During the World War II, resources were hard to come by and Governments ran big recycling campaigns to ensure nothing was wasted. Here are a few examples of what was recycled and for what reason…
- Tins and metal were collected for use in aircraft, tanks and weapons.
- Left over food provided feed for pigs, chickens and goats.
- Rubber was recycled to make new tires.
- Boiled bones were recycled to make glue for aircraft or turned into glycerin for bombs.
People were also encouraged to repair belongings as opposed to just buying new ones. Campaigns such as ‘Make Do & Mend’ gave advice on how to recycle textiles and make clothes last longer. Knitting also soared in popularity around this time.
On war time rations, families had to plan meals carefully so as to minimize wastage. Perishable food had to be purchased in small quantities and meals were made with some interesting substitutes. Meat fat was commonly saved to make pastry, and the cream from milk was stored in a jar and shaken to make butter.
It is a shame that it took people such a long time to recognize the importance of recycling, and also that it took such unfortunate circumstances to bring it to our attention. These days, we know the importance of recycling to preserve the Earth’s resources, save money, reduce pollution and help combat climate change.
However, we are still falling well below targets for diverting waste from landfill sites. The uses of recyclable materials may be different now from what they were 60 years ago, but we can still take inspiration from our grandparents.
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