Unalaska Department of Public Utilities

Approximately 1,200 tons of scrap metal and about 250 vehicles are on a barge to leave Unalaska.

Unalaska receives a $3.8 million federal grant to remove abandoned cars and improve recycling

Sofia Stuart-Rasi

The city’s solution is a project called DRIVE. It’s short for Developing Recycling Infrastructure and Vehicle End-Of-Life. The plan came together in 2024 and was approved by the City Council in January 2025. In December, the project got a major financial boost. Unalaska was selected for a $3.8 million grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency to keep the work going.

Government

City of Unalaska hires department directors for public works, utilities, and postpones restructuring municipal staffing

Maggie Nelson

The City of Unalaska has filled two department head vacancies, and will postpone considering adding more staff to the city’s payroll.

Science & Environment

Trace levels of harmful ‘forever chemicals’ found in Unalaska’s drinking water

Maggie Nelson

According to a recent report from Unalaska’s Department of Public Utilities, some of the island’s drinking water contains traces of the harmful “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. “It's a very low level,” said Steve Tompkins, director of public utilities. “And if we would have tested at the tap — because we usually run all three wells at the same time, and they blend and then they go to the consumer — it would have been below detection.”