Haines’s recycling center is looking to expand its operations to a new lot near the city dump, which it says would make its operations easier for consumers and more efficient for the nonprofit.
“We’ve basically outgrown where we are, particularly the indoor space,” said Melissa Aronson, the board chair of Haines Friends of Recycling.
The group is asking the borough to donate two lots adjacent to the dump, where it hopes to break ground on a new estimated $500,000 facility as early as next summer. Friends of Recycling said the move would allow them to move all of its operations indoors, which would reduce waste of recyclables caused when products are left outdoors in the rain or sun.
The group also said the space would allow it to start a new operation of recycling plastics onsite into “lumber” that could be used for things like decking.
“It’s very exciting,” said Kate Saunders, the Friends of Recycling vice-chair who is spearheading the project. “Our plan would be to have it pay for itself.”
The project still needs Haines Borough Assembly approval, which so far has been slow. The plan was originally presented to the full assembly, then referred to the assembly commerce committee, who referred it to the planning commission. The planning commission heard the idea on Thursday, and referred it back to the commerce committee.
“I’m not sure how many meetings we have to go through before we can make a decision. We’re on four already,” said Saunders.
Still, the feedback from borough representatives has been mostly encouraging.
“The planning commission didn’t take a vote, but their comments were all positive,” said Aronson about the meeting.
While many borough officials say they want the transfer to succeed, there have been concerns about getting the title, since it currently is listed on the borough’s website as belonging to both the State of Alaska and the Borough.
Borough manager Annette Kreitzer said if the assembly approved the land transfer, it would have to check with the state recorder’s office to figure out who actually owns the land.
“I think it has merits, it’s just working out some of these issues,” said Kreitzer. “This is the kind of discrepancy we just need to get to the bottom of.”
Aronson said the two lots are needed in order to make room for a driveway and a flat place to build the warehouse. Aronson said additionally, having the recycling center adjacent to the landfill would make things easier for consumers.
“It’s just perfect,” she said, “People could come to the recycling center on their way to the landfill.”
Haines’ recycling center has been running for 25 years out of a warehouse and outdoor space on Small Tracts Road. Because their indoor space is limited to about 2,400 square feet, staff are forced to store some items outdoors. Saunders said when it rains, some items like cardboard can get moldy or disintegrate. The recycling center sells its products to buyers in the Lower 48, and when products don’t arrive in good quality, the Friends of Recycling doesn’t get paid for them.
“They can just decide not to pay us, and we still have to pay to send it out,” Saunders said.
Friends of Recycling currently rents their lot and warehouse on Small Tracts from the Chilkoot Indian Association. Saunders said the indoor space was reduced further in November when CIA needed to use part of the warehouse to store Tlingit canoes.
The nonprofit said that it doesn’t currently have the money to clear the forested land and build a 80 by 100-foot steel warehouse, but Saunders said she’s optimistic most of the estimated $500,000 could be made up with grants.
“There is a lot of money and grants out there with ocean debris, plastics, and recycling,” she said. Saunders is working with Solid Waste Training Institute, a Utah-based national nonprofit, to identify grants if the property transfer is approved.
Another benefit of the new site would be having the needed electricity for its new plastic recycling plant. The machine, made by American Cierra Corporation works by heating up #1 and #2 plastics — and potentially other types — to a consistency similar to a bread dough, and then it’s formed into different molds for decking, picnic benches and raised beds. She said the group would start by selling to local customers, and she hoped the machine would pay for itself eventually.
Friends of Recycling is looking to buy a used machine, which would cost an estimated $100,000 with modifications. Saunders said she hopes to raise that money with grant funding as well, but the nonprofit currently can’t apply for grants until the borough approves the property transfer. Saunders said it is “fairly realistic” that it could have the recycling machine running by 2025 if Friends of Recycling secures the property.
The group is renting its current space, so investing in bringing in new electricity doesn’t make sense, Aronson said. The landfill is already connected to three-phase electric current, so connecting the new recycling center would be relatively easy.