22 Jun In a period of life and dining that is fine Bob Combs turns free leftovers into slop for their hogs, a lot of which fundamentally land back on Las Vegas casinos’ buffets.

Nevada pig farmer relishes part as recycler

Nevada pig farmer relishes role as recycler In a period of life and dining that is fine Bob Combs turns free leftovers into slop for his hogs, lots of which eventually land straight back on Las Vegas gambling enterprises' buffets.

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All you could can not eat, pigs will

In a period of life and fine dining, Bob Combs turns free leftovers from Vegas casino buffets into slop for their hogs, lots of which eventually land back on the buffet lines.

By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Days

Photography and video clip by Michael Robinson Chavez, l . a . Times

Reporting from North Las Vegas, Nevada, Nev.

W ith a happy grin, farmer Bob Combs watches the big vehicle slowly dump its greasy load, a Niagara Falls of yesterday's kitchen area leftovers that sends off a sickening spray since it splashes into a steel container.

Now a brand new, less finicky clientele awaits 2,500 pigs on Combs' hog farm, a ramshackle spread of pens simply 10 miles from the resort city's gleaming resort restaurants. a stench that is nose-insulting the air.

"What smell?" the farmer asks by having a wry laugh. "Ahhhh, that is g d. It don't bother me. In my experience, it is like walking past a bakery."

All day every day, Combs oversees a procedure in which the noxious mulch is steamed, washed and culled for such impurities as synthetic bags, champagne containers and, when, a loaded .38-caliber pistol.

After that, it is the right time to ring the hog farm's supper bell.

For half a century, a long time before the nation's "green" frenzy, the 72-year-old Combs has recycled not only meals but also cardboard, plastic, scrap iron, outdated milk — you name it. He's certainly one of southern Nevada's most visionary yet controversial business owners and, over time, has serviced just about any casino regarding the Strip.