How Silverbow Inn is Supporting a More Sustainable Juneau

In a place like Juneau, sustainability looks a little different.

There are no roads connecting the city to the rest of Alaska. Nearly everything that comes in or goes out arrives by plane or barge. Waste management is more complex, landfill space is limited, and even small environmental choices can have a meaningful impact on the community.

While being a sustainable Juneau hotel has always been part of our identity, we’ve continued to take steps toward more sustainable operations. Most recently, through a new composting partnership with Juneau Composts!

Sustainability at Silverbow Inn

The inn recently began composting food waste from its breakfast service, including oatmeal, eggshells, and coffee grounds. Staff members collect organic waste in compost buckets, which are processed locally rather than sent to the landfill.

It may seem like a small shift, but food waste is one of the largest contributors to landfill volume across the country. In Alaska, where landfill capacity and transportation logistics are ongoing concerns, diverting food waste matters even more.

Juneau’s Composting Efforts

According to Juneau Composts!, the organization has already diverted more than 3 million pounds of food scraps from the landfill. Their work helps turn organic waste into nutrient-rich compost that can support local gardens and food systems throughout the region.

Juneau as a whole has increasingly embraced composting and waste diversion initiatives in recent years. Local officials have identified organic waste reduction as an important strategy for extending the life of the city’s landfill and reducing environmental impact. One environmental assessment tied to the city’s broader composting efforts noted that up to 22% of the annual waste stream could potentially be diverted through composting programs.

How a Small Juneau Hotel is Making a Big Difference

For a small independent hotel, participating in those local efforts felt like a natural fit. At Silverbow Inn, sustainability isn’t approached as a marketing trend or a one-time initiative. It’s reflected in a series of intentional operational choices that continue evolving over time.

The hotel has long encouraged towel reuse and gives guests the option to decline daily housekeeping turnover during their stay. Reducing unnecessary laundry and cleaning helps conserve water, energy, and supplies while also minimizing waste.

The property has also avoided bottled water in favor of filtered water stations. In a region known for having some of the cleanest water in the country, encouraging the use of refillable bottles simply makes sense. Guests have access to filtered drinking water directly at the hotel rather than relying on single-use plastic bottles.

Wherever possible, the team also prioritizes organic and locally minded choices throughout the guest experience.

Sustainable Juneau Initiatives

These efforts are especially important in a destination like Juneau, where sustainability is closely tied to preserving the natural environment that visitors come to experience in the first place. From hiking trails and glacier views to local wildlife and the surrounding waterways, Southeast Alaska depends on thoughtful stewardship from both residents and businesses alike.

Supporting a local company like Juneau Composts! is another meaningful part of that equation. Compost generated through the program can eventually be reused locally as fertilizer and soil amendments, helping create a more circular system within the community.

Alaska Composting Programs

As composting programs continue expanding across Alaska, small partnerships like this help demonstrate how local businesses can contribute in practical, achievable ways.

For guests staying at Silverbow Inn, many of these sustainability efforts happen quietly in the background. But together, they represent an ongoing commitment to reducing waste, supporting the local community, and helping protect the place that makes Juneau special.