Rural Alaska Landfills: Co-Creation Research by Alaska Tribes, R10, & ORD

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ORD and Region 10 are partnering with five Alaska Native Villages to assess the potential risks of contaminant exposure on human health and subsistence food resources from permafrost thaw, leachate runoff, and erosion at small landfills in rural communities. Through this project, Alaska Tribes will fill knowledge gaps, build internal community capacity, and be able to make more data-informed decisions for their communities about water resources, subsistence foods, and solid waste management.

Impact/Purpose

The environmental and health problems addressed by the study are the impacts of unlined landfills and solid waste management practices in rural Alaska communities in unique and challenging conditions. The research emphasizes co-creation of research approach to include local knowledge and input from Tribal collaborators on the research directions and results. The long term importance of the findings with be improved solid waste management, air quality, water quality, and addressing critical data gaps for Alaska Native communities. Other Alaska rural communities, Tribes, and the Arctic research community would be interested in and may apply the results from this project to address issues related to permafrost degradation and rural landfill management.

Citation

Lee, S., L. Oliver, AND A. Wiseman. Rural Alaska Landfills: Co-Creation Research by Alaska Tribes, R10, & ORD. ACE Connections and Partners, Washington, DC, April 16, 2025.

• RURAL ALASKA LANDFILLS CO-CREATION RESEARCH BY ALASKA TRIBES, R10, & ORD.PPTX