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Aluminum 207.56 x 106 BTU's per Ton Glass 1.15 x 106 BTU's per 'Ton Newsprint 4.55 x 106 BTU's per Ton The public awareness benefits are difficult to quantify and yet pro- vide a critical benefit to solid waste management development. Historically, solid waste collection, transfer and disposal have been quietly provided with little or no appreciation from the general public as to the problems involved in solid waste management. As resources become more scarce and basic solid waste services more costly and controversial, decision makers will need the understanding and support of the general public. Source -separation programs can help to achieve this awareness by graphically illustrating the quantity of refuse generated, its value as a resource, and the environmental impacts of its current method of handling. Accordingly, source -separation programs and the public awareness which results can serve to prepare the general pub- lic for the more expensive solutions which are required to meet our future solid waste management problems. Opportunities to Integrate Source -Separation with Conventional Solid Waste Management Techniques Integration of source -separation programs with conventional garbage collection and disposal improves the program's chance for success for three principle reasons: • Existing facilities, equipment, and management personnel can be utilized reducing overall program cost. • The benefits of reduced route volume and disposal fees accrue to the entities which can make equipment and routing adjustments with attendant cost savings. • Most garbage companies have experience in marketing secondary materials and handling debris boxes which are often used for market transportation purposes. Transfer stations and landfills are logical locations for placement of donation centers and depending upon public usage and distance from popu- lation centers, may be appropriate for buy-back centers. It is important that public interest groups pushing source -separation on environmental grounds thoroughly understand the economic realities of col- lection, transfer and disposal of solid wastes. Conversely, it is important for entities providing solid waste service to realize that source -separation programs are slowly becoming another facet of the total waste management service concept.