Harry Henry, a 67-year-old Martinez, California man attempted to start a commercial composing operation at his "firewood farm," using waste from commercial landscaper and tree services as well as charred timber from nearby hill fires.

State authorities have told him that he lacks permits for composting, firewood sales, and a night watcher's trailer. Contra Costa County also said that he would have to come up with permits for pollution discharge, health risk assessment, construction and operations, as well as drainage, wetlands and flood control. The county also believes that Henry should study the property's seismic potential and look at noise and traffic patterns.

Once all this is under control, the compost pile will have the government's seal of approval. Henry commented that "The whole problem here is that laws in Sacramento are being written by people who have never seen a pile of compost."

Despite such burdensome permit requirements, California has also mandated that counties divert 25 percent of their waste products to recycling and composting by 1995, increasing to 50 percent by the year 2000.

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