban on the problem
Bill Moore's Slough was awarded a grant from EPA to develop an Integrated Solid
Waste Management Plan and Tribal Codes and Regulations in November 2005. The
program was implemented throughout 2006. Part of the solid waste management plan is
a ban on home barrel burning. A fine of $500 has been imposed to enforce this ban.
To supplement the ban, education on the dangers of burn barrels was distributed, and
the resident's understanding of the issue is shown through their compliance.
Contact: Pius Akran
907-899-4206
pakaran @ gci.net
City of Kotlik
9078994313
fax: 907 899 4826
Contact: Melanie
907-798-7399
mintoigap@yahoo.com
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Gulkana: Cooperation and Hard Work, a Recipe for Success
Nondalton: They've got it all
Gulkana keeps home barrel burning at bay through a lot of hard work by Rachel
Showalter-Claw, the environmental coordinator of the village. The recycling program
she has established allows residents to recycle not only aluminum cans, batteries, and
Dumpsters that hold non-recyclable solid waste
J
KEEP THIS AREA CLEAN
PLEASE FILL THE DUMPSTERS
EVENLY AMD MAKE SURE THE
LID IS CLOSED THANK YOU
Gulkana recycling unit Signs serve as reminders for residents
used oil, but also paper and plastic; a rare occurrence in the villages. Ms. Showalter-
Claw brings the recycling to Anchorage herself every time she makes the long trip into
the city. The rest of municipal solid waste is picked up by Cooper Basin Sanitation, a
private company. Both the recycling bins and trash dumpsters are conveniently located
in the center of the village.
Ms. Showalter-Claw educates the residents of Gulkana about proper solid waste
management and burning through articles in a monthly and bi-monthly newsletter.
These articles remind the residents that it takes everyone's cooperation to have a keep
the village clean and the air pure.
Contact: Rachel Showalter-Claw
(907)822-3172
epagulkana @ cvinternet.net
Removing the leftover ashes from the last
burnbox burning period.
Preparing the area for the installation of
Nondalton's new burnbox.
Nondalton, a village with a population of 230, has a very successful waste
management program. They have a landfill, dumpsters to keep garbage dry, a burnbox,
curbside pick up, a voluntary recycling center, and refuse collection. Home barrel
burning was first addressed at a town meeting. At the meeting a resolution was passed
identifying the hazards of burning, and eventually a ban on home barrel burning was
included in the utilities ordinance. The village maintains its solid waste management
plan by having an ordinance priority system. It requires every residence to pay a $30
monthly solid waste fee. If the fee is not paid, they are cut off from running water. In
this way Nondalton ensures that everyone who can pay the bill will pay it. The villagers
were educated of this new system through a newsletter.
Contact: DaWayne Constantine
907-563-5657
dconstantine® scsalaska.com
Huslia: Speedy Sam saves the day
Huslia is made up of 240 residents. It recently addressed its home burn barrel problem
in April 2007 by positioning six large trash bins throughout the village. Residents drop
off their trash in the bin closest to their home. Speedy Sam, the village solid waste
manager, empties the garbage from the bins and brings it to the landfill.
To educate the residents of the new system and the hazards of burning, flyers were
posted around the village and an announcement was made on the local radio broadcast.
Contact: Speedy Sam
907-829-2291
speedyasam@yahoo.com
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