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.
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Arthur Richards
Contributor, Charlton Catalogue of Canadian Government Paper Money, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd and 29th Edition
Pricing Panel Member, Charlton Catalogue of Canadian Government Paper Money, 21st Edition 2009
