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Show 2 THE CREEN SHEET Thursday, July 7, 1988 Solid Waste Disposal Is A Critical Matter few rubber products, such as tires. A few innovators are collecting yard and food wastes for composting, but these efforts are minimal. Clearly in many areas we can do much better. A 25 percent recycling goal is not something to be Do you know what will happen to this newspaper after you finish reading it and throw it away? If you rigidly adhered to in every community or in every are like most people, you will probably say, "The state. It is a goal which seems realistic for the garbage hauler takes it away. The more important country as a whole, however, and it is compatible questions will be where the hauler takes the trash, with those that have already been set in several and for how long it can be taken there. Most likely, states. It may pale in comparison to Japans current it will end up buried in a landfill. In fact, over 80 50 percent recycling rate, but Japan has had a percent of all household and commercial garbage highly organized effort developed over many years, and virtually nowhere to put large volumes of ends up this way. Is this a problem? Indeed, it is. A quick look at a few key facts will help to explain garbage. Most of all, 25 percent is a start in the why we are heading for a major solid waste disposal right direction. If we can achieve such a figure in four years, we can then start working on a problem. In the U.S. we relentlessly produce more and somewhat higher goal for the longer term. The most difficult aspect of achieving this 25 more garbage - over 150 million tons per year. By the year 2000, we may be producing more than 190 percent goal is that it will not happen simply by million tons per year. government fiat. We will only win a war on garbage when individual citizen and businesses get actively d of our current landfill capacity Nearly involved in fighting it. And what can the individual will be full within six years. It has become increasingly difficult to obtain citizen or business do? To begin with, one can actively participate in a citizen approval to locate new waste treatment or source separation program. Most recycling efforts disposal facilities in their areas. How should we deal with this very serious start with the consumer separating refuse into such problem? The answers are not simple ones, and they elements as metal, glass, paper, and plastic. To a will require considerable effort on the part of all large extent, the more separation we do the more citizens. In fact, they will require us to develop a value the recycled materials have. It is, therefore, whole new attitude about solid waste. We may even critically important that homeowners, renters and ultimately have to develop new behavior patterns as businesses cooperate with separation programs. Where there are not existing recycling programs, consumers. citizens should push for thenm with local officials, As a start, we need to accept the fact that it private firms, service organizations or municipal landfills and trash incinerators will be groups. needed for years to come. No matter how hard we If an incinerator or a landfill is proposed in your work to change our behavior, there will continue to community, ask if it is tied to a comprehensive solid be garbage to be disposed. But we must also learn to waste management plan which includes recycling. decrease our reliance on these disposal options by Dont simply reject these facilities, either, without cutting down on the amount of trash requiring learning all the acts. Instead, inquire and help disposal in the first place. EPA favors an integrated educate your neighbors about the types of facilities solid waste management strategy that includes four wiiich are proposed. To assist in acceptance, EPA is parts: (1) reducing the amount of solid waste proposing new stringent pollution control generated; (2) recycling as much refuse as possible; requirements for both landfills and incinerators. (3) incinerating some garbage with appropriate Many states have already upgraded their own environmental controls and usually with energy requirements. recovery; (4) continuing safe landfilling practices. The garbage problem is a serious one, but it can be While recycling is only one piece of the puzzle, it is solved. The best way to start is to take dead aim on also the area where individual households and the tough, but realistic goal of 25 percent recycling businesses can be of greatest help in dealing with over the next four years. Everyone has a role to play problem. In the past the U.S. has in meeting this goal. Individual citizens should declared "wars" on a number of social problems. actively participate in local recycling programs. Today we need to declare a war on refuse, and one Local governments will need to plan for collection this effort is to increase and for markets for recyclable materials. way to jump-star- t They must dramatically our recycling efforts. That is why the also make sure that required facilities are Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is State governments should provide promoting a national four-yea- r goal of reducing by statewide solid waste planning, develop necessary 25 percent the amount of municipal solid waste laws and regulations, and provide enforcement. The bound for disposal. metals, plastics, glass, packaging, rubber and paper, For those who think this goal isnt very ambitious, other industries will need to increase significantly consider that we are currently recycling only about their attention to recycling. 10 percent of refuse nationwide. Our efforts vary Finally, the federal government should conduct considerably according to types of waste. For research and development, serve as a clearinghouse d example, about half of all aluminum cans, for information, provide a national on of our newspapers and about 10 percent of glass the issue, and develop certainperspective underlying bottles are currently recycled. But we presently regulations. No one group can do the job alone, but recycle only about one percent of all plastic and very together we can launch a successful national effort. J. Winston Porter, Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response U.S. Environmental Protection Agency By Dr. -- one-thir- Telemarketing Regulations Needed The bill passed by the U.S. House of last week requiring the Federal EDITORIAL Trade Commission to study telemarketing fraud and promulgate rules to regulate the telemarketing industry is a step in the right direction. Utah Congressman Howard Nielson amended the measure to include studying the possibility of restricting the hours telemarketers can phone residential customRep-resentativ- es ers. While telemarketing is becoming a popular way of doing business, it is clear that some regulations are necessary, including those proposed by Congressman Nielson. Few things are more annoying than being awakened by an unsolicited caller trying to sell you something. It is not unreasonable to reg- ulate the times such calls can be made. Nielson said that many of his constituents would like to see such calls curbed altogether. He said it is not the intent of Congress to close down businesses or stop the phone calls altogether. The Utah House of Representatives has also passed a bill restricting the hours of Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down non-prof- THUMBS DOWN: To people who set off fireworks in neighborhoods as late (or is it early?) as 2, 3 and 4 a.m. This happened in several areas the morning of July 5 a morning when people had to arise early to go to work. Lets confine our July 24 celebration to a decent hour. While were on the subject, a little common sense concerning the use of fireworks seems in order, given the obvious fire, danger. THUMBS UP: To the Murray City Parks and Recreation and the City Council for funding the one necessary step Dept., Mayor in turning the Murray Park Amphitheatre into the first class facility it has had the potential to be. The installation of onsite restrooms is under way. e well-operate- d. one-thir- Check Out Tax Issues On Vacation Home Now that summers here, you may be planning to thus can only be deducted from passive income. An exists for an owner who actively participates in renting his or her property and whose adjusted gross income (AGI) is $150,000 or less. Such individuals can deduct rental losses of up to $25,000 from their regular income. For owners with AGIs over $100,000, the $25,000 active rental loss allowance is reduced by 50 cents for every dollar of income. Once an owners AGI exceeds $150,000, the allowance is totally phased out. However, if you rented your home before the new law was enacted and you exceed AGI limits, you will probably be able to deduct 40 percent of your disallowed losses in 1988. Each following year, the percentage will be reduced until it is completely eliminated in 1991. retreat to your vacation home for a few days of sun exception and serenity. But before you pack your bags, consider what impact these days of leisure may have on your tax liability. According to Randall Peterson, President of the South Valley Chapter of the Utah Assn, of Certified Public Accountants, extending or reducing the number of days spent at your vacation home can mean a savings or loss of thousands of tax dollars. If you use your home for personal purposes more than 14 days or for more than 10 percent of the number of days the property is rented, whichever is greater, the home qualifies as a residence. If the vacation home is the only property you own other than your primary residence, you still get the full mortgage interest and property tax deductions. You can also deduct rental expenses, but only up to the amount of rental income that the property generates. One pleasant surprise is that you can carry excess deductions into succeeding years to offset any rental income attributed to that same , property. On the other hand, if your personal use of the property is limited to 14 days or less than 10 percent of the time it is rented, your vacation home is considered a rental. For the most part, the IRS will treat your vacation home as it does any other rental property. Generally, you will be entitled to a portion of the mortgage interest and property tax deductions, plus depreciation write-offIn addition, you can deduct a portion of such operating expenses as utilities, fire and liability insurance, advertising costs and even maid service. These numerous tax breaks, however, are offset by certain limits imposed by the tax law. The cost of renting property is considered a passive loss and s. To determine the amount of deductible expenses, you must allocate the expenses in proportion to the numbers of days you use the property for personal and rental purposes. Add the number of personal and rental days together to derive the amount of "total use. To calculate the percentage of deductible operating expenses, simply multiply all expenses by the numbers of rental days, then divide that sum by the total use figure. The result is your tax deductible amount subject, of course, to the passive loss rules noted previously. In some cases, the passive loss rules may make it advisable for you to meet the personal use requirements that enable you to claim the deductions allowed to second homes as opposed to those for rentals. CPAs remind us that the various passive income provisions are extremely complex and can have a substantially different impact on - different individuals. OUR READERS WRITE diagnosis but have "Beaten the Odds." Names will not be used without permission. Possible Dream Dear Editor: John A. Frink "You have less than six months to live," the doctor 111 North 2nd Avenue told me. So I quit my job (which I hated), sold my Chula Vista, CA 92010 home and started traveling to see as much as I could. That was nine years ago and Im healthier than ever. The Green Sheet welcomes contributions! Many similar stories have I heard in my healthy 66 years. from readers for either Letters to the Editor! ' Surely some of your readers must have "Beaten or As I See It. Letters should be confined to the Odds." a length of about 250 words and not contain Please, will any readers who have "Beaten the libelous comments. They must be signed Odds" by any method, send me their health success and must be received in our office no later story. It will be sent free to worldwide volunteer than 10 a.m. Tuesday for publication that "Wellness Hospices." Can you imagine how much hope, improved week. outlook and longevity each success story will provide Longer correspondence may be used as without now hope? people As I See It commentaries on a space availbut full of energy My wife and I are able basis. Primary consideration will be givand good intentions. We plan to provide success submitted by people with experto letters to people in despair - and eventually provide en those tise in the topic about which they write. A VCRs where people can be seen and heard telling achow they "Beat the Odds," with verification by their brief description of that expertise may doctors when available. company the submission. Materials will not be copyrighted or restricted, All submissions are subject to editing for making them available to as many people as space and clarity. They may be addressed possible. to: The Green Sheet, P.O. Box 7187, MurOur "Possible Dream" is a future where any individual with a "terminal" diagnosis can obtain ray, Ut. 84107. one or more VCRs of people with the same specific semi-retire- -- Volunteer Is Not A Dirty Word the position pay, the woman wanted to know. "How much does She was totally taken aback when we explained that virtually all of us are volunteers. "I just dont understand you You Utahns. volunteer for everything." On that basis, she wasnt interested in assisting us with our summer musical production in the park. I thought about it again the other night as four of us went out, wire in hand, to install banners show on said advertising overpasses. It was about the 10th straight year weve done that. "There must be an easier way to spend the summer," I mumbled as we wired the last one into place while people driving under the overpass sent catcalls our way. I sucked blood out of my pricked thumb and wondered again why we keep on doing it. , When a scout earns a merit badge or a young boys life turns around because of a club activity, we all benefit. When that aspiring young artist makes his first sale, Probably because we made a perhaps launching a career, you commitment to our City begin to think that little arts festival may have been important Fathers that we would. after all. Even though the faces of those When the symphony survives City Fathers have changed over to perform another year, youre the years, and new faces have suddenly glad you were able to joined the volunteer band, a core make your small contribution of group keeps right on working. time, talent or money. When the parade passes by and Every year we announce that its about time to turn this a child squeals in delight at the "opportunity" over to someone clown, both sponsor and clown get else. And every year there we are an extra burst of energy. right back in the middle of it. Its not just our community arts Yes, were peculiar. council that does this. I observe the same people putting together Were not a wealthy state. We the July 4th parade and bear a heavy tax burden. Theres celebration year after year, the not a lot left over to really make a city beauty pageant, positive impact on our quality of efforts for the local symphony, art life. We have to do it ourselves. shows, coaching ball teams. In Some of us can afford to support fact, I see the same faces wearing the big downtown cultural events. different in the hats many for many families, its simply But community and then on Sunday, out of the question. We want to those same people are busily our children and ourselves expose in another kind of engaged to music and theatre, to dance, to service. art and baseball. the We was Maybe lady right. are peculiar. We do indeed do a lot of things for nothing. fund-raisin- g Or is it really for nothing? Theres something to be said for the feeling of accomplishment you feel when people troop into the theatre and enjoy a magical evening aimed at the entire family. They go out with smiles on their faces. We know deep down that without our efforts, it would not have probably happened. When a boy earns a college baseball scholarship, there are no doubt a dozen men out there who gave up their summers to help coach him at various levels. Dont they feel something good? When you see a group of young girls transformed into confident to women, ready young successfully interview for a job, sing at a community gathering or snip a ribbon celebrating a new business, you think those pageant workshops just might have merit. Because so many people are willing to volunteer, we can do that. We can have a place to go together for a reasonable price because volunteers augment whatever funds our cities can afford to put into the arts and recreation, their contribution to a quality of life we can all benefit from if we will just do so. Without volunteers, it would quite simply be impossible to provide much of anything. Baseball talent would dry up. Those not good enough to play in a major symphony would put away their instruments after college. Boys (and girls) clubs could not function and kids would roam the streets. Songs would go unsung, dances undanced. But worst of all, you and I, the common people, would have to spend even more time with that big tube in our living room. We couldnt go out and mingle and enjoy and appreciate. So yeah, Ill probably be up there on that overpass again next year putting up those banners. If Im to be paid, it will be only by your smile of satisfaction as someone, perhaps your daughter, dances across the stage. |