c. Resource Recycling and Waste Disposal 



Department of Agriculture.— Agricultural pro- 

 duction often results in large quantities of plant and 

 animal wastes. Research emphasis is currently placed 

 on efficiently recycling these wastes in order to prevent 

 pollution hazards. Land application is a major 

 recycling technique for municipal as well as for 

 agricultural wastes. The land can also be used as a 

 renovating system for some wastes, primarily liquid. 

 Research is directed toward developing guidelines for 

 land application that do not create pollution problems 

 and that preserve the integrity of the soil for plant 

 growth. Another recycling technique involves 

 treatment to convert plant and animal wastes into 

 useable animal feed. A third approach is the conversion 

 of wastes into other useable products, such as single cell 

 protein or methane gas. 



1971 1972 1973 



$1.04 $1.07 $1.35 



National Science Foundation.— Research examines 

 ecological food chains for their possible role in 

 recycling carbon and nutrients from municipal wastes 

 and for their response to toxic materials released in 

 waste disposal. The capacity of ecosystems to absorb 

 wastes, such as liquid sewage effluents spread on 

 forests or swamps, is also examined. 



1971 1972 1973 

 $0.35 $0.96 $1.33 



Department of the Interior.— The Bureau of Mines 

 views many types of urban and agricultural wastes as 

 potential raw material to supplement other resources. 

 Research is supported on the separation and recycling 

 of raw and incinerated urban wastes with recovery of 

 glass and metals and the use of these wastes and feed 

 lot wastes as a source of oil and gas. 



1971 1972 1973 



$0.16 $0.12 $0.15 



d. Socioeconomic Trade-offs of Alternative 

 Development Projects 



National Science Foundation.— Research emphasis 

 is on ecological component of methodology for 



69 



