n 2024, Delta Backhaul Company (DBC) will continue working with Donlin Gold during its annual “In It for the Long Haul” backhaul project. DBC is a solid waste contractor specializing in household hazardous waste and scrap metal backhaul and demolition projects. Company owner Doug Huntman says, “DBC is devoted to implementing practical solutions that benefit remote villages across Alaska.”
For a seventh year, Donlin Gold is sponsoring the backhaul program as part of its community investment program for Kuskokwim River villages. Donlin Gold is developing a major mining prospect on lands owned by Calista Corporation and The Kuskokwim Corporation. Huntman says this project is a natural fit for his company, which is committed to enhancing solid waste programs.
DBC will collect and dispose of twenty-four common household hazardous materials, including old electronics, vehicle batteries, household chemicals, old paint, and used oil. In 2023, the program expanded to collect old household appliances in an additional five pilot villages in the region, utilizing an innovative appliance baler for efficient shipping. This year, the program will service all fifty-four villages along the Kuskokwim and Yukon Rivers in Western Alaska.
Huntman says the project actively engages village residents, emphasizing the importance of responsible material removal to safeguard clean drinking water and subsistence resources. In-person collection events use a large landing craft owned by the Native Village of Napaimute, ensuring operational efficiency in transporting crews, equipment, and materials for backhaul. Collection and disposal services are free of charge to participating residents. All collected materials are shipped out of the region for recycling.
“This project underscores Donlin Gold’s commitment to environmental sustainability and community well-being by removing potentially harmful materials from the region,” says Huntman. “Landfills are not lined, and many sites face challenges with hazardous materials since they should be processed separately from regular household waste.”
Last year, the program removed an estimated 234,750 pounds of household hazardous material for a total of 660,826 pounds of material since the program began in 2018. The program will run from July through August this year.