Rural Landfills Overview
Rural Landfills Overview
Background
Class III landfills are defined as landfills that are not connected by a road to a Class I landfill, or if connected by road, is located more than 50 miles from a Class I landfill, and accepts less than five tons per day of MSW. The KPB oversees the operations of five Class III rural landfills: Beluga, Nanwalek, Port Graham, Seldovia, and Tyonek. Each is unique and comes with the challenges of geographic location and community compliance and involvement.
Location Issues
The KPB does not own land in Port Graham, Nanwalek, or Tyonek and has had to lease Native land for landfill use. Over the years each of these villages has expressed interest in relocating their existing landfills. However, land option constraints coupled with gridlock negotiations with the Native corporations and local residents has left potential progress at a stalemate. Until other suitable sites can be found and negotiations agreed upon, the KPB and these communities agree that remaining at the existing locations is the best solution for current waste management.
Waste Minimization – Burn Boxes
All of the rural landfills utilize burn boxes. This is known as a “waste minimization technique” and reduces MSW required for burial by an estimated 25%. Burning is strictly controlled in amounts of less than five cubic yards and includes items such as cardboard, paper, and small quantities of wood waste.
Recycling
RRL is currently the only rural landfill with a recycling program.
Hazardous Waste
In 1995 the KPB and Chugachmuit funded the construction of small sheds in Nanwalek and Port Graham to temporarily store hazardous waste materials such as used oil and vehicle batteries that cannot be disposed of in the landfill.
The Solid Waste Department holds an annual HWCP event in Seldovia. The hazardous waste in the sheds at Nanwalek and Port Graham are shipped out on an as-needed basis by Solid Waste staff. No hazardous waste is collected at Beluga or Tyonek; the industrial corporations in these areas are responsible for disposing of their own hazardous wastes.
Disposal Fees
Fees are not charged at the unattended landfills - Nanwalek, Port Graham, and Tyonek - because there is no attendant on duty to inspect waste items or collect fees. Beluga and Seldovia do not have commercial disposer scales, so commercial vehicles are charged for specific waste items based on volume. Households are not charged disposal fees. Fees apply to the hazardous waste management of very small quantity generator waste in Seldovia from small businesses; households are free.
TRANSFER SITES
LOCATIONS & OPERATING HOURS
| 24/7 ALL YEAR | |
| ANCHOR POINT | Old Sterling Hwy past Anchor River Inn Grocery Store |
| CROWN POINT | Mile 24 Seward Highway |
| FUNNY RIVER | Mile 10 Funny River Road |
| HOPE | Mile 16 Hope Road |
| MCNEIL CANYON | Mile 12.5 East End Road |
| NINILCHIK | Mile 138.5 Sterling Highway |
| LIMITED HOURS | |
| COOPER LANDING |
Mile 44 Sterling Highway |
| KASILOF |
Mile 110.5 Sterling Highway |
Background
Since adoption of the KPB’s Solid Waste Comprehensive Plan in 1991, the SWD has consolidated and/or upgraded numerous Solid Waste Transfer Sites resulting in a manageable hauling program. The Borough currently maintains eight year-round, unmanned sites at Anchor Point, Cooper Landing, Crown Point, Hope, Funny River, Kasilof, Ninilchik and McNeil Canyon.
Operations
An Operator under contract with the KPB is responsible for transporting the containers and disposing the contents at the Central Peninsula Landfill or Homer Transfer Facility in a safe and efficient manner. They also provide a roving attendant working on an alternating schedule to monitor disposal activities and keep each site neat, clean, and litter free.
Depending on the time of year, anywhere from two to four 40-cubic yard containers are located at the sites for MSW disposal with additional 30-cubic yard containers for recyclable items.
Gates and fencing have been installed at most of the sites. Gates are opened and closed at select sites by the contractor with varying daily hours depending on the site and time of year.
Improvements
The Funny River Site was expanded and improved in the summer of 2020. Improvements include features uniform in design and functionality to other KPB Transfer Sites: entrance gates, site fencing, bulk head installation, lighting, and surveillance connectivity improvements.
Site Issues
Improper disposal, vandalism, and people climbing into and on the dumpsters are on-going problems at these unmanned sites. Prohibited items, including hazardous waste, sometimes are improperly disposed of or dumped on the ground, causing potential health and safety issues. Vandals have destroyed signs and burned containers.
In an effort to resolve these issues and ensure safety, the KPB has designated operating hours and installed gates, fences, bear-proof containers, and surveillance cameras at most of the sites.
Bear problems at some of the sites had escalated over the years since 2001. Fortunately, most of these issues were eliminated by installing bear resistant modified containers, performing daily site clean-up, and promptly closing and opening the containers and gates.
Additionally, surveillance cameras were installed in 2009 at all the sites except Hope, which will be added as funds allow. The cameras help provide live feedback on site activities.
BELUGA LANDFILL (BLF)
OPERATING HOURS
Open Tuesday and Saturday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
During the summer months, if necessary, the site is open an extra one half day per week.
OPEN ALL MAJOR HOLIDAYS EXCEPT: New Year's, Thanksgiving & Christmas Days
Location & Permits
The BLF is located across the Cook Inlet from the KPB main road system, 1 mile southwest of the Beluga airstrip in the village of Beluga in Sec. 4, T12N, R10W, S.M., AK. The current Class III Landfill ADEC permit, SW3A025-20, expires in January 2025.
Background
During public hearing in the 1980’s the community expressed concerns related to local industrial business activity and the possibility of hazardous waste being disposed in the landfill. In response to these concerns, the KPB began contracting an Operator to run the site.
The BLF sits on a 40-acre KPB owned parcel and serves about 20 year round residents along with summer fishing businesses and numerous industrial/business entities.
Construction
In 1989 D&L Construction Company, under KPB contract, and ARCO combined efforts to construct the first community landfill. Prior to the construction, the community used the Chugach Electric open dump.
Operations
An Operator under contract with the KPB operates the site and is responsible for supplying the equipment, manpower, and supplies necessary to perform all operational and maintenance duties of the landfill in a safe and orderly manner. Contracted services include, but are not limited to, monitoring activities during operating hours, conducting litter clean up, managing burn box operations, compacting and covering MSW and inert waste on a regular basis, and road access maintenance.
An estimated 800 to 1500 cubic yards of landfill capacity is consumed annually with a projected life of 20 more years.
Environmental Monitoring
Water samples have been periodically collected from surface water drainage located southwest of the landfill.
PORT GRAHAM LANDFILL (PGL)
OPERATING HOURS
Open 24 Hours a Day/365 Days a Year
Location & Permits
The PGL is located on the northwest side of the village of Port Graham on First St. within Sec. 33, T9S, R15W, S.M., AK. An ADEC permit is required to operate this site.
Background
The Port Graham Townsite Trustees issued a Trustee Permit to the KPB in 1977 for the indefinite use of 4 acres of this 280-acre Native owned parcel for landfill activities. It serves about 180 year round residents. The site’s close proximity to homes coupled with its small size has prompted the community and the KPB to search new potential sites since the 1990’s. In 2010 the KPB contracted with a professional consultant to perform a feasibility study of a 160-acre privately owned parcel for sale. Unfortunately, the study concluded there were too many costly surface water issues to make this a viable option.
Construction
Site improvements were performed in 2007 including the manufacture and installation of the burn box and Homer Transfer Facility staff expanding the site perimeter along the northwest edge by relocating the existing fence.
Operations
An Operator under contract with the KPB operates the site and is responsible for supplying the equipment, manpower, and supplies necessary to perform all operational and maintenance duties the landfill in a safe and orderly manner. Contracted services include, but are not limited to, conducting litter clean up, managing burn box operations, compacting and covering MSW and inert waste on a regular basis, and access maintenance.
An estimated 150 cubic yards of landfill capacity is consumed annually with a projected life of 5-7 more years left.
Environmental Monitoring
There is no environmental water monitoring of this site.
TYONEK LANDFILL (TLF)
OPERATING HOURS
Open 24 Hours a Day/365 Days a Year
Location & Permits
The TLF is located across the Cook Inlet from the KPB main road system, 2 miles northwest of the village of Tyonek on A St. in Sec. 35, T12N, R11W, S.M., AK. Due to the absence of written consent for and a lack of compliance in landfill operations, an ADEC permit was unobtainable since 1990. However, through the continued efforts of SWD staff, written consent by the Tyonek Native Corporation was obtained and a Class III landfill permit was issued. The new ADEC permit, SW3A17-21, expires in February 2026.
Background
This site has been in operation since the 1970’s. The TLF sits on a portion of this 600-acre Native owned parcel and serves about 170 year round residents.
The KPB has worked unsuccessfully for years with local landowners, the Native Village of Tyonek, Tyonek Native Corporation, and the Cook Inlet Regional Corporation to evaluate potential relocation. A plausible option may be transporting waste to the KPB owned landfill in Beluga. The KPB will work on developing a long term waste management plan for the community.
Construction
The burn box was manufactured and installed at the site in 2005.
Operations
An Operator under contract with the KPB operates this site and is responsible for supplying the equipment, manpower, and supplies necessary to perform all operational and maintenance duties of the landfill in a safe and orderly manner. Contracted services include, but are not limited to, conducting litter clean up, managing burn box operations, compacting and covering MSW and inert waste on a regular basis, and road access maintenance.
An estimated 950 cubic yards of landfill capacity is consumed annually with a projected life of 8 to 10 more years.
Environmental Monitoring
There is no environmental water monitoring of this site.