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Workshop participants in Unalaska, AK
Workshop participants in Unalaska, AK
© Nadine Kochuten / Aleut International Association

Waste management in remote Arctic communities: Unique challenges and emerging solutions

June 28, 2024
Plastics in the ArcticАлеутская международная ассоциацияРабочая группа по устранению загрязнения АрктикиРабочая группа по устойчивому развитию в Арктике
Tackling the complex issues of waste management in the remote Arctic through community-driven initiatives and collaborative action.

Article by:
Kseniia Iartceva, Arctic Contaminants Action Program
Jessica Veldstra, Aleut International Association), Santina Gay (United States Environmental Protection Agency)

Solid waste management in the remote Arctic can pose significant human health, environmental and economic challenges to the communities. Geographic remoteness, limited infrastructure, harsh weather and climate change lead to uncontrolled open dumpsites. These sites pose hazards, such as co-mingling of sewage and prohibited waste, burning and seepage into water bodies. Waste management is further hindered by coastal flooding, erosion and thawing permafrost, which limits site access and control. 

Indigenous Peoples and local communities are particularly vulnerable, as waste can jeopardize their intimate relationship to the land and their subsistence-based diets. This creates both health and environmental risks, and it also impacts their identity, cultural practices and knowledge systems.

Over the last decade, two Arctic Council Working Groups, the Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) and Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP), have worked on various initiatives to address these issues. 

Sign for local communities in their language, Unangam Tunuu
© Nadine Kochuten / Aleut International Association

Timeline of Solid Waste Management Activities 

In 2016, ACAP’s workshop, “Sharing Approaches on Community Solid and Hazardous Waste? Management Within Arctic Indigenous Communities,” identified priorities, best practices and the need for a clearing house of solid waste information. In 2018, SDWG launched a desk study, “Best Waste Management Practices for Small and Remote Arctic Communities,” providing an overview of best practices from Alaska, Arctic Canada and Finland, along with recommendations for action. 

From the start, Indigenous Peoples’ organizations have been the driving force behind solid waste initiatives under the Arctic Council. Between 2018-2021, ACAP’s Kola Waste project worked in Sámi communities on the Kola Peninsula to inventory 43 and clean up of four illegal waste dumps, with support from local and regional authorities. 

Workshop participants in Unalaska, AK learning how to prepare and palletize recycling to be shipped out of the community.
© Nadine Kochuten / Aleut International Association

The Solid Waste Management in Remote Arctic Communities Project

ACAP and SDWG are collaborating on a project to improve solid waste management practices in remote Arctic communities by providing information, training and tools. Co-led by the Aleut International Association (AIA), the Saami Council and several Arctic States, the project builds on previous work related to marine litter and plastics by the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) and Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Working Groups. 

In a pre-project scoping effort, AIA surveyed small Arctic communities (less than 1,500 people), which are isolated for part of the year and face logistical or affordability challenges in waste management. The survey identified the top five challenges these communities face: 

  1. Need for stronger regulations 

  1. Need to improve or replace landfills 

  1. Lack of regional waste management facilities 

  1. Insufficient resources for maintaining landfills and equipment 

  1. Need for additional staff for landfill operations 

Respondents ranked the following actions as most helpful in addressing these challenges: 

  1. In-person training 

  1. Educational materials for residents 

  1. Public service messages via radio and social media 

  1. Culturally appropriate community education 

  1. Training focused on landfill operations 

The survey also highlighted that committed individuals or groups are essential for driving successful waste management, even in resource-limited contexts. This was demonstrated by the Kola Waste project, which succeeded due to strong community leadership and support. 

Another scoping assessment by the Battelle Memorial Institute for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides a circumpolar overview of waste management in remote Arctic communities. It describes challenges, opportunities and best practices, and suggests pilot projects to improve waste management in the region.  

Sign for local communities in their language, Unangam Tunuu
© Nadine Kochuten / Aleut International Association
Sign for local communities in their language, Unangam Tunuu
© Nadine Kochuten / Aleut International Association

On to the pilot phase

Both assessments show that solid waste management in remote Arctic communities requires unique, context-specific solutions. However, lessons learned from one community can be shared with others in similar situations throughout the Arctic. One key deliverable of this project will be a toolkit on waste management, compiled by AIA. 

Currently, Arctic pilot communities are being identified to implement waste management improvements that can serve as models for other communities. The pilot phase will involve greater collaboration among local, regional, national and international stakeholders and will include an in-person workshop for information sharing and relationship-building among project participants. A strong youth component will be essential to ensure knowledge transfer and generate new solutions. 

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, understanding the reasons behind waste management problems and focusing on community-driven projects tailored to specific needs is crucial. Many Arctic communities face similar challenges, such as remoteness, limited infrastructure and harsh weather. By focusing on pilot projects, best practices can be scaled up and shared to benefit many communities across the Arctic.

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