The Haines Borough Solid Waste Working Group refined a new list of goals Sept. 6 in preparation to present them to the borough assembly.
Group members Burl Sheldon and Melissa Aronson compiled the list of seven goals, which the group simplified in an attempt to “stay out of the weeds.” The group has been meeting since December.
“If we can agree on a common set of principles, these seven, then we can move forward on fleshing those out,” Aronson said.
One goal is to “develop one or more borough-owned self-haul transfer stations that are staffed and provide incentivized recycling and free or low-cost municipal solid waste disposal.”
Assembly liaison Stephanie Scott suggested the group define “transfer station” and what it will include. Group chair Darsie Culbeck and borough public facilities director Brad Ryan said they envisioned the transfer stations as “comprehensive,” to include disposal of cars, hazardous waste, electronics, appliances and other items.
For the second goal, Aronson suggested placing a four-bin system to dispose of garbage, glass, plastic and aluminum in high-traffic locations in town.
The group also agreed it wanted to educate the community about recycling and waste reduction and to develop a community composting system.
Group members debated two goals about funding the new program, possibly with sales tax, disposal fees or tariffs.
“I would like to suggest that you try to deal with the larger concepts and not allow yourself to get arguing about even whether it’s free or not free,” said borough manager Debra Schnabel. “Because what’s really – in my movie what’s going to happen is you’re going to come forward with a proposal that’s going to be a conceptual thing.”
The group was also unsure how the local landfill or Community Waste Solutions would factor into the new system, whether trash would be shipped to the Lower 48 or how to deal with construction waste.
Culbeck said the group will continue to discuss its goals and will meet with Petersburg’s public works director Karl Hagerman at its next meeting. The group heard from Hagerman over the phone in March about the Southeast Alaska Regional Solid Waste Authority. Hagerman will be in town for the Southeast Conference.