A project to test whether compost helps stabilize the slopes of highwayditches is underway. Jeff Geertz of the Iowa Department of NaturalResources believes compost can reduce soil erosion along the steep slopes ofnewly-constructed highways.Geertz believes grasses and other plants get a better root start in compostthan in the hard clay of a newly-graded roadside.Geertz believes compost could be used on 15-hundred acres of newly-gradedroadside each year, but the first compost test site will be along Highway 5.He says if the project’s successful, the 60 facilities in Iowa which giveaway compost might start making some money by selling it to roadcontractors.