Recycling in scenic surroundings

Bringing a local recycling program to the residents and businesses in the Denali Borough region of Alaska has been accomplished thanks to collaboration involving several local companies, nonprofits and government agencies. The Denali Borough government has worked with Carlile Transportation, Subaru, Holland America/Princess Alaska-Yukon, the Valley Community for Recycling Solutions, the Denali Education Center and the Denali Zero Landfill Initiative on its new system.

According to a news release prepared by the collaborative partners, until recently, recycling wasn’t offered near Healy, the largest town in Denali Borough (which is named for North America’s highest mountain).

The closest recycling program resides in Cantwell, 40 miles south of the borough, which accepts recyclable materials like plastics No. 1, 2 and 5; aluminum; and paper, but not old corrugated containers (OCC).

Recycling inside the boundaries of Denali National Park, meanwhile, was limited to only materials gathered inside the park. Any business owners or residents intending to recycle had to travel to recycling centers in the cities of Fairbanks or Palmer, Alaska.

The corporate and not-for-profit partnership teamed up to bring OCC collection to the Cantwell Transfer Station and so OCC, aluminum used beverage can (UBC) and plastic No. 1 bottles could be collected at the Healy Transfer Station.

“Our community has wanted a recycling program for some time now and we’re thrilled that we could join forces with our locally based companies and organizations to finally make this a reality,” says Denali Borough Mayor Clay Walker. “It’s gratifying to see that when we join forces we can create beneficial solutions the entire borough can benefit from, and we can all reduce feeding the landfills.”

Anchorage, Alaska-based Carlile Transportation has donated two trailers, one each to be parked at the transfer stations, to collect materials. Once full, Carlile Transportation will haul the load to the Valley Community for Recycling Solution, a recycling center in Palmer.

Subaru, through the Denali Zero Landfill initiative, is funding the transportation costs for the transfers in 2021. Carlile Transportation also has paid to have the trailers branded with the logos of the companies and organizations involved in the program.

Materials are accepted during the operating hours of the transfer stations and accepted free of charge. A pilot program is being run through mid-September and is open to all residents and businesses in Denali Borough, says the partnership.

The backers of the initiative say they are seeking “dry, clean and broken down” OCC; No. 1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET) water, soda and juice bottles, empty and with the caps removed; and aluminum UBCs and newer style aluminum bottles.