What a difference a decade makes: recycling, renewable energy projects priorities in Alaska.

• Author: Orr, Vanessa
• Position: ENVIRONMENT

Years ago, it wasn't unusual to find just about everything in Alaska's landfills--plastic, glass, newspaper, cardboard, electronics equipment, aluminum cans and more. But in the last few years, Alaska has begun "going green," explor--ways to dispose of the state's waste in more cost-effective, environmentally friendly ways.

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At the same time, the state has started to invest in projects and technologies that encourage the use of reusable, sustainable energy sources, such as wind and water, while also encouraging homeowners and businesses to use energy more efficiently.

"When you look at the big picture, you can see how far we've come," said Jeanne Carlson, recycling coordinator, Solid Waste Services, Municipality of Anchorage and program director and interim executive director of Green Star. "We still have a long way to go, but we've come a long way in the past 10 years."

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

In a throwaway society, it's often difficult to convince people that it's important to take the time to reuse or recycle waste materials. In Alaska, however, the desire to "go green" seems to be increasing every day.

"A decade ago, we were doing monthly drop-off events in parking lots, and since then, recycling has grown tremendously," explained Carlson. "While a small, vocal minority says, 'Why are we doing this? There's no point,' about 90 percent of the time, people tell us to keep it coming.

"It's definitely something that people want, and in fact, we're finding it hard to keep up," she added. "People want curbside service now, instead of waiting until the fall--and we're trying to live up to those expectations."

In the past two years, the Municipality of Anchorage has hired two recycling coordinators, and the Anchorage School District also has employed a recycling coordinator to get a program going in the district's 100 schools and five administration buildings. The municipality also passed an ordinance creating a $3 per ton surcharge on all revenue tons at the landfill that will be used to fund community recycling projects.

CURBSIDE RECYCLING

"Solid Waste Services (SWS) has begun offering curbside recycling as part of our automated trash service to customers on a 'pay-as-you-throw' basis," said Carlson. This system, which uses rolling curb carts, is already in place in about one-third of single-family households served by SWS, the muni department responsible for refuse collection in about 20 percent of Anchorage. The...