2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 46. Water, Air, Energy, and Environmental Conservation › Chapter 06. Recycling and Reduction of Litter › Sec. 46.06.031. Solid and hazardous waste reduction and recycling program.

(a) There is established within the department a solid and hazardous waste reduction and recycling program. Within the limit of funds available, the department shall
(1) coordinate community and agency efforts to reduce the production of solid and hazardous waste, including air and water emissions;
(2) promote the practices and priorities established under AS 46.06.021 by promoting solid and hazardous waste reduction, on-site recovery of resources from hazardous waste sources, recovery of resources from solid waste sources, repeated use of packaging and products, materials recycling, appropriate pretreatment, waste separation, or separate management for waste that creates problems when disposed of within the community, transportation for solid waste that cannot be disposed of within the community, and environmentally sound disposal;
(3) provide technical assistance and consultation for source reduction and recycling as necessary to assist with the implementation of the practices and priorities established under AS 46.06.021 with communities and regional planning organizations and generators of solid and hazardous waste;
(4) sponsor or co-sponsor, with public or private organizations, technical workshops and seminars on implementation of the practices and priorities established under AS 46.06.021, including solid and hazardous waste reduction and recycling;
(5) develop a technical reference center and data base relating to the implementation of practices and priorities established under AS 46.06.021 for solid and hazardous waste reduction and recycling;
(6) establish and maintain an information referral service on the implementation of the practices and priorities established under AS 46.06.021 for solid and hazardous waste reduction and recycling;
(7) identify and evaluate research needs for state businesses and industry, communities and regional planning organizations, and state agencies as they relate to the implementation of the practices and priorities established under AS 46.06.021 for solid and hazardous waste reduction and recycling;
(8) develop, in consultation with institutions of higher education in the state, courses and curricula related to the implementation of the practices and priorities established under AS 46.06.021 for solid and hazardous waste reduction and recycling; and
(9) issue hazardous waste reduction matching grants under AS 46.03.317 and community solid waste management planning grants under AS 46.06.041.
(b) In response to a request of a hazardous waste generator, a representative of the department may visit the hazardous waste generator's site for the purpose of observing a waste generating process, obtaining information relevant to waste reduction, rendering advice, and making recommendations. A visit under this subsection may not be regarded as an inspection or investigation. A representative of the department designated to render advisory or consultative services may not have enforcement authority.
(c) This section does not diminish the responsibility of a person to comply with this chapter, AS 46.03, AS 46.04, or AS 46.09.