A public recycling facility for Nome is inching closer to completion. On Monday the Nome Common Council approved an ordinance authorizing the lease of land to Kawerak, Inc. for the project.
The property, just north of Nome Airport, was previously home to the city's Monofill. The lease permits Kawerak to use the existing Monofill Building and approximately 32,705 square feet of surrounding land.
The lease agreement begins on Jan. 1, 2025, and extends through Dec. 31, 2044 for an annual rent of $1.
The fair market rental value, based on the city’s formula of 10% of the assessed value annually, would be approximately $2,506 per month. However, the council opted to lease the property to Kawerak at the nominal rate to fulfill a long-standing need for recycling services.
The move is set to expand capacity for the regional non-profit’s Environmental Program. The department has hosted an annual e-waste event in Nome for the last 13 years and offers similar services to villages throughout the region.
