FAIRBANKS -- Fairbanks North Star Borough Assemblyman Mike Musick is organizing a task force with the aim of improving recycling choices, describing the city as "light years behind" other communities when it comes to recycling.
Musick is initiating a broad examination of recycling and conservation options in Fairbanks.
Musick also has scheduled a public meeting for early February to discuss the prospect of moving Alaska's second-largest city toward a more "sustainable" lifestyle that reduces the public waste-stream and protects the environment.
The action comes a year after local leaders shelved an effort to establish a conventional recycling program.
Musick said success other communities have had to reduce, reuse and recycle waste leaves him believing Fairbanks can become more sustainable.
Musick is forming the task force at the request of Mayor Jim Whitaker. Both have said they want to capitalize on strong community interest in a recent debate over the prevalent practice of Dumpster diving in Fairbanks.
Musick said the task force also will discuss a proposed waste paper-to-energy project being developed and trumpeted by Whitaker and others. The community lost its previous paper recycling program when a fire destroyed the Eielson Air Force Base facility used to convert waste paper to fuel briquettes.
Entrepreneurs have found ways to make a private venture out of recycling, said Bernie Karl. But Karl said the Fairbanks community once did much more.
"Fairbanks used to be the world's leader in recycling municipal waste," he said. "We've gone backwards since 1986."
Musick said the recycling task force will begin its work next year.
