On October 7, 1942, the Boulder City News ran an article requesting all Boulder City housewives to recycle. The Nevada State Salvage Committee was in need of household waste cooking fats in order to produce glycerin, which was a byproduct for manufacturing various wartime products.

According to the Nevada Salvage Committee’s research, one pound of waste cooking fats produced enough glycerin required to manufacture 1.3 pounds of gun powder, to fire four 37 mm. anti-aircraft shells, to manufacture two pounds of dynamite, to fabricate three gas mask bags of cellophane, or to manufacture one fifth of a pound of nitro-glycerin. Two pounds of waste cooking fats produced enough glycerin required to fire five 37 mm. anti-tank shells. Fifty pounds of waste cooking fats produced enough glycerin to manufacture synthetic resins, which produced enough paint to coat one medium war tank. Seventy pounds of waste filled the requirements for the recoil mechanism of a 5 inch anti-aircraft gun. And, eighty pounds of fats produced enough glycerin required for one depth-charge release mechanism.

Nevada’s quota per month was 30,000 pounds, which was more than 6 times the original estimate. All Nevadans were called upon to do their part to support the war efforts.

"Afternoon Breeze" by Roy W. Butler