The waste paper and scrap metal collection system in the USSR was a unique socio-economic phenomenon. It was not just a method of waste disposal, but a massive state program that encompassed all levels of society—from schoolchildren to industrial giants. It addressed several tasks simultaneously: supplying industry with cheap raw materials, conserving natural resources, and educating citizens.
Here are the main aspects of this system in comparison:
| Aspect | Waste Paper Collection | Scrap Metal Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Main Participants | Schoolchildren (especially Pioneers), adult readers. | Schoolchildren, industrial enterprises. |
| Motivation for Citizens | Schoolchildren: competitions, certificates, camp vouchers. Adults: the opportunity to buy scarce books (e.g., Dumas, Jules Verne) for 20 kg of waste paper. | Schoolchildren: competitions between classes and schools, certificates of honor, pennants, ice cream or movie tickets. A sense of being part of an important cause. |
| Organization and Control | Mandatory quotas for schools, competitions (“collection scoreboard”), help from pensioners by “special arrangement.” | Planned quotas for schools and enterprises. Control through Komsomol and administration. Mass campaigns. |
| Collection and Processing | State collection points. Collected raw materials were used to produce paper and cardboard. | State associations “Vtorchermet” (for ferrous metals) and “Vtortsvetmet” (for non-ferrous metals). Enterprises delivered scrap for processing themselves. |
| Curiosities and Underhanded Practices | Tricks with weight (Lenin tomes inside bundles), fraud at collection points (underweighing), speculation with book vouchers. In rural areas, waste paper was sometimes simply burned due to transportation issues. | The enthusiasm of schoolchildren sometimes led to the theft of cables, rails, or other property mistakenly taken, or taken out of a desire to “win,” as scrap. |
The Waste Paper Collection System
Waste paper collection was widely established in the 1960s and 70s. The state was combating paper shortages and conserving forests.
-
The Role of Schoolchildren: Pioneers were the main force. Twice a year, in spring and autumn, schools turned into collection points for old newspapers, magazines, and notebooks. Every child knew the slogan: “Turn in 20 kg of waste paper — save a tree.” Quotas were set for schools, and their fulfillment was monitored.
-
Motivation and Adult Tricks: For adults, the main incentive was book shortages. By turning in 20 kg of waste paper, one could get a voucher and buy collected works of popular foreign authors. This gave rise to irony: to get a volume of Dumas, people would turn in hefty volumes of Lenin’s collected works or party pamphlets, stuffing them into the middle of a bundle for weight. Soap or laundry detergent could also be given in exchange for waste paper.
The Scrap Metal Industry
Scrap metal collection was no less important, as smelting steel from scrap cost the state significantly less than smelting it from ore.
-
The State Approach: The system was strictly centralized. In 1940, scrap metal was declared a strategic resource. All work was directed by powerful structures — “Vtorchermet” (for ferrous metals) and “Vtortsvetmet” (for non-ferrous metals). Industrial enterprises were obliged to hand over scrap, delivering it themselves to processing plants.
-
Child Enthusiasm and “Excesses”: Schoolchildren actively participated in collection competitions. They looked for scrap metal in yards and vacant lots. Their enthusiasm sometimes went too far: discarded pipes and rebar were collected, but old rails neatly stacked near railways, or a spool of cable, could also be “accidentally” taken. Adults, in turn, might steal a manhole cover, which was a criminal offense.
Interestingly, this well-organized system began to collapse with perestroika, when centralized planning and control disappeared.
Did your family have any experience with waste paper or scrap metal collection during Soviet times? Feel free to share any stories you remember.