REFUSE ISNT RUBBISH

Environmental degradation around the Mediterranean is growing alarming ly. Short-cut methods must be sought to deal with two critical problem s: the disposal of urban wastes and the rehabilitation of the severely -degraded semiarid coastal hinterlands. We report on progress to date in a major research program to use urban wastes to amend soil physical and chemical factors so that vegetation is reestablished and land pro ductivity is restored. Remarkable and lasting changes in soil factors related to plant-available water and nutrient supply have been found. Care must, however, be taken to monitor levels of toxic elements. An o ptimum level of application of urban wastes is our objective where con servation and restoration of the soil is achieved without significant pollution problems.