Genealogy Chat

I've just received my maternal great grandfather's death certificate - he died in 1931. His occupation is listed as "Waste Paper Merchant".

Would anyone know what that occupation entailed in the 1930's?

Thank you.

Have you tried a google search? There are probably better sites but as an example the following includes this:

'1921 - The British Waste Paper Association is established (initially as the Association of London Waste Paper Merchants) to help develop the trade in waste paper for recycling.'

http://www.ancestryaid.co.uk/boards/family-history-genealogy-information/1233-history-waste-recovery.html

Jan

I gues it came from the 1920 and the terrible ressesion ....a form of recycling!!

I wondered about 'recycling', Kemp, as it would have been through the Depression years.

I did google it Jan but I'll have a look at the link you have posted - thank you.

My OH suggested that the paper may have been compacted and made into 'bricks' to use in the fireplace.

I've just read the link Jan - very interesting. So - recycling isn't a new concept after all.

Where did he live?

Rose

Rose - he lived in Bramley (Leeds) West Yorkshire.

Paper is recycled to make new paper which was/is used for newspapers etc.,

Rather like the rag & bone man, there would have been very little waste products that were not recyclable.


Rags & Paper pulped to make more paper. Rags from 'posh' houses these clothes were probably resold!

Bone - crushed for glue

Thank you PP.

At Thames Board Mills in Purfleet (googled but not much info) recycled paper and I seem to recall other stuff was processed and made into different qualities of cardboard which was then used in making cardboard products (boxes etc)

Not much info I am afraid - just remember my Dad mentioning something of what he did when he worked there - and a very strong memory of being told NOT to put paper into my mouth as he knew what went into it when making it!

So the paper and whatever else must have come from somewhere to be processed

Thank you JA - I'm thinking that my great grandfather must have collected waste paper and sold it on to companies that processed the waste into paper and cardboard.