The Home Front
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Nebraskans Tighten their Belts:
Recycling Scrap Materials

Along with rationing, Nebraskans became well educated in the art of collecting scrap materials. These could be recycled into weapons and other equipment essential to the war effort. Scrap iron was the most obvious choice for collectors. Papers were the easiest to get and were reused for packaging weapons.

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Camp Fire Girls
Mag Me! Camp Fire girls with the scrap they collected in September 1942.

"Disposables" such as grease, were used to manufacture explosives and artificial rubber. Leftover food grease was used to manufacture ammunition.

Due to the shortage of metals during the war, major appliances were hard to get. There were waiting lists for these scarce items.