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November 15, 1988 <br /> <br />Richard E. Swanson <br />Former C.,oun~ E~er~'~ A.oenL A~r~CUl~url <br /> <br />(612) 421-~-~ g3 <br /> <br />The pilot project is to utili=e yard waste (grass clippings and <br />tree leaves) directly on fields which are producing food and <br />fiber. The Legislature has mandated that yard waste can not be <br />hauled to landfill sites nor to refuse derived fuel plants after <br />19£9 in the Metro area and after 1990 in the rest of the State. <br />cities and counties are struggling to develop compost sites but <br />find that unless the sites are equipped with water, turning <br />equipment and considerable staff, the end product is not a <br />marketable compost product. O.L.E.O. feels that the yard waste <br />can be !andspread into producing fields at less cost an~ wi~h no <br />residual problems. <br /> <br />O.L.E.O. is an acronym for On-Land Environmental Opportunities. <br />-S'even farmers, %'hose :amilies have owned their farms -'or about 90 <br />years on the average, have incorporated, into a non-:r~ cf~ <br />organizations in or,er to complete this pilot projec' and to look <br />:~or others. <br /> <br />I was hired by O.L.E.O. as their consultant, cr coordinator. I <br />was a County..=_.~__~.~~-_~-~,,~ ..... ~. Agent _..~ Anoka County ~=-om _~9~3~ until <br />retiring on january. 3!, 1988. I was pleased ~'--~=. they. called me <br />as I believe I can coordinate the rather complex mix of <br />scientific, regulatory and social ethics involved in <br />environmental_ activities. For examole,, r_ believe th-.~=~ certain <br />University cf Minnesota researchers and educators -re interested <br />in these very. s~v,e issues, an~ on!v. need the .~hVsic=~. -_. orojec% and <br />some very. small financing to cot. sicni.-'~cant~v. -- . _. involved. Most <br />cf all, I believe I can enhance, not replace, the stron~ <br />!eadershio given by these farmers. <br /> <br /> <br />