Recycling should be encouraged with the development of recycling centers , educational programs , and development of cost effective collection sites for the disposal of large items such as household appliances , tires , used machinery , etc .
We recommend that a deposit of $. 10 per unit be required on all carry out cans and bottles , and that the sellers of such beverages be required to refund the deposit when containers are returned .
We recommend that recyclers be allowed to sell household recyclables without an identification to facilitate an increase in recycling .
We urge the Solid Waste Authority to promote and implement composting facilities with the agricultural community to help reduce the bulk of materials going to landfills . It is urgently recommended that laws that establish procedures for the disposition of household trash and garbage be amended to permit the controlled burning of all paper products outside of municipalities .
We oppose any efforts to amend , grandfather provisions into , or dismantle laws which give citizens the right to petition for a referendum on proposed commercial infectious waste facilities in their communities .
106 . SUBSIDENCE DAMAGE CAUSED BY MINING
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports the enforcement of existing laws and the development of additional laws pertaining to all mining . The West Virginia Farm Bureau urges that existing laws be more strictly enforced and that additional laws be created that address subsidence issues related to farming and agribusiness . This is particularly true in the area of water loss from farm ponds , springs and the water table . Water loss in the water table affects osmosis preventing underground water from nourishing deep roots of trees and crops . This can deprive producers of the ability to grow crops on their land permanently .
Because the effects of subsidence can be irreversible , compensation must be adequate to the loss incurred . Farm Bureau recommends three independent appraisals to assess damages and insure proper compensation .
107 . AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREES
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports funding for the development and reestablishment of the American Chestnut .
108 . TIMBER MANAGEMENT AND HARVESTING
West Virginia Farm Bureau opposes any changes in current laws that would restrict the ability of landowners or businesses to harvest timber and manage woodland , provided best management practices are used where applicable .
109 . NATIONAL FOREST TIMBER
The federal government owns a major portion of our standing timber . West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends that the U . S . Department of Agriculture continue its policy on the harvesting of this timber and permit the U . S . Forest Service to identify and selectively cut marketable timber and sell it on the open market with proceeds of the sale going to the county in which the sale occurs , and that all saleable timber be removed . We further recommend the USDA actively follows their established silviculture policy and Congressional mandates on the harvesting of this timber .
110 . HARVESTING OF DEAD TREES IN STATE FORESTS
Much of the state owned forests contain dead trees . This situation is caused largely by insect and blight damage and drought . Harvesting of dead timber would be beneficial . Not only would harvesting eliminate undesirable dead trees , it would generate revenue that could be used to further combat the gypsy moth and other harmful insects . West Virginia Farm Bureau also recommends , to protect users , dead and dying trees be removed from the recreational areas of the state parks .
It is further recommended that the harvesting be done before deterioration in quality of the dead trees begins . A bidding process could be used to ascertain that the highest return possible on the harvest would be received .
28 West Virginia Farm Bureau News