(Juneau) - House Bill 392, a bill sponsored by Representative Peggy Wilson (R-Wrangell), relating to solid waste management authorities passed the Senate today by a unanimous vote.

The bill allows communities to come together to form a solid waste management authority to do what small communities are unable to do. By working together, communities can create economies of scale, reduce administrative costs and are able to afford state of the art waste processing facilities. The authority will help Southeast Alaska by keeping the money here that is currently spent in the lower 48 at super landfills.

"This is a big deal for all Southeast Communities," said Representative Wilson. "Several towns, including Wrangell, Petersburg and Kake, are interested in participating in a regional solid waste authority. It costs our communities substantial amounts of money to ship our recycling and solid waste to the lower 48, with some towns paying as much as $200 a ton compared to the $40 a ton paid by other areas, such as Anchorage. This will be a significant cost saving measure."

By cooperating as a single entity, communities can produce a regional solution to deal with the waste. The authority can create a regional facility that could include a Materials Recovery Facility (recycling) and a state-of-the-art landfill. Other options may include thermal reduction (waste to energy), space for composting, and space for treating oily soils.

While the compelling reasons to develop this authority are focused around the Southeast Region this bill applies to any municipality or group of governing bodies in Alaska.

HB 392 now awaits the Governor's signature.

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