Some days I yearn for a simpler time. A time when the local town dump was nothing more than a smoldering, uncovered, rodent infested pile of refuse on the edge town. Back in these days pigs would eat our garbage and we in turn would eat the pigs. As long as you thoroughly cooked your bacon and ham the specter of trichinosis was kept at bay. It the summer it was advisable to keep your pants tucked into your socks to avoid rat bites carrying Murine Typhus or Weil’s disease.
I’m being sarcastic of course but the state of refuse collection of the early 50’s resembles little of the modern and mostly clean methods of the 21st century.
In this period film Caterpillar took a look at the various methods of waste disposal and offered their take on the new method of cut, fill, and cover. Of course, Caterpillar equipment features prominently in the film with an interesting non hydraulic lift bucket setup. I found it interesting that most of the garbage shown in this film would be considered recyclable today.
What an age we live in.