VII. BONES

43% of the sample collect bones regularly.

This figure must be judged in light of the fact that certain towns tell their housewives that they can put the bones into the dustbin, as they will be picked out mechanically at the refuse centre. How far this method is efficient is difficult to judge.

There is no age difference, but a small difference between social groups is recognisable:-

As the number of regular collectors of bones is much smaller than for food waste or paper, the figures for each individual town are small, the marginal error high, and the differences in figures for each not reliable enough to allow of discussion.

So far as the reasons for differences can be analysed, they seem to depend mainly on the form of collection and the provision of containers. The town with the greatest number of regular collectors has a regular salvage day every week; people were originally told and continually reminded that they had to put out tins, paper, rags and bones.

Another town experimented by tying a sack to the lamp-post above the food-bin as a receptacle for bones. Although difficulties were experienced (large numbers of sacks were stolen and presumably used as sandbags and many more were damaged by dogs who jumped at them and tore holes in them to get at the bones) this town is now rather more conscious of bone collection. It is hoped to replace the sacks with tins.

In a third town, the housewives were told to place their bones beside the refuse - and, contrary to popular belief - these are rigorously separated from the refuse. Every back-court in the town has to be swept twice weekly, and the men employed for this task are provided with sacks for the purpose of collecting bones.

No special national appeal was made for bones, though in the general campaigns for salvage, bones are always mentioned.

No special local campaign took place, but bones were often specially mentioned in connection with campaigns for other types of salvage.

“Local campaign, house-to-house canvass, and delivery of pamphlets asking for paper, metal, bones.” “Establishing a salvage depot in every street for paper, bones, metal and rags.” “Delivery of circulars to every house asking housewives to salvage paper, metal, rubber, rags, bones and food-waste.” “Wireless relay service demanding paper, metal and bone salvage.” “Shop window and demonstration of what happens to salvage such as bones.”

The reasons given why bones are not collected are:

“Don’t get any.” “Only a few, and can’t keep for a month.” “Have none, only have a chop or two.” “Put it in pig-bin.” “I take them to the ragman.” “Don’t use much meat.” “Rarely have any.” “Usually throw them away, never thought of saving them.” “Give them to dog.” “Such a little; goes into dustbin.”