U.S. EPA Indian General Assistance Program (IGAP)
AIA works directly with Aleut Tribes and communities on common goals and concerns related to the environmental and human health and cultural sustainability projects.
The AIA Environmental Department was established in 2019 with support from all 13 Aleut Tribes when AIA was awarded an EPA IGAP grant. This grant was the first of its kind for AIA and established the organization as an Alaska Native tribal consortium. Plans for this funding include community visits, development of solid waste management programs, air quality improvement, climate change adaptation projects, technical assistance for Tribes and overall capacity building.
This program is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency IGAP.
Alaska Solid Waste Resources
- Zender Environmental Group: Works with small and remote Tribal communities to identify and address the unique solid waste and water quality challenges they face. Zender Environmental – Zender Environmental Group (zendergroup.org)
- A to Z Index: A-Z Topic Help – Zender Environmental Group (zendergroup.org)
- Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling is a nonprofit organization that promotes recycling and litter prevention in Alaska. ALPAR | Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling (alparalaska.com)
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium: ANTHC’s Tribal Capacity and Training program provides technical assistance and training to Tribal governments to build capacity and enhance local environmental program management. Capacity & Training | Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (anthc.org)
- EPA GAP Guidance, 2022 for IGAP grantees: Guidebook for Building Tribal Environmental Capacity (epa.gov)
- Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) Solid Waste info: Solid Waste Program (alaska.gov)& Waste in Rural Communities (alaska.gov)
- Solid Waste Management in Remote Arctic Communities survey tool.
- Delta Backhaul Company (DBC): enhances solid waste management in rural Alaska through public education, operator training, and community outreach. Specializing in landfill and backhaul projects, they collaborate with local planners to secure funding and complete projects efficiently. They offer comprehensive services, including waste collection, transportation logistics, and equipment maintenance, all tailored to the unique needs of remote communities. Their practical, sustainable solutions address the specific waste management challenges faced in rural Alaska. Delta Backhaul Company (dbcalaska.net)
- Total Reclaim- Alaska: Total Reclaim excels in managing a wide range of recycling needs, including fluorescent bulbs, white goods, small appliances, electronic waste, and Freon recycling. Their comprehensive services ensure responsible disposal and recycling across multiple material categories. Additionally, Total Reclaim collaborates closely with the Zender Group, leveraging this partnership to effectively address all backhaul requirements. Please refer to Anchorage Total Reclaim first before considering assignments to Kent, WA (As listed below). Their local expertise and resources can often provide more immediate and effective solutions. Alaska | Total Reclaim
- Net Your Problem- offers fishing gear recycling services to the fishing industry for end of life or derelict fishing nets and other fishing gear. Process includes collection, shipment and then turning the material into the raw material needed to manufacture plastic products.: Net Your Problem Blog
- SWAT- Solid Waste Alaska Taskforce Guide to Solid Waste Mgmt. in AK, 2016, Solid-Waste-Guide-_Feb2017.pdf (anthc.org)
- Federal Emergency Management Agency, Alaska: Alaska | FEMA.gov
Air cargo shipping in Alaska
- Alaska Air Cargo: Anchorage | Alaska Air Cargo (alaskacargo.com)
- Alaska Central Express (ACE): ACE Air Cargo – Premier Air Cargo Service in Alaska
- Aleutian Airways: Book Today – Aleutian Airways (flyaleutian.com)
- Desert Air Cargo: https://desertairalaska.com/about
- Everts Air: https://evertsair.com/cargo
- Lynden Air Cargo: https://www.lynden.com/lac/solutions/scheduled-service-within-alaska/
- Northern Air Cargo: NAC – Northern Air Cargo
- Ravn Alaska Air Cargo: https://www.ravnalaska.com/cargo-rates
Aleutian & Pribilof area
- Ace Air Cargo: https://www.aceaircargo.com/schedules/freight/
- Grant Aviation: Serves all of Aleutians & Pribilof Islands: Scheduled, Charter & Cargo Flights throughout Alaska – Grant Aviation (flygrant.com)
- Eider Air: Based in Cold Bay, AK: Eider Air Service
- Lake Clark Air Services. Phone: 907-278-2054 Explore southwest Alaska (lakeclarkair.com)
- Precision Air: Charter services. Phone & text number: 907-989-4080. Alternate phone number: 907-952-2479
Bering Straits area
Marine shipping information for backhaul / recycling
- Coastal Transportation: Services | Coastal Transportation
- Samson Tug and Barge: Samson Tug & Barge– Website note: All shipments of hazardous materials must be booked in advance of shipping. Contact a customer service representative to discuss shipping hazardous cargo. For the shipment of waste (both hazardous and non-hazardous waste) the manifests must be reviewed and approved prior to receipt by Samson Tug and Barge. They can be faxed to 206-767-5358 or emailed to Richard Seslar. RichardSeslar@samsontug.com
Recycling services in Washington state that work with some Alaska Tribes.
- Total Reclaim: located in Kent, WA. They do the pickup from Coastal Transportation in Seattle. Seattle | Total Reclaim
- West Seattle Recycling: They take cardboard, cans and some metals. You can send one tote of lead-acid batteries to offset the costs of shipping cardboard, so you don’t have to pay for recycling costs. Alaska Recycling Program at West Seattle Recycling
- All Batteries Services out of SEA. They make the deliveries to Kent. They take household and lead-acid batteries. Recycling – All Battery Sales and Service
Solid Waste Management Success Stories
Trainings and Meetings
All dates may vary, please visit each entities training page or get in contact with IGAP Coordinator in your region.
ANTHC
Generation (varies), IGAP Workshop (Dec. Anchorage), ATCEM (Mar. Anchorage), and monthly informative webinars that are recorded and can be used at any time.
EPA
Webinars and technical support can be provided by your project officer. All trainings touch IGAP technical services from budget, workplans, QAPP writing, and more.
Alaska Department of Enviornmental conservation (ADEC)
Solid Waste Bootcamp is hosted by Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation each year. This training will go over landfill issues and tech services with your regions Landfill Inspectors
ZENDER GROUP
Qualifications for Samplers, QAPP writing technical services, backhaul & hazmat, YSI, refrigerant recovery, and a complete service training called Rural Alaska Community Environmental Job Training (“RaceJT”)
Enviornmental Management INC (EMI, Anchorage)
Provider of training services either in Anchorage, virtually (some) and contracted to your location trainings specializing in: hazmat, hazwoper, asbestos, OSHA, DOT Hazmat, and more.
OTHER
Alaska Forum on the Environment or AFE (Feb., Anchorage)
Region 10 RTOC: Tribal Environmental Leaders Summit or TELS (Varies on dates and location)