November 8th, 2021
Noorvik, Alaska Noorvik (Nuurvik), population 636, is a mostly Inupiat community located on the right bank of the Nazuruk Channel and 47 miles east of Kotzebue. Residents heavily rely on their subsistence resources and land for their main diet, socioeconomic status, and community well-being. Protecting their environment and subsistence resources is a community- wide priority. […]
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November 2nd, 2021
On Tuesday Backhaul Alaska was amongst five other recycling superheroes to receive Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling (ALPAR) awards. Backhaul Alaska was presented with the Community Award for ‘New or Enhanced Recycling’! We are so excited to receive this award especially right as we are wrapping up another successful year of backhauling, safety training, […]
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October 24th, 2020
The core mission of Backhaul Alaska is to provide a statewide logistical support network that bolsters and integrates with local community backhaul programs. A successful project recently carried out by the Kongiganak Traditional Council’s Environmental Department exemplifies the use of local leveraging possible with Backhaul Alaska resources. The focus on local programs is critical because […]
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October 22nd, 2020
After postponing the 2020 Pilot Program backhaul events until the 2021 summer backhaul season, Backhaul Alaska has continued to be proactive by switching its planned Winter training to distance delivery, and developing options to carry out the critical local backhaul program readiness inspections. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is still with us and community transmission is a continued […]
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May 28th, 2020
The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska, passed a resolution supporting backhaul and Backhaul Alaska at their 2019 Annual Convention!
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May 19th, 2020
In 2014, Senator Murkowski conceived the original idea of Backhaul Alaska in the Bethel Airport. In her welcome video to the May 2019 Uniform Backhaul Training, she reminisces about that day, how far the program has come, and the need for rural waste backhaul. She ends with a heartfelt thank you to the many communities, […]
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May 13th, 2020
Throughout the Winter and early Spring 2019, Backhaul Alaska staff have been sending out packing supplies to Pilot 1 villages – tailored to each community’s inventory and transportation logistics. On-site training and facility inspections are carried out at each pilot community prior to the backhaul event. Communities are evaluated for adequacy in the following areas: […]
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Backhaul Alaska is building a system of checks and balances that ensures communities have properly trained staff with adequate infrastructure to backhaul safely and effectively, in compliance with all applicable federal rules and guidelines. In doing so, communities are given the tools, gear, and training to build a rural Alaska safety culture. From handling batteries […]
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