For Your Information
What is rendering?
Recycling is a word synonymous with rendering.
Inedible parts of slaughtered animals and poultry,
such as fat, bone and offal, are moved through
grinders via conveyors into sealed high pressure
steam vessels. The hot liquid fat is separated
from the solid (protein) material and pumped
into holding tanks.
More than 150 million pounds of waste animals
by-products are discarded daily. An organized
network of renderers, concentrating in areas
of greatest supply, pay for this "waste" animal
material from slaughter houses, packaging plants,
butcher shops, markets, hotels, restaurants,
hospitals, etc. Fallen animals are also collected
from farms, ranches and feedlots.
If it were not for the collection efforts of
the rendering industry, this mountain of materials
would create an immense ecological problem
and tax burden.
How does rendering affect my life?
Less than 45% of the average steer finds its
way to the supermarket meat counter. The discarded
meat scrap, hides and bones are sold to renderers.
If this waste material was not recycled, the
price consumers pay for meat would invariably
be higher. |
In the United States, 50% of raw steel production,
20% of paper and 5% of glass is reused. Renderers
continually recycle 95-100% of discarded material
into useful saleable products. This represents
the most successful and efficient recycling effort
in the world today.
The rendering industry annually contributes
more than $1 billion to the Gross National
Product and is responsible for more than 400
million trade dollars into this country. Of
the more than 5 billion pounds of animal fat
produced by U.S. renderers, almost half is
exported. The best quality fat and tallow in
the world comes from the United States. Practically
everyone today lives better and more economically
through the efforts of renderers.
How are rendering products used?
Animal fat in refined forms is used in hundreds
of commercial products and applications. Jet
turbine engine and other high heat and pressure
lubricants are made from highly saturated fats.
All rubber production, including tires, both
in synthetic and natural, utilize animal fats.
Fatty acids are a major raw material in plastic
paints and varnishes, cleaners, polishes, soaps
(liquid and solid), water repellents, cosmetics,
and many more. |
