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132
House Refuse.
I wish again to emphasize the importance of sufficient and suitable
dustbin accommodation. Dustbins should be uniform in size, and
must possess tightly fitting covers. In a thickly populated district it is
important that they should be emptied frequently and at regular intervals.
I am strongly of the opinion that a bi-weekly collection should be made
in the hot months of the year.
Under the present circumstances it does not appear possible to
collect the whole of the refuse once a week, and I regret to know that
the circular issued to the householders by the Council last September
did not meet with great success.
The circular stated "it is to be hoped that all occupiers will confine
the accumulation of refuse to its lowest limits, and that they will, where
possible, employ other means of destroying, by burning, etc., all combustible
matter, and all decomposing organic matter, such as vegetable
and flesh waste, so that, should the present service of collection be
unfortunately cut down, there will be less likelihood of inconvenience
and ill-health amongst the community. Occupiers should avoid resorting
to the dustbin with such otherwise easily disposed of articles as waste
paper, old clothes, cloths, garden cuttings, etc., which are found in large
quantities in the dustbins of the Borough, and which constitute in bulk
a very heavy charge on the rates for collection and disposal. The
estimates for the current year for removal of house refuse amount to
£7,800, a sum which, by improved habits of the people could be greatly
reduced."
This was followed by another circular, which I give in full:—
COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF REFUSE.
The Deptford Borough Council regrets being under the
necessity of again cautioning the occupiers of premises within
the Borough on the matter of the disposal of House Refuse
("Dust") and Trade Refuse.
Occupiers will remember that a notice was served to them
on this subject dated September last, and though some diminution
in the volume of combustible waste thrown in the dustbin has
since been observable, the extent to which compliance has been
made to the request has been very slight.
Since the date of the notice referred to the difficulties of the
position have increased, and, unless the volume of refuse is very
considerably reduced, the Borough Council has reason to fear that
with the restriction of navigation on the river, owing to Admiralty
orders, the very small number of barges and river craft now
available for the work owing to Government requirements, and