At first sight this figure seems so startling as to be received with incredulity, but analysis suffices to demonstrate that it does not err upon the side of exaggeration. Rather is it conservative. It is based upon an allowance of 1,680 lb. a day for each 1,000 members of the total population during 300 days of the year. An allowance of 1·68 lb. per head per day wastage cannot be construed as excessive. How many households of six persons can show a weekly dust-bin collection weighing less than 60 lb. especially when the extremely varied contents of the receptacle are born in mind? Now, of what is the heterogeneous collection of the dust-bin composed, and what is the proportion of each to the aggregate? The following table, based upon the data collected by the official department already mentioned, shows-- Material. | Average |Total per | Estimated Value. |Percentage.| Year. | --------------------------|-----------|----------|--------------------- | | Tons. | £ | $ Fine dust | 50·98 | 4,800,000| 240,000| 1,200,000 Cinders | 39·63 | 3,700,000| 1,850,000| 9,250,000 Bricks, pots, shales, etc.| 5·35 | 500,000| 25,000| 125,000 Tins | 0·98 | 90,000| 360,000| 1,800,000 Rags | 0·40 | 37,000| 555,000| 2,775,000 Glass | 0·61 | 50,000| 100,000| 500,000 Bones | 0·05 | 4,000| -- | -- Vegetable matter | 0·72 | 68,000| -- | -- Scrap iron | 0·06 | 5,000| 15,000| 75,000 Shells (oyster, etc.) | 0·08 | 7,000| -- | -- Paper | 0·62 | 58,000| 400,000| 2,000,000 From these figures it is evident that the dust-bin is a veritable treasure ground. Of course the values are subject to market fluctuations, but it is apparent that a round £3,000,000--$15,000,000--more or less, a year, is being allowed to fly up the chimney to vanish in smoke and gases, and to extend very meagre return for its combustion.