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Unfortunately, government programs often are very shortsighted. Most federal spending not only discourages garbage recycling programs, but actually supports projects that compete with such programs. The U.S. Department of Energy, for example, provides $300 million in price supports, loan guarantees, and market development to high-technology processes for burning garbage. Although more energy could be saved — at far less cost — by recycling waste instead of burning it, programs like municipal composting receive no DOE funds. Therefore, cities like Altoona are forced to go it alone . . . and some are starting to do just that.

In Portland, Oregon subscribers to a private collection service are required to separate their wastes into organics, newspapers, glass, and cans. As a result, participating households have cut the amount of garbage they send to a local landfill by more than half. And because landfills of mixed organic and inorganic refuse need a daily earth cover to reduce pests and odors, removal of just the organic material can lengthen a landfill's life by 10-30% . .. and making use of both the organics and recyclable materials could extend a fill area's usefulness by as much as 80%.

AN ENERGY SAVER

In addition — and this is of prime importance today — municipal composting can save energy in several ways. First, substituting recycled or reused materials for virgin resources consumes less energy. Then, separating organics from other waste also increases the nonorganic matter's usable energy, since — when mixed wastes are burned in energy recovery plants — the high moisture content of organics lowers the material's fuel value.

People who would like a municipal composting program for their communities should urge local officials to read An Examination of Composting Alternatives to Landfilling of Organic Wastes, prepared by Cloudburst Environmental Institute of Oregon (Dept. TMEN, 2440 10th Avenue N.E., Portland, Oregon 97212). This $5.00 report gives a good idea of how much such a project will cost, the amount of land that's needed, firms that manufacture composting equipment, and how much landfill space and energy can be saved.

You can have a free catalog of ILSR's selection of books and pamphlets by sending the Institute a self-addressed, stamped envelope. To get on the mailing list for the organization's bi-monthly magazine, Self-Reliance, send $8.00 ($15.00 for institutions) to ILSR, 1717 18th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009. Or, send $25 ($17 of which is tax-deductible) to become an associate member of the Institute . . . and — in addition to receiving the magazine — you'll obtain a 20% discount on all other Local Self-Reliance publications — MOTHER.

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