Alaska’s size, extreme weather, small population, and high costs make solid waste management a unique and challenging problem. There are nine Class I Landfills in Alaska serving around 600,000 people – over 80% of Alaska’s population. The typical Class I landfill has a remaining life of 20 to 60 years. While Alaska’s Class I landfills have sufficient capacity and safety standings and meet public health needs, an increase in funding would allow for increased recycling, innovation, and sustainable practices that would raise the grade. Alaska is the only state that still operates Class III landfills, all of which are located in small rural communities. Collecting waste from Alaska’s outermost communities has to be done either by air, sea, or left in the community. While Class II and III landfills is likely worse than the Class I landfills evaluated.

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