A toothpick is a tool used in everyday life that ordinarily after its use, is immediately thrown away. In Albert H. Baird’s patent description on his own composition of a toothpick, he states his design’s “...cost of manufacture is so low that [the] improved tooth pick can be economically thrown away after being used but once (Baird, 1910).” Although he associates this idea with his own design, it’s a commonality of the current view of toothpicks. Before the last toothpick factory in Maine closed down in 2003, the main raw material used in production was birch logs. The production was seen as inexpensive in monetary value, a few birch logs able to produce around 20 million toothpicks. Logs were placed in a debarker where the bark was removed
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O. Sigu, J. G. Kariuki, A. M Luvanda and B.N. Kigomo of Production-to-Consumption Systems: A Case Study of the Bamboo Sector in Kenya, the many locals living in the urban, peri-urban, and rural areas gain income from the bamboo industry. Their jobs range from “...harvesting [,] assembling, transportation, processing, packaging, and marketing (Ongugo, Sigu, Karuiki, Luvanda, and Kigomo, vii).” The production of toothpicks is a quickly growing business and only uses a small quantity of bamboo. The annual income provided by bamboo related products is Ksh. 441227 [$5550.58]. The upkeep that includes labour, transport, purchase of raw materials, etc. is Ksh. 323 730 [$4072.48] which leads to Ksh. 117 495 [$1472.84] total profit a year(Ongugo, P. O., et al., table 9, 22). Unfortunately, most harvesters don’t own land and, “[25%] of the collectors reported earning less than Ksh. 1 000 [ $12.54] per year, 25 % earned between Ksh. 1 000 [$12.54] and Ksh 3 000 [$37.61] while 50 % earned Ksh. 3 001 [$37.62] to 5 000 [$62.68] (Ongugo, P. O., et al., …show more content…
The ban on exploitation was issued in 1982 and wasn’t effective since bamboo regrew so quickly and only managed to increase grafting and corruption. Majority of bamboo harvested is done illegally, because it was only legal to harvest bamboo with a special license in state forests. Bamboo soon became a resource that was only available to people with influence. The government 's ban on harvesting bamboo, and its refusal to recognize it as a minor product left many entrepreneurs at a disadvantage. Despite the ban, there is still a demand for bamboo products. The bamboo industry in Kenya is still fairly new and could bring more profits and prosperity if some changes were made. There is a lack of recognition for what bamboo is capable of, and its positive effects on the economy and the locals’ wealth. The ban was placed in paranoia even though there was no overall reduction in the number of bamboo that required it. The community should be involved and taught how to maintain the bamboo product
O. Sigu, J. G. Kariuki, A. M Luvanda and B.N. Kigomo of Production-to-Consumption Systems: A Case Study of the Bamboo Sector in Kenya, the many locals living in the urban, peri-urban, and rural areas gain income from the bamboo industry. Their jobs range from “...harvesting [,] assembling, transportation, processing, packaging, and marketing (Ongugo, Sigu, Karuiki, Luvanda, and Kigomo, vii).” The production of toothpicks is a quickly growing business and only uses a small quantity of bamboo. The annual income provided by bamboo related products is Ksh. 441227 [$5550.58]. The upkeep that includes labour, transport, purchase of raw materials, etc. is Ksh. 323 730 [$4072.48] which leads to Ksh. 117 495 [$1472.84] total profit a year(Ongugo, P. O., et al., table 9, 22). Unfortunately, most harvesters don’t own land and, “[25%] of the collectors reported earning less than Ksh. 1 000 [ $12.54] per year, 25 % earned between Ksh. 1 000 [$12.54] and Ksh 3 000 [$37.61] while 50 % earned Ksh. 3 001 [$37.62] to 5 000 [$62.68] (Ongugo, P. O., et al., …show more content…
The ban on exploitation was issued in 1982 and wasn’t effective since bamboo regrew so quickly and only managed to increase grafting and corruption. Majority of bamboo harvested is done illegally, because it was only legal to harvest bamboo with a special license in state forests. Bamboo soon became a resource that was only available to people with influence. The government 's ban on harvesting bamboo, and its refusal to recognize it as a minor product left many entrepreneurs at a disadvantage. Despite the ban, there is still a demand for bamboo products. The bamboo industry in Kenya is still fairly new and could bring more profits and prosperity if some changes were made. There is a lack of recognition for what bamboo is capable of, and its positive effects on the economy and the locals’ wealth. The ban was placed in paranoia even though there was no overall reduction in the number of bamboo that required it. The community should be involved and taught how to maintain the bamboo product