Environment

The Reflector, March 3, 2010, reported that Ridgefield residents have until March 15, 2010 to respond to proposals to spread biosolids on agricultural lands.

The request to spread biosolids has been made by Onolaska based Fire Mountain Farms Inc. The  owner is listed as Robert J. Thode of Lewis County.

Fire Mountain is hoping to accept biosolids from the city of Battle Ground for application on a new site of 200 acres of farming land near 27201 NE 19th Ave. in Ridgefield.

Anyone wanting to appeal this decision must do so in writing by Monday, March 15, 2010, no later that 5 pm. Those who want to present views or want a public hearing must also write to the Department of Ecology by March 15.  Contact for Kyle Dorsey is kdor461@ecy.wa.gov.

Kyle Dorsey- Regional Biosolids Coordinator
Washington State Department of Ecology
PO Box 47775
Olympia, WA 98504-7775
360-407-6393

What are biosolids — The soil-like residue of materials removed from sewage during the treatment process.

Leaf litter falls to the ground where it is decomposed by microbes. As it decays it releases nitrogen, a key nutrient for plants and animals. (William S. Currie photo)

Spring has sprung and plants are starting to push through- into the day light- shoving aside the dirt, bursting forth from the winter dormancy lull. So it is time to get out and work those gluteal muscles.

Leaves, left on lawns and gardens over the winter, are in need of removal, mulching or replacing. November’s leaves can be thinly spread onto perennial beds, under trees or into a compost heap.  Leaves are nutrient rich and can fortify trees, shrubs and lawns as they decay. Mulching by the use of a lawn mower is preferable prior to spreading or layering, but not necessary.

“By the time long-season crops like corn or tomatoes are about 10 inches tall, the rough compost from the previous November’s leaves may be spread 4 inches thick between the rows.

CREAM your crop (Computer Reuse, Education And Marketing.)

Old worn out computers, TV’s, monitors and other electronics contain heavy metals.

Last year 0ver 35 million pounds of electronics were recycled in Clark County helping to prevent the pollution heavy metals and toxins from entering the soil of land fills. Clark County has been ahead of the movement to recycle by starting the CREAM project years ago. (Columbian)

All living organisms require varying amounts of “heavy metals.” Iron, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc are required by humans.

What's white, rigid and takes up a lot of space in garbage carts and landfills?

The answer: block foam. That's also the problem. However, you can rectify this problem by giving all of your block foam at a free collection event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the Fisher's Landing Transit Center, located at 3510 SE 164th Avenue in Vancouver.

Since Clark County and the City of Vancouver began the monthly collections in September 2008, residents here have recycled 15,250 pounds of block foam. Total Reclaim, a Portland recycling business, takes the collected foam, grinds it to powder, mixes and melts it with special additives, and churns out pellets that maintain the same quality as virgin plastic.