London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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37
Stale bread and cakes, etc., are given to poor persons through the agency of charitable
institutions. Some are sent to kennels and rat farms, manufactured into dog biscuits or disposed
of with pig wash.
Surplus green vegetables from wholesale markets are either sold for cattle fodder or used as
manure.
The sources of fish offal are: wholesale markets, wet and dry fishmongers, fish frying Fish offal,
establishments, hotels, restaurants and catering firms.
It is disposed of by being removed as trade refuse or sold to contractors.
It is noteworthy that one large firm eventually obtains most of the fish offal in London,
other contractors disposing of it to them. They utilise it for the following purposes : fish oil,
feeding meals for cattle and poultry, fertilisers.
Below are the amounts collected by this firm from various sources in 1935:—
Billingsgate market 668 tons
Direct collection from fishmongers, etc., in greater London 10,835 „
Purchased from other contractors in greater London 11,055 „
Of the last two amounts, about 13,802 tons (60 per cent.) were collected from premises
situate in the county of London.
Several large catering firms, and the majority of small dining room proprietors, place all
waste food with the house refuse or have it removed by the local authority as trade refuse.
Quantity of
waste food
handled.
It has not been possible to obtain particulars from all firms, etc., visited, but information as set out in the following statement has been secured:—
Table 43
| Firm | Wash | Fat | Bones | Fat and bonos | Fish offal | Bread, etc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,210 skips per week | 300 tons per annum | 10,000 lbs. per week | - | 484 tons per annum | Large amount 3 tons per week (in wash) | |
| B | 72 galls, per day. | Rendered for dripping. | 3 tons per week | - | - | |
| C | 3 tons per week | 1 ton per week | 3 tons per week | |||
| — | — | — | 150 tons per week | — | — | |
| E | — | — | 80 tons per week | — | - | |
| F | — | — | — | 75 tons per week | - | |
| G | — | 50 tons per week | - | |||
| H | — | 35 tons per week | - | |||
| I | — | 6 tons per week | - | |||
| J | 1 ton per week | - | ||||
| — | — | — | 50 tons per week | — | - | |
| - | 200 tons per week | 300 tons per week | - | — | - | |
| - | - | - | - | 13,802 tons per annum | - | |
| 14 tons per week | - | - | - | - | - | |
| o | 60 tons per week | - | - | - | - | - |
| P | 50 tons per week | 8 tons per week | - | - | - | - |
| - | - | 11½ tons perannum | - | - | - |