The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-05-22
Municipal Waste Reclamation.

Municipal Waste Reclamation.
The war is not ended America is
engaged in a struggle which knows no
armistice or peace terms. The struggle
for the preservation Of our national
resources, bitter in the past, has been
but intensified by the war. The un-
precedented demand for raw material
50 essential to the needs Of our war in
dustries. intensified the conservation
and utilization of waste material. This
has resulted in scarcity of the sub
stitutes for virgin raw material and
unless our efforts for conservation are
continued, the natural resources must
be utilized as soon as our industries re-
sumo operation at full capacity.
Waste material is the protector Of
our natural resourcesl Waste paper
rags. and other waste material can be
used in new forms, thereby decreasing
the annual consumption of virgin mate
rial. The conservation of this material
must be continued in order to save our
natural wealth for future needs.
The present turn-in Of waste mate
rial, resulting from the spring collec-
tions. is indicative of the influence Of
the war. The waste dealers report that
this is the lightest collection in the
history Of the trade. The cause Of this
Lies in several factors. The volunteer
movement for collection of waste ma.
| terial resulted in a tremendous 5Ern-in
during the last two years. Civic bodies
charitable organizations, and women s
clubs all contributed to this movement
Of waste material which brought to the
market the Accommodations Of regions
heretofore untouched by the commercial
collector.
A second factor lies in our relief and
recreational work overseas. Thousands
of tons Of worn clothing, which in the
ordinary course Of events would have
been remanufactured in the waste in
dustry, have been sent overseas to
lothe the destitute of Europe. Thous-
nds of tons of books, papers, and mag
vines, which can be utilized in the
manufacture of other grades of paper,
were sent to our troops overseas. This
material will be discarded In foreign
fields, thereby decreasing to an appre-
ciable degree the amount of raw mate
rial available for the manufactures OF
this country.
The third cause lies in the price sit
uation. Waste material prices have
been steadily declining since last fall
The collectors and assorters have been
forced to stay out Of the market, which
in many instances has resulted in the
destruction OF waste material in the
home or the factory. The consuming
mills, meeting lull in orders, have
decreased their orders and the organic
ed commercial field for conservation
must await strengthening note; but
when the demand comes, the shortage
Of material will be felt and prices will
increase and will doubtless be main
tanned for some time.
The most important factor in the sit
uation is the collector. The collector,
II junkman, is the foundation of the
waste industry. At best, he has made
Aut a precarious livelihood The larger
and constant earnings to be secured
in the war industries were RESPONSE
bic for many collectors abandoning the
field. Nor has the cessation Of hos
tilities resulted in any marked move
ment on their part to resume their pre-
vious occupation, and it cannot be pre-
dicted with any degree of certainty
when such movement will occur.
Tn view Of such conditions, it is nec-
essary for America to intensity her
campaign for conservation and to
evolve programs to meet the situation.
ia system Of collection has been de-
veloped in Akron, Ohio, which may as
sist in solving the difficulty. A cons
munity incorporated waste-saving sys-
tenn has been in successful operation for
some time in that city. The Waste
Reclamation Service Of the Department
of Commerce has recently published a
rar ort on the working Of this project.
+ erv industry, trade body, or organi-
sation interested in conservation should
secure copy of the report of the Akron
Industrial Salvage company movement,
which ay be had free on application
to tho Waste Reclamation Service, De-
partment of Commerce, Washington,
ID. 9. Iii it lies the answer in part
TO the pro- lem Of how America shall
proceed ii conservation Of her nat
nral resources
Battery e bavs want to get back
to work and get back to work quick.