Photos: Burning Cash For Fuel in Hungary

By Jackie Bargas | Feb 09, 2012 07:53 PM EDT

Banknotes await a quality check at the logistics centre of the National Bank of Hungary in Budapest February 7, 2012. Once they are taken out of circulation, the bank notes are recycled for fuel, and a few charities each year get 20-30 tonnes of paper bricks each. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh
Banknotes await a quality check at the logistics centre of the National Bank of Hungary in Budapest February 7, 2012. Once they are taken out of circulation, the bank notes are recycled for fuel, and a few charities each year get 20-30 tonnes of paper bricks each. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

Annually,Hungary recycles about $1 billion worth of old  forints (currency of Hungary), and converts the worn out currency  into bricks. After which, the bricks are distributed to different charitable organizations . The bricks are used as a heating fuel. This unique government program covers up to a third of the expenses in heating.

Banknotes that are not acceptable anymore are being collected and  sent to  the of the National Bank of Hungary in Budapest for the converting process.

According to Reuters,Hungary is the only country to recycle its worn out cash for heating fuel supplies each year.The bricks are sent to charities, covering some of their heating fuel costs.      

Banknotes undergo a quality check at the logistics centre of the National Bank of Hungary in Budapest February 7, 2012. Once they are taken out of circulation, the bank notes are recycled for fuel, and a few charities each year get 20-30 tons of paper bricks each. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh
Banknotes undergo a quality check at the logistics centre of the National Bank of Hungary in Budapest February 7, 2012. Once they are taken out of circulation, the bank notes are recycled for fuel, and a few charities each year get 20-30 tons of paper bricks each. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh
Banknotes are burned as heating at the Foundation to Help Autism in Miskolc, eastern Hungary February 7, 2012. Hungary is the only country to recycle its worn cash for fuel each year, a total of some $1 billion worth of forints. The bricks are then sent to a few charities, covering up to a third of their annual heating fuel supplies. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh
Banknotes are burned as heating at the Foundation to Help Autism in Miskolc, eastern Hungary February 7, 2012. Hungary is the only country to recycle its worn cash for fuel each year, a total of some $1 billion worth of forints. The bricks are then sent to a few charities, covering up to a third of their annual heating fuel supplies. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh
Banknotes shredded and compressed into heating fuel are distributed at the Foundation to Help Autism in Miskolc, eastern Hungary February 7, 2012. Hungary is the only country to recycle its worn cash for fuel each year, a total of some $1 billion worth of forints. The bricks are then sent to a few charities, covering up to a third of their annual heating fuel supplies. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh
Banknotes shredded and compressed into heating fuel are distributed at the Foundation to Help Autism in Miskolc, eastern Hungary February 7, 2012. Hungary is the only country to recycle its worn cash for fuel each year, a total of some $1 billion worth of forints. The bricks are then sent to a few charities, covering up to a third of their annual heating fuel supplies. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh
Shredded and Compressed Banknotes

Banknotes shredded and compressed into heating fuel are distributed at the Foundation to Help Autism in Miskolc, eastern Hungary February 7, 2012. Hungary is the only country to recycle its worn cash for fuel each year, a total of some $1 billion worth of forints. The bricks are then sent to a few charities, covering up to a third of their annual heating fuel supplies. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

Source: Date:02/09/2012
Banknotes await a quality check at the logistics centre of the National Bank of Hungary in Budapest

Banknotes await a quality check at the logistics centre of the National Bank of Hungary in Budapest February 7, 2012. Once they are taken out of circulation, the bank notes are recycled for fuel, and a few charities each year get 20-30 tonnes of paper bricks each. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

Source: Date:02/09/2012
Banknotes undergo a quality check at the logistics centre of the National Bank of Hungary in Budapest

Banknotes undergo a quality check at the logistics centre of the National Bank of Hungary in Budapest February 7, 2012. Once they are taken out of circulation, the bank notes are recycled for fuel, and a few charities each year get 20-30 tons of paper bricks each. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

Source: Date:02/09/2012
Burning the money

Banknotes are burned as heating at the Foundation to Help Autism in Miskolc, eastern Hungary February 7, 2012. Hungary is the only country to recycle its worn cash for fuel each year, a total of some $1 billion worth of forints. The bricks are then sent to a few charities, covering up to a third of their annual heating fuel supplies. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

Source: Date:02/09/2012
This article is copyrighted by IBTimes.com.au, the business news leader

Join the Conversation

Back to Top
Leave Comment