Proper solid waste management on or near tribal lands is a continuing concern for Cherokee Nation. To assist tribal members in developing solid waste management practices, Cherokee Nation developed the solid waste program in 1997. Since its inception, the program has addressed the problems of illegal open dumping of solid waste. An open dump inventory was developed to identify all open dumps within the Cherokee Nation’s 14-county area. These dumps were assessed and prioritized for future cleanup activities. Cherokee Nation has completed cleanup of several sites and is working to secure funding for additional cleanup in the future. The program continues to seek alternatives such as recycling by providing information on environmental initiatives such as Earth Day and America Recycles Day. In addition, Cherokee Nation actively coordinates with local, state and federal entities to promote the importance of solid waste management practices.
