Backhaul Project celebrates seven years of removing electronic waste, collects more than 141,000 pounds of e-waste from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta for safe disposal.
For the seventh consecutive year, Donlin Gold partnered with Delta Backhaul Company, Native Village of Napaimute, multiple tribal entities and in-region community organizations to aid the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta with proper disposal of appliances and hazardous household electronic waste through its annual In It For the Long Haul Backhaul Project.
This year, the project removed an estimated 141,838 pounds of household electronic waste. Since its inception in 2018, the Backhaul Project has cumulatively collected more than 803,265 pounds of hazardous material from the Y-K Delta.
The Backhaul Project safely removes unwanted large appliances, old electronics, vehicle batteries, household chemicals, old paint, used oil and more from villages, prioritizing the health and safety of the Y-K Delta. This year’s collection includes materials from a fish camp clean up, appliance backhauls, fly-in village materials and the Bethel backhaul event.
Thanks to improvements in the appliance crushing process, this year’s project was able to maximize capacity limits than in previous years.
This year, with transportation provided by Native Village of Napaimute’s barge, the Backhaul Project visited six communities in the region, including Upper Kalskag, Lower Kalskag, Tuluksak, Akiachak, Napakiak and Nunapitchuk.
Each season culminates in a collection event in Bethel, where villages unable to have items picked up by barge fly their e-waste items for safe disposal through airline partners Fox Air, Grant Aviation and Ryan Air, with coordination efforts by Association of Village Council Presidents.
Bethel residents also dropped off their household e-waste and other hazardous materials to have safely barged to Anchorage or Seattle for final recycling.
“We are committed to supporting the health and well-being of the Y-K Delta communities,” said Rebecca Wilmarth, Community Relations Supervisor. “The Backhaul Project showcases the strength of local partnerships and the dedication of everyone involved to improve the environmental wellbeing of the region. This collaborative effort reflects our ongoing commitment to the health and safety of the region, and we are thankful for the contributions from all who make this project a success year after year.”
The Backhaul Project is a testament to the importance of collaboration and community effort. Donlin Gold is proud to work alongside its partners, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and overall community health.
“Everything comes in to our region and nothing leaves,” said Mark Leary, Business Enterprise Director for Native Village of Napaimute. “We are watching our communities slowly fill up with junk. Through the appliance backhaul, I could see that this program is truly making a difference in our region.”
The Donlin Gold Backhaul Project would not be possible without support from its partners and sponsors who play a valuable role in making the Backhaul Project a success: Native Village of Napaimute, Association of Village Council Presidents, Delta Backhaul Company, Alaska Commercial Company, Grant Aviation, Fox Air, Ryan Air, NovaGold, tribes, IGAP workers and participants.
To learn more about Dolin Gold and its commitment to community investment, visit donlingold.com.
