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Materials Conservation Materials conservation alternatives consist of source -separation, salvage, and composting. Source -separation programs typically identify materials such as newsprint, corrugated, high-grade fibers, aluminum, tin, terrous scrap, and glass for recovery and collect the materials through either curbside collection, drop-off, or buy-back centers. Salvage operations, as a rule, remove large scrap items such as applicances, car bodies, furniture, and bulky metals at either the transfer station or landfill disposal site. Composting operations utilize vegetative matter to produce compost suitable as a soil amendment. Each conservation operation is discussed separately. Source -Separation Source -separation, the segregation of secondary materials prior to collection, is far more effective than mechanical separation of mixed wastes in meeting the market specifications pertaining to contamination limits. The concept requires the individual waste generator to separate wastes into the desired categories versus dumping everything into the collection container as mixed refuse. As such, individual participation is a key criteria for pro- gram effectiveness. This necessitates a design to accommodate the social issues as well as the mechanical requirements. Commercial source -separation of higher value products is universely practiced and is typically provided by private enterprise. Becoming more prevalent is the recovery of materials through community recycling centers. Such programs recover materials which, because of either marginal value or limited quantities, are not recovered by private companies. Accordingly, our comments will address primarily source -separation concepts and issues pertaining to programs which target the residential waste stream. The secondary materials typically recovered from the residential waste stream via source -separation consists of newsprint, mixed metals. (bi-metal and ferrous cans), aluminum containers, and glass. The materials targeted for recovery and the manner in which they are recovered are variable depending on markets,.community resources and level of existing recycling. Mechanics of Recycling Via Source -Separation The basic requirements of source -separation consists of: Preparation and Segregation of Material(s) - the waste generator . segregates and prepared from his mixed refuse those materials tar- geted for recovery and stores in discrete containers by material. Materials Collection - materials are either collected at source or brought to central facility by recycling patrons. Materials Processing - each material is processed and stored accord- ing to market specifications.