S.E.A.L.
"...one if by land,
two if by..."
Skagway's History of Recycling
The Municipality of Skagway has had an active solid waste planning program dating back to 1988 when its first solid waste plan was developed. Since then many residents and businesses have been recycling, often going to considerable lengths to transport their recyclables more than 100 miles to Whitehorse.
Public opinion surveys conducted between 1998 and 2012 showed overwhelming support for a more comprehensive recycling program in Skagway. As a result in April of 2013 the Municipality adopted a resolution and management plan for the development of a recycling center and programs for waste reduction. The plan calls for the eventual closure of the thermal oxidation incinerator with a majority of waste being recycled or composted. If you would like to learn more about Skagway’s recycling plans, visit the Municipality’s website here.
There are several public and private recycling efforts underway in the Municipality of Skagway. The Public Works Department provides a mobile dumpster outside the Public Works Yard to collect aluminum cans and glass bottles. Once full, the dumpster is transported to the Incinerator where the materials are separated for further processing. An aluminum can flattening system is used at the Incinerator to flatten the cans into 25-pound “bricks”, which enables the cans to be stored for eventual delivery to recyclers outside of Skagway. Cardboard delivered to the Incinerator is compacted and eventually transported to markets in Seattle.
The Municipality Recreation Center also sponsors an annual community rummage sale eventwhere Skagway residents’ unwanted household items are collected and sold for reuse. Leftover items considered to be in excellent condition are boxed and transported to the Salvation Army in Whitehorse. Remaining items are taken to the Incinerator for disposal.
The Public Works Department operates a yard debris disposal site in the Seven Pastures area. Individual generators self-haul their vegetation wastes for free. The PWD does not have a formal composting program, although it attempts to chip and mulch the materials with existing Municipality equipment. The eventual product is given away for free to city residents.
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