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News | Jan. 26, 2021

Anchorage property disposal site featured in recent local television segment

By Jake Joy DLA Disposition Services Public Affairs

Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Anchorage got its close-up Jan. 21 when the site was featured on NBC-affiliate KTUU-TV’s recurring segment “Inside the Gates.”

The weekly news production introduces the public to various commands and missions behind the fences of the sprawling Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and its tremendous economic impact on the Anchorage area.

DLA Disposition Services Alaska Area Manager Kathy Wigginton worked with joint base public affairs personnel in late 2019 to create public announcements for 100,000 pounds of mixed scrap DLA wanted to make available for removal. Base personnel then brought up the KTUU segment and asked if DLA would like for its property reuse and disposal operation to be highlighted.

The reporter was “mainly interested in how the process works, who can get the property, what kind of property we have,” Wigginton said. “I talked about DOD screening, transfer screening, donation screening, and Alaska Surplus Property.”

Reporters were led around the warehouse, where they captured footage of property disposal specialists moving and labeling items, scrap, and usable items like hospital beds, gym equipment, lockers, and equipment boxes.

“It was very easy to work with both our public affairs staff and the news reporter and camera person,” Wigginton said. “Our public affairs office gave me great tips that were easy to remember. The surprising thing is what the reporter focuses on. It is not always what you think it will be.”

The segment also called attention to a special sale of more than 200,000 pounds of mixed steel scrap metal. Before disposing of property in a landfill, Wigginton said all previous opportunities for reutilization, transfer, donation and sale must be unsuccessful. The site is accepting offers from the public, and based on policy, can consider releasing the material free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis if no bids are received. This is one of DOD’s final options prior to using a landfill and incurring the associated costs.

The “Inside the Gates” segment can be viewed at the related video link below.