$3.8M Grant to Clean Up Junk Cars in Unalaska
Photo Credit: Montana82 | Adobe Stock
What happens to junk cars that reach the proverbial end of the road in Unalaska? The local government has some federal money to figure out a solution. The US Environmental Protection Agency selected the City of Unalaska for a $3.8 million award under the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant program. It’s one of seventeen political subdivisions selected for grants in this round.
Paving the Way
The Developing Recycling Infrastructure and Vehicle End-of-life project, or Unalaska DRIVE for short, is structured around five key components: a program to process and remove abandoned vehicles; purchasing processing equipment and storage units for material sorting and shipment; a public education program discussing recycling procedures and the disposal of hazardous materials; employment or training of personnel dedicated to vehicle processing and recycling; and finally, a focus on ensuring that all investments are sustainable for long-term use.
“I am thrilled to see these grants empowering our cities with the resources they need to make a lasting positive impact,” says Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 Administrator Emma Pokon. “By updating recycling infrastructure and programs, we are not only addressing current waste management challenges but also paving the way for a cleaner future for generations to come.”
Current Issue
September 2026
The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant was funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, providing funding to improve post-consumer materials management and infrastructure, support improvements to local post-consumer materials management and recycling programs, and assist local authorities in making improvements to their waste management systems.
Other grants awarded to Alaska communities include $3.5 million for composting organic waste in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough; another $1.2 million for the Knik Tribe to establish organic materials collection in Wasilla and Palmer; and $1.5 million for the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska to develop a solid waste management hub for Juneau.
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