An impact assessment of current rural Alaska village solid waste management systems: a case study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the impacts of current and alternative solid waste management practices of two rural Alaskan villages. The EASETECH life-cycle assessment modeling tool was used to compare the current solid waste management systems for the remote villages of Kalskag and Fort Yukon across eight alternative scenarios. Annual waste generation and composition data for these two villages and data specific to processes and functions for each waste system were collected and used to modify templates within the EASETECH program to provide a life-cycle assessment for current and proposed waste management practices. The results indicate that integrated waste management practices for these remote villages may not be economically feasible or environmentally favorable. Waste management options, though limited for these remote villages, may benefit from minor system changes. These changes include transport services and burn practices that only slightly increase operating costs, but significantly reduce local social and environmental impacts. Local, accurate, and complete waste stream data could help support future management planning for the solid waste management systems of these rural villages.