View report page

68
Pig-Bin Nuisance.—It seems that I was somewhat optimistic
in my remarks last year: this summer has seen a flood of
complaints from many residents about the condition of the bins.
A comprehensive inspection of all bins in the Borough was
undertaken and a report was submitted to the Public Health
Committee. In that report I mentioned that the condition of the
bins, especially in the Riverside Wards, was unsatisfactory. I
maintained that I was convinced that, in their present state, some
bins constituted a health danger. In addition to being offensive,
both in smell and appearance, they encouraged the breeding of flies
and they attracted rats. As a consequence of the Health Committee's
consideration of this report the Borough Engineer increased
the number of collections and the cleansing of bins was more
frequently undertaken. It remains to be seen if these measures
will afford any effective improvement.
I am aware that it is National policy and, indeed, an obligation
for pig-food to be collected, but I am satisfied that while there may
be a need for pig-food the nuisances created by the means of its
collection far outweigh any possible economic advantage.
Scavenging and Refuse Disposal.—The collection of refuse
in the Borough is under the control of the Borough Engineer who
has kindly supplied me with the following information:—
"During 1950 the amount of house and trade refuse and street
sweepings collected amounted to 19,150 tons and 1,400 tons respectively,
most of which was tipped into barges alongside the Council's
Tunnel Avenue Depot and then conveyed to controlled tips in the
Thames Estuary.
The increase in tonnage over previous years is accounted for
mainly by the housing development in the Borough and the fact
that salvage had been discontinued from the end of 1949, resulting
in a certain amount of the material or the residue therefrom finding
its way into the refuse bins.
A scheme to improve the method of the collection and disposal
of refuse from flats, was approved by the Council. The system
provides for metal containers to be installed in the dust shoot
chambers to hold the refuse instead of this being allowed to drop
on to the floor of the chamber necessitating it being dug out by the
refuse collector. The container is removable and can be emptied
by mechanical means into a special refuse collecting vehicle. The
cost of this improvement will be in the region of £17,000 including
the purchase of two new special typo refuse collecting vehicles, a
number of galvanised refuse containers and the altering of the
existing dust shoot chambers to take the containers.