Division of Environmental Health Solid Waste Program

Program Guidance on New Honeybucket and Septage Facilities

The Solid Waste Program received a request for clarification of 18 AAC 60.365 Co-disposal of Sewage Solids due to the significant number of new wastewater facilities that have been recently funded by the Federal government. The Solid Waste Program has received multiple design documents that were transitioned to the ADEC Wastewater Program, as they were wastewater designs that could not be permitted under 18 AAC 60.365. In order to be responsive to this request for clarity, the Solid Waste Program has coordinated with the Wastewater Program on the following guidance.

The Solid Waste Program will require that:

• All new wastewater facility designs be submitted to the Wastewater Program for review and permitting. This includes all new honeybucket lagoons and septage facilities.
• If at all possible, new wastewater facilities and new landfill facilities should not be designed and constructed together. This is due to complications for both utilities when they are combined that result in both being less sanitary.

The regulation in question does not include honeybucket waste and has significant limitations on septage. This is because landfills are unable to receive bulk liquid waste as this creates leachate which can negatively impact the surrounding environment. For this reason, all new wastewater utilities should be planned, designed, and permitted by the Wastewater Program.

Questions related to this guidance can be directed to either Program as this guidance was developed and reviewed by both Programs.