housing. The recycling component of the UICD grant has set out four projects to assist in capturing these wasted resources. • The feasibility of collecting organic materials and composting them 'into valuable fertilizers is being examined by th~ ' Organic Reclamation Project. Leasing land for a comp~stmg business that could employ about two to three people 1s also being studied along with a search for furth~r ~~nd~ng sources and a market to sell the fertilizer. One poss1b1hty 1s to use compost banking, a system set up in Berkeley whe~e o_ne can take so many tons of fertilizer in return for a certain n_umber of tons of organics brought in. Four types of corr~po~tmg _are being studied: vermiculture (usi~g ~or~s), ,aerobic d1gest1on, methane digestion and alcohol d1st1llat10n. • Another business study is being conducted for a lumber salvage company that would recycle dis~antl¢? fences,_houses, and buildings. For this to be economically viable, pn~es, for recycled lumber need to rise t~ the level o_f th~ material s real worth. To facilitate this a grading system 1s being developed for used lumber. At present inspectors can't allow ungraded lumber and therefore there is no incentive to recycle building materials. • The Source Collection Project is attempting to demonstrate the economic viability of a curb-side source separation company in the neighborhood. It has been fou'nd that the scale at which this is currently done is marginally prof_itable at best, for the two recycling organizations currently serving the neighborhood. Studies for increasing both the volume of materials collected and the efficiency of the operation are being conducted along with an inventory of the present waste stream in the neighborhood. Another possibility being considered is restructuring one of the exist'ing organizations to be more efficient. One step in this direction is for the organic materials already being collected along with the other recyclables to be fed into the composting business, thus eliminating energy wasted in another collection route. • A key to the success of these projects is public acceptance. Therefore, the Recycling component is preparing educational packets and a school curriculum for grades 1-12 on recycling. A slide show is also being developed for public speaking engagements, and a leaflet has been prepared for inclusion in the neighborhood newsleqer. These efforts will help residents understand the critical connections between recycling, energy, • food and neighborhood self-reliance. A centralized recycling processing center is being considered that would integrate all of the above projects. The scale at which this would be effective has not been determined. • WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S SMOKE Tom Bender A couple of years' experience now with wood heating has resulted in a few thoughts possibly worth passing on. The first is a sense of concern about the growing use of metal chimneys (of all sorts). They seem almost universal now in both new construction and installation of wood stoves in Page 16 RAIN November 1979 The neighborhood survey identified better an ow cost health care as a major priority in Whiteaker. In response to . that need, the Whiteaker Community Council assisted in the < organizing of the Community Health and Education Center (CHEC), a neighborhood based health clinic with an emphasis on prevention. With the arrival of the NCAT grant a threepoint program has been developed to help the neighborhood become self-reliant in the area of health care. A health survey has been used to determine actual health_needs and to get direction from the neighbors for action. ' • A study is underway to determine the viability of a Pre-Paid Health Plan for the neighborhood in which medical services would be provided by CHEC. The study is looking into the legal restrictions, administration and financial consideration of such a plan. • • A Medical Self-Help. Program will be geared towards developing a curriculum for preventive and home-care techniques taught through a series of classes and workshops. Residents will be trained to act as health resource people for their neighbors and to assist in keeping health costs down by early prevention. • A Standing Committee on Health will b'e established as a part of the Community Council to do health related education and outreach and to actively aid in getting the resources into the neighborhood. The Committee will consist of a roughly two to 011e ratio of community residents to health providers. It is hoped that the committee will stimulate participation in health issues and prnvide a link between residents and health institutions and professionals. • existing homes. We have one, but probably wouldn't do it again. We had an illusion that stain,less steel was somewhat indestructible and that we were making a lifetime investment in the expensive smff. We've already had to paint the exposed pipe, which was corroding badly and pitting (in an admittedly severe coastal environment). We're also told of possible severe damage to the inside liners from chimney fires. And we now'11.ear people talking of a 20-year life for • stainless steel chimneys in normal use. One alternative that seems sensible, more durable, probably as cheap, and not that much harder to build is vitreous clay chimney liners combined with special 16"x16"x8" concrete b'locks that are made to fit snugly around and support the liners ... worth thinking about 1 anyhow. r, :. • A second concern is about air poll_ution resulting in urban areas from the growing use of wood heat. Old-timers in Portland talk about the real smog they used to have when everyone used to burn wood. Though some stoves under some operating conditions produce very ljttle· pollution, my obser-
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