Millions from WasteTalbot, Frederick Arthur Ambrose
Philosophy
Millions from Waste
Talbot, Frederick Arthur Ambrose
Salvage (Waste, etc.); Waste products
Certain of our municipalities, fully alive to the value of the waste
incidental to the operations of their abattoirs, are sparing no effort
to utilize such material to the full. However, in many instances,
their enterprise is thwarted by the circumstance that the butchers
making avail of the Corporation facilities extended, possess certain
vested interests which must be honoured. Accordingly it is not possible
to conduct reclamation to such limits as would be attainable were
methods comparable with those prevailing at the Chicago stockyards
in operation. To be able to extract the utmost from the refuse it is
imperative that the authorities should be given unrestricted control
of the animal, preferably absolute ownership. This is the reason
why the big private packing plants are able to achieve such eminent
success. They purchase the live animals, and consequently are free to
exploit them in accordance with the principles they have elaborated.
Nevertheless, despite the difficulties obtaining, much good work
is being accomplished in British circles concerning abattoir waste
exploitation.
The case of Edinburgh may be cited as an illustration. I purposely
select the Scottish city for the reason that--so far as municipalities
are concerned--it is possessed of one of the most up-to-date
installations in the country, is enterprising, and serves to bring
home how vested interests can mar a record of possible achievement by
restrictive action. The blood is sold to a contractor, who, however,
is compelled to sell back to the meat trade such quantities of this
article as may be required. A proportion of the offal is also sold by
the meat trade.
Diseased meat, condemned as unfit for human consumption, is treated by
the authorities in the Scott plant which they have acquired. The waste
is thoroughly sterilized by steam, the residuals, comprising non-edible
tallow, meat fibre and bones being sold. The plant cost £600--$3,000.
The working costs may be set down at approximately £200--$1,000--per
annum, while the income from the sale of the uncertain quantities of
meat of which disposal is made averages about £430--$2,150--per year.
The hoofs and spurs of the feet of cattle, the parings of ox-feet, a
small proportion of waste offal, and the manure originating in the
slaughter-house, are sold by the Corporation. The sum derived from
these sources during the 1917-18 financial year amounted to £533
5s.--$2,666.25--while the revenue from the sale of blood was £437
11s.--$2,187.75. All things considered it must be conceded that the
by-products resulting from the operation of the slaughter-house by
the Corporation of the Scottish city are fully utilized, although the
defects arising from divided responsibility for the development and
disposal of the wastes are obvious.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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