Tribal Solid Waste and Sustainable Materials Management in Region 10
EPA Region 10’s Tribal Solid Waste and Sustainable Materials Management Program provides tools, technical assistance, and other resources to support Tribal implementation activities.
On this page you can learn about building a self-sustaining Tribal solid waste program and how to reduce the waste your community sends to the landfill through recycling, backhauling, reusing materials, reducing food waste, composting, and planning for natural disasters.
Through sustainable materials management, Tribal governments and communities can use and reuse materials more efficiently while also minimizing environmental impacts.
- Environmental Justice and Solid Waste
- Tools for Solid Waste Capacity Building
- Solid Waste Training and Coordination
- Integrated Waste Management Plans
- Sustainable Materials Management
- Additional Resources by State
- Funding Information
- Contacts
Environmental Justice and Solid Waste
Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Tribes can access resources through EPA Region 10's Environmental Justice Program to help ensure that waste is safely managed in their communities and that community members are not adversely impacted by open dumping, mismanagement of hazardous wastes, or other environmental and health risks caused by waste.
- Environmental Justice Grants, Funding, and Technical Assistance – Provides funding and technical assistance to carry out environmental and climate justice activities to benefit underserved and overburdened communities, including Tribes.
- Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTACs) – These centers provide training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant application systems, developing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding. They also provide guidance on community engagement, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services that can be helpful for solid waste programs. The Willamette Partnership, University of Washington, and National Indian Health Board are available to provide technical assistance to Tribes in EPA Region 10.
- Northwest Environmental Justice Center – In addition to training, technical assistance, and support, the Northwest Environmental Justice Center provides information on grants from multiple sources, many of which can be used for solid waste needs.
Tools for Solid Waste Capacity Building
The following resources are designed to help Tribes build capacity to address solid waste issues, particularly through the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP).
- Allowable and Unallowable Solid Waste and Program Implementation Activities – This document provides examples of allowable and unallowable Tribal solid waste program implementation activities under GAP.
- Supplemental Guidance on Providing Waste Data in GAP Progress Reports – This supplemental guidance clarifies the types of data elements GAP progress reports should include when waste implementation activities (service delivery activities and/or cleanup/closure of unauthorized dumping sites) are funded.
- Building a Self-Sustaining Tribal Solid Waste Program in Region 10 – This document recommends steps for Tribes to address solid waste capacity building and implementation in their GAP work plans.
Solid Waste Training and Coordination
EPA Region 10 works in collaboration with many technical assistance partners to help Tribes manage waste. You can also search our training and technical assistance listings for more solid waste training and technical assistance opportunities.
- Infrastructure Task Force Tribal Solid Waste Management – These documents provide information on how to successfully manage waste on Tribal lands.
- Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals – ITEP offers solid waste management trainings, hosts the annual Tribal Lands and Environment Forum, and maintains a resource page of Tribal waste presentations.
- Tribal Solid Waste Advisory Network – The only Tribal consortium focused solely on solid waste. It provides trainings and a collaborative space for Tribes to share technical expertise, information, and opportunities.
- Rural Community Assistance Corporation – Helps rural communities throughout the United States make their solid waste systems sustainable.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program – NOAA oversees marine debris and helps communities manage marine debris in coastal waters.
Additional resources are available on EPA’s national Tribal Waste Management Program webpage.
Integrated Waste Management Plans
EPA requires Tribes to have or develop an Integrated Waste Management Plan to obtain funding for solid waste implementation activities (which include solid waste and recovered materials collection, transportation, backhaul, and disposal services). The plan serves as a roadmap for developing an effective waste management program for a community.
The following resources may help Tribes develop these plans, which EPA recommends be reviewed and approved by Tribal Councils and updated at least once every five years.
- Developing Tribal Integrated Waste Management Plans – This web page provides detailed information on developing an Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan.
- Developing an Integrated Waste Management Plan – The Nitty Gritty (Webinar) - This EPA Region 10 webinar from October 2020 provides an in-depth look at how to develop and update an Integrated Waste Management Plan, and resources available to assist Tribes in this effort. To request a copy of the webinar recording, please email Susan Conbere ([email protected]).
- Integrated Waste Management Plan Template (docx) – This optional template developed by EPA is available to help Tribes develop Integrated Waste Management Plans. Several other training providers also offer templates.
Sustainable Materials Management
Sustainable materials management involves strategies for waste minimization and reduction. Decreasing the amount of waste reaching landfills can reduce disposal costs and environmental impacts, while increasing human health, extending the longevity of landfill facilities, and promoting a circular economy.
Recycling and Reuse
- Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste, and Recycling – Includes information on municipal solid waste generation, recycling, combustion with energy recovery, and landfilling, plus a list of state and local waste characterization studies.
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Resources for recycling, including how to recycle household hazardous waste such as batteries and used electronics.
- Managing and Transforming Waste Streams – A Tool for Communities: Explore this EPA website for 100 policies and programs communities can use to reduce the amount of waste disposed in landfills.
- Community-Based Social Marketing for Tribal Environmental Professionals (YouTube): This recorded EPA webinar features a training toolkit, recycling guide, and video to help Tribes increase the adoption of sustainable behaviors around solid waste.
Organics and Composting
- Sustainable Management of Food: Information about sustainable food management and best practices for disposing of food.
- Food: Too Good to Waste Implementation Guide and Toolkit – Learn how to start a Food: Too Good to Waste campaign in your community, which can minimize costs, reduce waste in landfills, and save community resources.
- Starting Community Composting Programs on Tribal Lands: Composting Fundamentals (YouTube) – This recorded EPA webinar is the first in a series on how to start community composting programs to divert organic materials from the landfill and restore nutrients to the soil.
- Preventing Food Waste with Source Reduction: Lessons Learned and Best Management Practices – Summary and slides from an EPA webinar on ways to prevent wasted food and save money.
Backhaul
Backhaul is the process of shipping solid and hazardous waste out of rural communities to recycling and disposal facilities using empty return freight trips. It is used widely in Alaska to prevent the disposal of household hazardous waste in unlined Class III landfills.
- Backhaul Alaska is a statewide program that supports rural waste removal by providing funding, training, supplies, and logistical assistance for community backhauls. Backhauling is coordinated at the regional and state levels, using a hub-and-spoke approach to help optimize material transport and reduce costs. In partnership with the Denali Commission, EPA provides funding to Kawerak, Inc. to implement Backhaul Alaska and contract with Zender Environmental to run the program.
- NOAA Marine Debris Backhaul and Removal Programs in Alaska – Marine debris, such as discarded fishing equipment, plastic debris, and abandoned vessels, are a serious challenge for community waste management programs. NOAA coordinates marine debris removal at a regional level, which streamlines procedures and reduces the cost of waste hauling contracts. NOAA provides training, guidance, and direct support for debris processing.
- NOAA Marine Debris Clearinghouse – Many marine debris backhaul projects are happening across the nation. NOAA’s Marine Debris Clearinghouse tracks where these projects are and supports coordination across project types, locations, and more.
Learn more about Sustainable Materials Management.
Additional Resources by State
Alaska
- Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Solid Waste Program – ADEC conducts inspections, permits landfills, provides training, and offers free technical assistance. Each community with a landfill is assigned a rural landfill specialist and can access the Solid Waste Information Management System (SWIMS) to view their latest landfill inspection report, which may help the Tribe identify tasks to include in grant work plans and budgets.
- The Solid Waste Alaska Taskforce and Backhaul Alaska offer resources and trainings to help Alaska Tribes interested in joining the statewide program to backhaul solid and hazardous waste.
- Zender Environmental Health and Research Group – Zender Environmental is an Alaska-based training provider that offers technical assistance and maintains an A-Z topic list, which includes fact sheets, guides, program examples, templates, and more.
- Solid Waste Management for Rural Alaska Operational Guidance – The State of Alaska's Solid Waste Program developed this guidance to help communities in rural Alaska better manage their solid waste.
- A Manager’s Roadmap for Funding Sustainable Solid Waste Programs in Rural Alaska – This document outlines key steps in developing sustainable waste program and where to look for funding resources.
- Solid Waste Program Budgeting for Alaska Tribal Communities – This step-by-step guide provides instructions on how to develop a budget for your solid waste utility.
- Solid Waste Burning Video and Factsheet – Burning garbage is a common practice in many rural Alaskan communities. This video and factsheet explore solutions to reduce the impacts of solid waste burning.
Idaho
- Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Solid Waste Program – Provides additional resources for education and training on solid and hazardous waste management.
- Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Hazardous Waste Program – Provides details about diverse hazardous wastes as well as proper disposal and recycling practices.
Oregon
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Recycling and Waste Prevention Program – Provides free and non-regulatory training and technical assistance for solid and hazardous waste management, including recycling and waste prevention.
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Hazardous Waste Program – Provides information on the disposal of hazardous waste across Oregon.
Washington
- Washington Department of Ecology Solid Waste Program – Ecology has several programs that provide training and coordination for disposing of solid and hazardous waste.
- Washington Department of Ecology Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program – Ecology offers technical assistance to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals and safer alternatives.
- Waste Tire Program – Washington Department of Ecology program that provides resources on how to recycle and properly dispose of waste tires in Washington.
- Vessel Turn-In Program: Washington Department of Natural Resources has several programs to help boat owners dispose of unwanted vessels before they become derelict or abandoned.
- Abandoned RV Reimbursement: To reduce waste, the Washington Department of Licensing offers reimbursement for the disposal of eligible recreational vehicles (RVs).
Funding Information
EPA offers a range of funding opportunities for Tribes to address different stages and components of waste management.
- Region 10 Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP): Grants for federally recognized Tribes and Tribal consortia for planning, developing, and implementing solid and hazardous waste programs on Tribal lands.
- Hazardous Waste Management Grant Program for Tribes: Provides financial assistance to Tribal governments and Tribal consortia for developing and implementing hazardous waste programs on Tribal lands.
- Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia: Provides financial assistance to Tribal governments and Tribal consortia implementing solid waste and recycling programs on Tribal lands, with a focus on expanding infrastructure.
Visit the Tribal Waste Management Funding Resources Directory for a searchable database of additional financial waste management assistance sources (grants, loans, cost-sharing) from other agencies.
You can also check out the Alaska Solid Waste Program Funding Resource Guide (pdf) for funding resources available for solid waste and recycling projects in Alaska.
For general funding information on applying for and managing federal grants, visit EPA grants.
Contacts
| Staff | Focus Area/Expertise |
|---|---|
|
Melissa Winters |
Manager, Pollution Prevention and Communities Branch |
|
Matt Cox |
Project Officer for Tribal waste and recycling grants. |
| Rick McMonagle ([email protected]) 503-326-6363 |
Tribal Waste Liaison; Individualized and on-site technical assistance for Tribes in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. |
|
Autumn Wiseman |
Alaska Landfills Research Specialist |
|
Aleda Ziegler |
Project Officer for Tribal waste and recycling grants. |