One of the local tribes here is looking into a new compost facility, after WSU's success at waste reduction from all sources on campus they have been able to end high EPA fines and show profit while at the same time providing of all things, animal bedding from a special blend of compost to their veterinarian medical facilities. They now sell compost by the truck load to nurseries (who bag and resell) and farms. When I think about it, even our local sewage plant ships waste to a near-by compost facility that locals use in their gardens. Here's a deal... you check around at landfills in your area, I'll contact SWANA, a national solid waste org. this week and see if it's even possible to generate enough compost to make a difference from their end of the waste spectrum. If we can find sources of product, maybe those with connections in high places could arrange the transportation. Who knows? If anyone has any ideas, please share. Having worked in erosion control, I relied heavily on UN reports to market the need to remediate. I'll never forget one soils fact sheet "More Precious Than Gold" maybe five years ago... and I believe it (!) living in Idaho farm country where 64% of the topsoil that existed 100 years ago is now On, In, or Near the pacific ocean. I toured WSU's facility, every scrap of plant material from all food services on campus are included and it made me think of excessive waste along this line that exists in major cities, hospitals, restaurants, etc. It serves no real purpose but very well could with a little effort. The best part? Nature does all the processing, all that WSU has to do is monitor for temperature, bacteria, and turn the long rows every few days with a tractor made for the job. /donna joe dees wrote: > At Mon, 15 Mar 1999 15:11:35 -0800, you wrote: > > > >Hey Joe, > > > >Maybe you're on to something.. composting is an exceptional method for waste >disposal given the right circumstance, down wind, temperature, etc. no harmful side >effects and produces a useful product.. Shipments of compost? Maybe Nicole could >arrange it through the UN. If it would help bring back sustainable farming to storm >ravaged areas why not? We should probably send seedlings and trees to correct the >major cause of erosion in the first place. Heavy logging on steep hillsides. You're >delightful when you're being funny. > >/donna > > > >> > >> You've inspired a brainstorm. There's a huge erosion problem in central america; >the recent hurricanes have washed much of the topsoil from their farmland. At the >same time, we have a landfill problem here. Much of our landfills are filled with >trimmed plant material. What if we mulch the grass, leaves and limbs, compost it, >barge it to central america and use it to replace their ravaged topsoil? It would >slow our landfill filling at the same time that it would provide them with needed >topsoil with which to replenish their stripped farmland. It wouldn't be garbage >dumping; it would help them. At first glance it seems like an elegant win-win >recycling situation to me. Whaddaya think? > >> Joe E. Dees > >> Poet, Pagan, Philosopher > > > > > > > > > Joe E. Dees > Poet, Pagan, Philosopher > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Access your e-mail anywhere, at any time. > Get your FREE BellSouth Web Mail account today! > http://webmail.bellsouth.net > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
