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General => General Forum Comments => Topic started by: canada-banknotes on August 10, 2020, 04:22:11 pm

Title: US Treasury Destroying Used Banknotes
Post by: canada-banknotes on August 10, 2020, 04:22:11 pm
Makes you want to cry !! :'(

The US Treasury used to destroy used banknotes by turning them into a pulp to sell on the open market.

This process was done through a macerator, a massive tank fitted with blades that would rotate when operated. As seen in the picture, used notes would be thrown into the top of the macerator, which was located beneath the floor, and chemicals would be added to breakdown the paper and ink. The macerator was usually run for a day, and then the pulp was removed.

Sometimes the pulp would be sold in liquid form. Other times, the pulp would be dried into "blankets" of paper fibers. This material was sold by the pound, usually to the book trade.

The creation and sale of pulp was a moneymaker until the 1930s with sales ending in the 1940s. Then, the Treasury switched to burning old currency.
Title: Re: US Treasury Destroying Used Banknotes
Post by: walktothewater on August 11, 2020, 07:55:35 pm
Interesting. Great photo. Thanks for sharing,
Title: Re: US Treasury Destroying Used Banknotes
Post by: AL-Bob on August 12, 2020, 02:09:48 pm
What part of this makes you want to cry?  It's just the recycling of otherwise worthless paper.

I wonder why they switched to burning, though.  Not enough revenue to cover the costs of making pulp?