SWAN - Solid Waste Alaska Network

YRITWC is working with Yutana Barge Lines on a backhaul project with several communities on the Yukon, Koyukum, and Innoko rivers. Several materials are being backhauled, such as vehicles, heavy equipment, batteries etc. For more information:
Click here to see their website
Click here to see their newsletter with info about the backhaul project
If you would like more information about this project, contact Jon Waterhouse, YRITWC at 907-258-3337.

A free hazardous waste backhaul service sponsored by Yutana Barge Lines and the Department of Environmental Conservation is available to any communities serviced by Yutana Barge on the following waterways:

How do I sign up?
If your community is serviced by Yutana Barge and you would like to participate in this program, contact Yutana Barge:

What do they take?
As of Spring 2003, the types of hazardous waste that are accepted by this program are listed below. Due to program funding, however, the types of waste accepted may change. Contact Yutana Barge or DEC to get a current list of accepted wastes.

Used motor oil and fuel additives

Batteries

Antifreeze

Starter fluids and carburetor and fuel injection cleaners

Paints, paint thinners, strippers, and removers

Adhesives

Fungicides and wood preservatives

Old gasoline

Garbage, yard waste, or construction debris
Asbestos-containing materials
Explosive materials (dynamite, blasting caps)
Radioactive materials (smoke detectors)
Reactive materials (sodium metal)
Contaminated soils or biological waste

1. Separate hazardous wastes into different types

Keep products in their original containers if possible
Don’t mix any products together

2. Label all containers!

Label and identify all containers to the best of your knowledge
The labels don’t need to be fancy – a pen marker can be used to write on the container. Write big and use clear lettering. You can also write on a piece of paper and cover it with clear tape for a label. DEC also has pre-made stickers for used oil, antifreeze, batteries, and gasoline. Call any of the contacts at DEC and ask for these stickers (see below for contact).
You can also click on the used oil label to the right for a pre-made label which you can print out, cover with clear tape, and secure to your container.

3. Keep containers in good condition until they are collected

Properly store all containers
Place any leaking container inside another container
Containers should be stored under cover to avoid degradation from weather. Click here for hazardous waste storage information

4. Be prepared for Yutana’s arrival

Remember that Yutana Barge is kindly donating their time and services for this program and the more your community prepares for Yutana before it arrives, the better. Yutana can’t afford to tie up the barge for a long period of time. The whole loading process needs to happen as quickly as possible
It is important to know when the barge will be arriving so the wastes are properly packaged, labeled, and ready to go.
It is also important to set the prepared hazardous wastes at an location agreed-to by Yutana Barge. Talk with Yutana Barge about the best “pick-up” location for your community.
Some communities have Connex containers at their barge landing which they use to store their hazardous wastes. For more information about storing wastes and storage equipment, click to the right on the connex.

If you would like to read success stories about two particular communities’ experience using the Yutana’s service (Louden Tribal Council and Ft Yukon), click below:

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the Southeast Conference, and the Alaska Marine Highway System sponsor a hazardous waste pick up service for communities in the Southeast. A “Hazmobile” van is transported by Alaska Marine Highway to Southeast communities once a year (during the summer) for a household hazardous waste collection day.

The participating communities are responsible for the shipping and disposal costs of the hazardous wastes, however these costs are one-third of what they would be without the donated contributions by DEC, Alaska Marine Highway, and the Southeast Conference. Ten Southeast communities participated in the 2002 collection event and another event is planned for Summer 2003. For further details of this program and to read about communities that have participated, click on this link: http://info.dec.state.ak.us/decpermit/hhw.pdf

If you are interested in participating in this program contact the Department of Environmental Conservation:

Contact Name 1: Bill Smyth, DEC
Phone: 451-2177
Address: 610 University Ave. Fairbanks, AK 99709
Email: bill_smyth@dec.state.ak.us

Contact Name 2 : Deric Marcorelle, DEC
Phone: 262-5210 x249
Address: 35390 Kalifornsky Beach Rd. Soldotna, AK 99669
Email: deric_marcorell@dec.state.ak.us

There are companies you can hire to ship out and dispose of your hazardous wastes. However, this can be expensive. The costs will vary greatly depending on what you want to ship, how much material you have, and the location of your Village. A great place to start is to give any of the hazmat shipping/disposal companies a call and talk to them about what you want to ship and how much it might cost.

The hazmat companies will give you cost estimates to dispose of the hazardous wastes at their Anchorage/Seattle facilities. Below are some sample disposal costs from Emerald Services. Remember, these are just estimates, and the actual costs may be more or less depending on your specific hazardous materials, quantities, and location.

Shipping Costs

The hazmat companies will also give you cost estimates for the cheapest shipping option for your hazardous wastes. Shipping costs will again depend on what you’re shipping and how much you’re shipping. Transport companies charge different rates for different types of hazardous wastes. For example, barge lines often use a ‘sliding scale’ where they charge more money for more contaminated wastes. Airlines often only charge a small handling fee and then their shipping costs are the same as any non-hazardous item.

Contacts

Agencies	Department of Environmental Conservation Bill Smyth, Fairbanks, 451-2177 bill_smyth@dec.state.ak.us Deric Marcorelle, Soldotna, 262-5210 x249 deric_marcorell@dec.state.ak.us www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/ENV.CONSERV/home.htm
Barge Transport	Yutana Barge Matt Sweetsir or Endil Moore 1 (800) 478-5476 or (907) 322 1742 msweetsir@yutanabarge.com emoore@yutanabarge.com www.yutanabarge.com Crowley Alaska, Inc. Clara Henry, Kotzebue Office 907 442 3212, Fax (907) 442 3627 Anchorage Office (907) 278-4978 www.crowley.com Naknek Barge Tim Kinkoff, Seattle (206) 762 1092 or (206) 658 0222 Northland Services Steve Koponen, Anchorage 1 (800) 426 3113 ext 577 www.northlandservicesinc.com Alaska Marine Lines Seattle, Washington: 1 800) 326-8346 www.lynden.com/aml/
Land Transport	Lynden Transport Ken hall, Anchorage 1 (800) 327-9390 www.ltia.lynden.com/
Air Transport	Alaska Airlines Peggy McCluskey, Director of Environmental Affairs, Seattle, WA 206 574 1978 or main number 1 (800) 252-7522 www.alaskaair.com Northern Air Cargo Anchorage, 1-800-478-3330 www.nacargo.com
Rail Transport	Alaska Railroad Lyle Madson, Anchorage (907) 265 2448 or main number (907) 265-2300 www.akrr.com/
Hazmat shipping companies	Emerald Services Anchorage, (907) 258-1558 www.emeraldnw.com Alaska Pollution Control Anchorage, (907) 344 5036 Phillips Services Anchorage, 1 (800) 478 9008 or (907) 272 9007