Why did housewives sell their used kitchen grease back to the grocer?

Question

i was listening to an old radio program (post-WWII i think) this a.m. and an ad told housewives that they could sell their used kitchen grease back to the grocer for $.04/lb. what did the grocer do with it?? why would he want it back? (i wasn't sure where to ask this...)

Answer 1

Cooking fats and grease were used in making explosives for the war effort.

One of the byproduct of bio-fuels is glycerin.  The glycerin is converted to nitroglycerin (or similar compound) which is an explosive.

From the website below...

" The War Production Board urged citizens to save the fat that came from cooking so that it could be used for making explosives.  Housewives were reminded that glycerin, made from waste fats and greases, was one of the most critical materials needed for the war effort. Three pounds of fat could provide enough glycerin to make a pound of gunpowder.  Nearly 350 pounds of fat was needed to fire one shell from a 12-inch Naval gun."

Answer 2

I was born in 1940 so I I was rather young 42 - 47 and never paid much attention.. But I remember mom saved the bacon grease..

BUT

If I immagne,,,, it was sold to be rendered to lard or soap..

9

9

what happened to check spelling  

Answer 3

they probably cleaned it and resold it do to a crop shortage, remember a large large percentage to the male work force went to fight, and men mainly worked in the fields. I know one of the WW or maybe even both put all of their resources into the war, like cotton, rubber, metal, etc.

Answer 4

he was making bio fuel.

used oil was used in a drip burner to produce heat long before people discovered it could be used to power vehicles.

Answer 5

I'm not sure about then, but now restaurants sell their used fry oil to companies that chemically alter it into biodiesel, an alternative fuel source for diesel engines.