Training Resources for Tribal Waste Management
EPA compiled a library of Tribal waste management training materials, created by federal and non-federal partners including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Indian Health Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Tribal organizations. These free materials include resources from trainings as well as education and outreach materials that are not part of any formal training. They are organized into six categories and can be filtered and sorted in three ways:
- Click one of the icons, categories ("Alaska," "Collection and Disposal," etc.), or subcategories ("Backhaul," "Budget," etc.) listed below to filter the table so it only shows resources assigned to that category or subcategory.
- Pick a category from the dropdown list directly above the table.
- Click any of the column headers at the top of the table to sort resources alphabetically.
For more resources, follow the links under "Federal Partners" below.
Solid and Hazardous Waste
Collection and Disposal
Outreach and Education
Federal Partners
Indian Health Service
USDA
Instructions: Search the table by entering specific keywords into the search box or selecting a dropdown category. Sort the table by clicking on a column header. Both functionalities can be used together.
| Title | Description | Category | Subcategory | Material Type | Publication Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developing an Abandoned Vehicle Cleanup Program for Tribal Governments (pdf) | Guide on how to develop and implement an abandoned vehicle collection program. | Collection and Disposal | Abandoned Vehicles | Guidance | 2009 |
| Checklist of Landfill Operations (pdf) | Checklist of landfill operations. | Alaska | Landfill Operators | Checklist | -- |
| ADEC Solid Waste Program Community Waste Management Index (pdf) | Community Waste Management Index spreadsheet for scoring waste management needs. | Alaska | Waste Management Index | Waste Management Index | 2023 |
| Solid Waste Program Budgeting for Alaska Tribal Communities: A Beginner's Guide (pdf) | Beginner's guide to assist rural Alaska Tribes in making budgets for their communities' waste management programs. | Alaska | Budget | Guidance | 2018 |
| Planning for a Sustainable Tribal Business (pdf) | Tool to assist Tribes with developing sustainable business enterprises. | Planning Tools | Sustainable Business Plan | Guidance | 2012 |
| Tribal Community-Based Social Marketing Recycling Toolkit (pdf) | This toolkit focuses on using the community-based social marketing process to promote recycling behavior, based on a case study at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. | Outreach and Education, Circular Economy | Community-Based Social Marketing, Recycling | Planning Tool | 2016 |
| Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) for Tribal Environmental Professionals (pdf) | Community-based social marketing tools to increase the adoption of sustainable behaviors within the community. | Outreach and Education | Community-Based Social Marketing | Presentation and Webinar | 2020 |
| Starting Community Composting Programs on Tribal Lands (pdf) | Overview of community composting programs on Tribal land. | Circular Economy | Composting | Presentation | 2020 |
| On-Site Composting Program at a Tribal Transfer Station (pdf) | Overview of an on-site Tribal composting and recycling program at a transfer station. | Circular Economy | Composting | Presentation | 2010 |
| The Science of Compost (pdf) | A 3-day composting training with example case studies and information on designing and operating a composting program. | Circular Economy | Composting | Presentation | 2018 |
| Starting Community Composting Programs on Tribal Lands Session 1 | Overview of compost: what it is, its benefits, and how to implement a program. | Circular Economy | Composting | Video | 2020 |
| Starting Community Composting Programs on Tribal Lands Session 2 | Overview of composting methods. | Circular Economy | Composting | Video | 2020 |
| Starting Community Composting Programs on Tribal Lands Session 3 | Overview of planning a community composting program. | Circular Economy | Composting | Video | 2020 |
| Tribal Solid Waste Costing Tool Spreadsheet (xlsm) | The Costing Tool is a series of worksheets to assist Tribal leaders in making decisions about implementing various options for solid waste collection, recycling, and disposal. The Tool can be used to evaluate the financial feasibility of operating the following types of waste management services or facilities:
| Planning Tools | Tribal Solid Waste Program Costing Tools | Excel-based tool | 2023 |
| Hazard Assessment for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (pdf) | This tool can help you do a hazard assessment to see if your employees need to use personal protective equipment (PPE) by identifying activities that may create hazards for your employees. | Planning Tools | Health and Safety | Assessment Tool | -- |
| Integrated Waste Management Plan Resources (pdf) | Tools, brochures, and presentations for developing a Tribal integrated waste management plan. | Planning Tools | Integrated Waste Management Plans | Guidance | 2016 |
| Tribal Solid Waste Advisory Network (pdf) | Template for an integrated waste management plan. | Planning Tools | Integrated Waste Management Plans | Template | 2006 |
| Household Hazardous Waste Collection: A Program Guide for Tribal Governments (pdf) | Guidebook to start a household hazardous waste collection program. | Solid and Hazardous Waste | Household Hazardous Waste | Guidance | 2007 |
| Household Hazardous Waste Storage Recommendations (pdf) | Recommendations for appropriate household hazardous waste storage methods. | Solid and Hazardous Waste | Household Hazardous Waste | Guidance | -- |
| Best Management Practices Storage (pdf) | Household hazardous waste storage best management practices. | Solid and Hazardous Waste | Household Hazardous Waste | Presentation | 2019 |
| Consumer Battery Recycling: Opportunities and Issues (pdf) | Webinar presentation on consumer battery management and recycling options. | Circular Economy | Batteries | Presentation | 2018 |
| Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Standard Operating Procedure (pdf) | Standard operating procedures for conducting a household hazardous waste collection event. | Solid and Hazardous Waste | Household Hazardous Waste | Standard Operating Procedure | 2015 |
| Pueblo of Acoma Utility Authority Acoma Transfer Station Project (pdf) | Presentation on the Pueblo of Acoma’s waste transfer station. | Collection and Disposal | Transfer Stations | Presentation | 2018 |
| Abandoned Mobile Homes Toolkit Best Management Practices Resource Guide (pdf) | Abandoned Mobile Homes Toolkit Best Management Practices Resource Guide and Assessment Guide Checklists for evaluating homes for deconstruction. | Collection and Disposal | Abandoned Mobile Homes | Guidance/Checklist | 2012 |
| Deconstruction & Environmental Regulations (pdf) | Presentation on satisfying asbestos regulations on Tribal lands to keep workers and residents safe. | Collection and Disposal | Abandoned Mobile Homes | Presentation | 2017 |
| Abandoned Mobile Homes on Tribal Lands: Deconstruction and Other Tools (pdf) | Presentation on environmental issues, disposal challenges, and opportunities from removing abandoned mobile homes. | Collection and Disposal | Abandoned Mobile Homes | Presentation | 2017 |
| Don't Trash Our Land Prevent Illegal Dumping (pdf) (743.9 KB) | This brochure provides information on the dangers of open dumping. | Outreach and Education | Solid and Hazardous Waste, Open Dumping | Brochure | 2008 |
| Closing Small Tribal Landfills and Open Dumps (pdf) | Document on how to determine an appropriate final cover profile for closing small landfills and open dumps. It also includes additional design guidance for arid regions. | Outreach and Education | Solid and Hazardous Waste, Open Dumping | Guidance | 2011 |
| Technical Advice for Cleanup of Accumulated Waste Sites on Tribal Lands (pdf) | Advice for cleaning up waste accumulated on Tribal lands. | Outreach and Education | Solid and Hazardous Waste, Open Dumping | Guidance | -- |
| Hazardous Waste Identification & Minimization (pdf) | Presentation on identifying hazardous wastes and waste minimization practices. | Solid and Hazardous Waste | Hazardous Waste | Presentation | 2018 |
| Hazardous Waste Management (pdf) | Presentation on RCRA regulations and hazardous waste generators, management, and disposal. | Solid and Hazardous Waste, Alaska | Hazardous Waste, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Regulations (under Alaska) | Presentation | -- |
| RTOC Solid Waste Workgroup Hazardous Waste Management at Tribal Facilities (pdf) | Presentation on hazardous waste management issues at Tribal facilities, including used oil requirements and household hazardous waste collection and management. | Solid and Hazardous Waste | Hazardous Waste | Presentation | 2015 |
| Developing A Tribal Solid Waste Management Plan (pdf) | Document to make the development of an Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan simple and user-friendly. | Planning Tools | Integrated Waste Management Plans | Forms | -- |
| Developing a Tribal Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (pdf) | Presentation on the Five Elements of an Integrated Waste Management Plan and developing Tribal solid waste codes. | Planning Tools | Integrated Waste Management Plans | Presentation | 2019 |
| Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Tribal Solid Waste Education and Assistance Program Implementing and Managing Tribal Recycling Programs (pdf) | Presentation on implementing and managing a Tribal recycling program. | Circular Economy | Recycling | Presentation | 2018 |
| Waste Sort Training for Tribes Handbook (pdf) | Handbook on waste sort training for Tribes. | Planning Tools | Waste Characterization | Guidance | 2020 |
| Tribal Solid Waste: Waste Characterizations (pdf) | Presentation on Tribal solid waste characterization. | Planning Tools | Waste Characterization | Presentation | 2017 |
| Hoopa Valley Indian Tribe Waste Assessment (pdf) | Report compiling the findings of a waste assessment of the Hoopa Valley Indian Tribe. | Planning Tools | Waste Characterization | Assessment Tool | 2018 |
| Developing Small-Scale Solid Waste Transfer Stations on Tribal Lands (pdf) | Presentation and handout on developing small-scale solid waste transfer stations on Tribal lands. | Collection and Disposal | Transfer Stations | Presentation | 2020 |
| Planning and Designing Transfer Station and Materials Recovery Facilities to Support Zero Waste Initiatives (pdf) | Paper describing a study on achieving maximum landfill diversion to support reducing waste. | Collection and Disposal, Circular Economy | Transfer Stations, Reducing Waste | Whitepaper | 2012 |
| Five Elements of a Tribal Integrated Waste Management Plan Memorandum (PDF) | The purpose of this memorandum is to identify and describe the elements that the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (formerly the Office of Solid Waste) believes should, generally, be included in a Tribal integrated waste management plan. | Planning Tools | Integrated Waste Management Plans | Memo | 2007 |
| Tribal Community-Based Social Marketing Training Guide (PDF) | This training guide provides an overview of how to use the Community-Based Social Marketing process to increase the adoption of sustainable behaviors within the community. | Outreach and Education | Community-Based Social Marketing | Planning Tool | 2016 |
| Creating Messages that Drive Behavior Change | This training materials provide the framework to develop a new behavior change campaign. This training also shares examples of how recycling, composting, and food waste prevention programs have applied social marketing approaches to develop messages that change behavior. | Outreach and Education | Community-Based Social Marketing | Website | 2022 |
| Abandoned Vehicles on Tribal Lands (PDF) | This training features real-world Tribal approaches to tracking vehicle abandonment, scrapping and recycling vehicles, and using outreach and compliance strategies to minimize vehicle accumulation. | Collection and Disposal | Abandoned Vehicles | Presentation and Webinar | 2022 |
| Developing and Implementing Tribal Waste Management Codes and Ordinance (PDF) | This webinar focuses on the journey to developing and implementing Tribal waste codes and ordinances. | Planning Tools | Codes and Ordinances | Presentation and Webinar | 2021 |
| Strengthening Tribal Sovereignty through Waste Management Codes and Ordinances (PDF) | This webinar focuses on developing abandoned motor vehicles enforceable codes and ordinances. | Planning Tools | Codes and Ordinances | Presentation and Webinar | 2022 |
| Waste Characterization for Tribal Program Planning (PDF) | This webinar focuses on how to tailor a waste characterization to your Tribe’s needs and how to use the results to gain consensus with Tribal administration and leadership. | Planning Tools | Waste Characterization | Presentation and Webinar | 2021 |
| Developing and Implementing a Tribal Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (PDF) | Detailed training on how to develop and implement an Integrated Waste Management Plan. | Planning Tools | Integrated Waste Management Plans | Presentation | 2016 |
| Federal Statues/Legislation and Solid Waste Terms and Definitions (PDF) | A summary of federal statues/legislation and solid waste terms and definitions. | Solid and Hazardous Waste | Hazardous Waste, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Regulations | Guidance | 2016 |
| Overview of Developing a Tribal Integrated Waste Management Plan (PDF) | Overview fact sheet that provides the basic framework for a Tribal solid waste and environmental manager to develop a successful integrated waste management plan. | Planning Tools | Integrated Waste Management Plans | Fact Sheet | 2013 |
| 3 Steps to Developing a Tribal Integrated Waste Management Plan (PDF) | Overview fact sheet that provides the basic framework for a Tribal solid waste and environmental manager to develop a successful integrated waste management plan. | Planning Tools | Integrated Waste Management Plans | Fact Sheet | 2011 |
| Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Tribal Integrated Waste Management Plan (PDF) | Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Integrated Waste Management Plan. | Planning Tools | Integrated Waste Management Plans | Report | 2013 |
| Waste Characterization Pre-Assessment Questionnaire (DOCX) | Worksheet to assist with preparing to conduct a waste assessment. | Planning Tools | Waste Characterization | Word-based tool | -- |
| Waste Sort Data Worksheet (XLSX) | Worksheet to assist with analyzing the data collected during the waste assessment. | Planning Tools | Waste Characterization | Excel-based tool | -- |
| Plant Sampling Instructions (pptx) | A presentation and video on how to collect and ship plant samples for PFAS analyses. | Solid and Hazardous Waste | Hazardous Waste | Presentation | 2024 |
| Class III Landfill Operations Plan (pdf) | Fillable form for creating an Operations Plan for a Class III landfill. | Alaska | Landfill Operators/Waste Management Index | Form | 2013 |
| Let's Talk Trash (pdf) | Presentation explaining how local solid waste issues are being addressed. | Alaska | Waste Management Index | Presentation | -- |
| Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College Recycling Program Survey (pdf) | Example survey to ask about perspectives on waste and recycling. | Outreach and Education | Community-Based Social Marketing | Assessment Tool | -- |
| Community-Based Social Marketing for Tribal Environmental Professionals (pdf) | Worksheet to help brainstorm and plan a potential community-based social marketing campaign. | Outreach and Education | Community-Based Social Marketing | Worksheet | -- |
| Community-Based Social Marketing for Tribal Environmental Professionals: Overview and Tribal Perspectives (pdf) | Overview of community-based social marketing tools and Pala Band of Mission Indians success using these tools. | Outreach and Education | Community-Based Social Marketing | Presentation | -- |
| Tribal Solid Waste Program Costing Tool Introduction (pdf) | Introduction on how to use the costing tool. | Planning Tools | Tribal Solid Waste Program Costing Tools | Presentation | 2018 |
| Tribal Solid Waste Program Costing Tool Guide (pdf)(2.3 MB) | This tool is intended to help tribal leaders make decisions about solid waste collection and disposal and to determine feasibility for implementing the following programs:
| Planning Tools | Tribal Solid Waste Program Costing Tools | Guide | 2009 |
| Developing a Disaster Debris Management Plan: Training Webinar (pdf) | Training that addresses the essential issues necessary to coordinate effective debris management before and after a disaster. | Planning Tools | Disaster Debris Management | Presentation | 2020 |
| Recycling on the Morongo Indian Reservation (pdf) | Presentation summarizing the Morongo Indian Reservation casino recycling program. | Circular Economy | Recycling | Presentation | -- |
| Creating an Economically Sustainable Program and Recycling Education/Outreach and Illegal Dumping (pdf) | Presentation providing information on economically sustainable recycling programs and recycling education and outreach. | Circular Economy, Outreach and Education | Recycling, Open Dumping | Presentation | 2017 |
| Solid Waste and Vectors (pdf) | Tribal solid waste management tools to address vector issues. | Solid and Hazardous Waste | Open Dumping | Presentation | -- |
| Tribal Hazardous Waste Training (pdf) | Training outlining RCRA hazardous waste requirements as it pertains to tribal communities. | Solid and Hazardous Waste | Hazardous Waste, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Regulations | Presentation | 2024 |
| Developing and Implementing a Tribal Recycling Program (pdf) | Presentation detailing waste audits and process for developing and implementing recycling programs. | Circular Economy | Recycling | Presentation | 2017 |
| Preventing Debris: Building Resilience and Waste Management Program Capacity (pdf) | Presentation how to incorporate resiliency strategies in buildings, structures, and the community to reduce potential debris from disasters. | Planning Tools | Disaster Debris Management | Presentation | 2020 |
| Planning and Design of Complex Solid Waste Facilities to Support Zero Waste Initiatives (pdf) | Presentation providing case studies of planning and designing solid waste facilities. | Collection and Disposal | Transfer Stations | Presentation | -- |
| Technical Guidance Document for Planning and Design of a Transfer Station in Indian Country (pdf) | Document addressing general planning, design and technical aspects of transfer stations. | Collection and Disposal | Transfer Stations | Guidance | -- |
| Transfer Station Equipment Specifications Handout (pdf) (the last two pages of a 156-page presentation, 13.7 MB) | This handout provides estimates and approximations that may be useful when designing a solid waste transfer station. | Collection and Disposal | Transfer Stations | Worksheet | 2020 |
| Developing Small-Scale Solid Waste Transfer Stations on Tribal Lands (pdf) | Four-part training presentations on transfer station design to completion. | Collection and Disposal | Transfer Stations | Presentation | -- |
| Detox Your Domicile Training Toolkit (pdf) | This toolkit provides guidance, informational materials, and templates for conducting an educational, skit-based community workshop focused on chemical risk reduction and household hazardous waste management. Missouri Botanical Garden EarthWays Center owns the rights to the workshop and originally developed the content. | Solid and Hazardous Waste, Outreach and Education | Household Hazardous Waste | Planning Tool | 2024 |
| Tribes Training Tribes on Sustainable Waste Management Programs: Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Cherokee Nation | Highlights a peer-to-peer technical assistance partnership where the Cherokee Nation mentored the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians to help build sustainable solid waste and recycling practices and share resources to address littering and illegal dumping challenges. | Circular Economy, Solid and Hazardous Waste | Recycling, Open Dumping | Fact Sheet | 2025 |
| Tribes Training Tribes on Sustainable Waste Management Programs: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Santee Sioux Nation | The Santee Sioux Nation shared expertise and outreach tools with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to help them strengthen solid waste enforcement and reduce illegal dumping on their reservation. | Planning Tools, Solid and Hazardous Waste | Codes and Ordinances, Open Dumping | Fact Sheet | 2025 |