4 Takeaways From Seattle’s Composting Experience

The tiny plastic stickers found on almost every piece of fruit in a grocery store are not biodegradable and contaminate compost.

by Katie Campbell

As curbside composting sprouts in more Northwest cities, what lessons can be learned from Seattle’s program, which was one of the first in the nation? Here’s a hint: One of the biggest lessons involves those tiny stickers on your apples and bananas.


Cruising Puget Sound For Toxic Algae Hot Spots


by Ashley Ahearn

SEATTLE -- Every year toxic algae blooms along the Northwest coast - infecting shellfish and shutting down shellfish beds for harvest. KUOW EarthFix reporter Ashley Ahearn heads out with scientists on the hunt for toxic algae, lying dormant at the bottom of Puget Sound.


Televised Forum on Oregon Forest Plan Produces Sparks


by David Steves, Amelia Templeton

MEDFORD – The loss of federal support to Oregon’s forested counties is fueling a spirited debate about raising the level of logging on those counties. Sparks from that debate were on display Tuesday night on a forum hosted by Southern Oregon Public Television and Earthfix.


Western Idaho Community Split Over Natural Gas Drilling


by Aaron Kunz

NEW PLYMOUTH, Idaho -- As the Idaho Legislature works to develop uniform rules for the natural gas industry this year. The potential drilling for gas has split one town in two. Jared Belanger says the oil and gas industry could mean the difference between success and failure for a business like his. Tina Fisher doesn’t agree. She says the prospect of drilling for natural gas is frightening.


6 Things You Need to Know about Water Rights


by Courtney Flatt

Water rights in Washington state are pretty much handled the way things are in an old Western – finders, keepers. Here are six things you need to know.





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