While mpst of us think of recycling as important today, during World War Ⅱ it was critical to the Allied war effort. The American and Canadian governments created a series of propaganda posters to encourage citizens to recycle tin and other scrap metals, paper, rubber and food waste, among other materials. The posters stand as a historical record of the key role recycling and material conservation played in fighting that war. Conserving materials was the largest theme in poster propaganda, accounting for one of every seven posters during the war, according to the Journal of Advertising. Citizens were encouraged when cooking to save fat and grease for explosives, and ration sugar, meat, butter and coffee for the soldiers. Butchers encouraged the recycling of waste fat by bringing it back to the shop. Car-pooling reduced use of gasoline and rubber, which were in particularly short supply. Groups and individuals organized scrap drives.
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