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59
large communal bins housed in chambers situated at the bases of
chutes into which each individual occupier deposits their refuse.
The scheduled frequency of collection throughout the Borough
is once weekly except where in a number of pre-war built blocks of
flats sufficient bin storage capacity has not been provided, collections
have of necessity to be made twice weekly and in a few cases
three times weekly. Under new powers given by the London
County Council (General Powers) Act, 1959, it is now possible to
enforce the provision of adequate bin storage capacity with satisfactory
accommodation in all new buildings or alterations to
existing ones.
Similarly, as occurs in the scavenging section of the Works
Department, there is still some difficulty in recruiting suitable
able-bodied employees who are prepared to undertake this arduous
form of labour and fill the vacancies which occur on the retirement
of the existing ageing employees or take the place of those absent
from work on account of sickness.
Refuse Disposal
The whole of the household refuse collected totalling 21,619
tons less the 861 tons of salvaged materials was deposited into
barges at the river jetty which forms part of the Council's Tunnel
Avenue Depot, and transported by these barges down the Thames
and disposed of by controlled tipping over low-lying waste land
near the mouth of the river. Trade refuse amounting to 291 tons
was also disposed of in the same manner. This barging away and
disposal of the refuse is undertaken by a Contractor employed by
the Council.
During recent years efforts have been made to provide an
alternative means of disposal of household and trade refuse by
controlled tipping after transportation in the Council's own
vehicles into disused chalk pits in Kent and over the low-lying disused
land at the extreme eastern end of the Woolwich Arsenal, but
without success up to the present. The possibility of disposal of
refuse by composting as a further alternative is still being pursued.
The 861 tons of salvaged materials collected during the year
was disposed of by sales amounting to £6.702 made up as follows:
Scrap Metal — 67 tons — £392
Waste Paper — 758 tons — £5,669
Rags, etc. — 36 tons — £641
An income of £991 was obtained from the charges made by
the Council for the collection and/or disposal of 291 tons of trade
refuse arising from business premises in the Borough.