Landfills in many parts of the country are jammed to capacity, and attempts to build new ones are invitations to controversy.
Sheep can provide creative alternatives to traditional waste-handling methods.
Sheep's digestive tracts can process materials that otherwise would be treated as waste. And, sheep produce materials that can help manage waste in a more environmentally friendly manner. Petroleum-contaminated soil is placed on an asphalt pad, then mixed with one part wood chips for aeration and moisture, and one part manure for every four parts of soil. The pile is covered with two layers of plastic and in about three months, the microbes in the manure and soil digest the petroleum product, leaving only harmless carbon dioxide and water. Plus, the sheep-manure process aids in land reclamation by adding nutrients to the soil, while incineration results in sterile soil that must be hauled away from the site.