Millions from Waste

John Stuart Mill · en
In the preparation of this work I have been extended liberal and
courteous assistance from numerous sources. I am especially indebted
to the War Office, the National Salvage Council, the Food Production
Department, and the Paper Controller, also to several civic and
municipal authorities, notably of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bradford, and San
Francisco. I have also been fortunate in securing valuable co-operation
from several gentlemen interested in the waste problem, including
Messrs. J. H. Pooley and James Macgregor, of Messrs. Ernest Scott &
Co., Limited, of London, Glasgow, Fall River, Mass., U.S.A., Montreal,
and Buenos Aires; Mr. Jean Schmidt, of Industrial Waste Eliminators,
Limited, London; Winget Limited, London; Mr. H. P. Hoyle, of the
Grange Iron Company, Limited, Durham; Mr. F. N. Pickett, Hove; and J.
Grossmann, Esq., M.A., Ph.D., F.I.C., etc., as well as the Editors of
the _World’s Work_ and _Chambers’s Journal_, to all of whom I express
my best thanks.

  FREDERICK A. TALBOT.

 BRIGHTON, _July 1919_.

CONTENTS

  CHAPTER                                                           PAGE

         PREFACE                                                       5

      I. WASTE: ITS RELATION TO COMMERCE AND NATIONAL ECONOMY          9

     II. THE GERMAN CONQUEST OF WASTE                                 23

    III. SALVAGE FROM THE ARMY SWILL-TUB                              37

     IV. THE RECLAMATION OF MILITARY ORGANIC WASTE                    50

      V. INVENTION IN ITS APPLICATION TO WASTE RECOVERY               63

     VI. SAVING THE SCRAP FROM THE SEA                                80

    VII. WINNING WEALTH FROM SLAUGHTER-HOUSE OFFAL,
           CONDEMNED MEAT, BONES, AND BLOOD                          100

   VIII. TURNING WASTES INTO PAPER                                   117

     IX. SUPPLYING INDUSTRIES FROM THE DUST-BIN                      141

      X. LIVING ON WASTE                                             157

     XI. POTATO WASTE AS AN ASSET TO INDUSTRY                        169

    XII. CONVERTING NITROGENOUS REFUSE INTO SOAP                     183

   XIII. TURNING OLD OIL INTO NEW                                    196

    XIV. BY-PRODUCTS FROM THE WASTE-BIN                              207

     XV. THE LIFTING MAGNET AS A WASTE-DEVELOPING FORCE              225

    XVI. RECLAIMING 321,000,000 GALLONS OF LIQUID FUEL FROM COAL     239

   XVII. FERTILIZERS FROM WASTES                                     249

  XVIII. SAVING THE SEWAGE SLUDGE                                    262

    XIX. HOUSE-BUILDING WITH WASTES                                  278

     XX. THE FUTURE OF THE WASTE PROBLEM; POSSIBILITIES
           FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT                                   297

Millions from Waste

CHAPTER I

WASTE: ITS RELATION TO COMMERCE AND NATIONAL ECONOMY