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and partly on a capital basis by internal borrowing.
Refuse Vehicles
Where dustless loading operates, the Council has standardised on the Dennis "Paxit
Major" Mark 3A vehicle which incorporates a compression device for securing as substantial a
load of refuse as possible. The refuse is moved into the vehicle from the loading box by means
of a draw-plate which acts in conjunction with a compression plate forcing the refuse into the
vehicle so that some 35 to 50 cubic yards of loose refuse is accommodated and a load of upwards
of 5 tons obtained.
Where dustless loading does not apply yet, the main vehicle in use is the Shelvoke and
Drewry fore-and-aft tipper, which has proved itself in service a sound and reliable vehicle.
Method and Frequency of Collection
Mainly as a result of work study, about 60% of the Borough is now given a twice weekly
collection of household refuse (Mondays and Thursdays; Tuesdays and Fridays) and the remainder
a once weekly collection (Wednesdays), selection being made to give the greater frequency of collection
— as far as possible — to those areas having greatest need, i.e. those where property is
in substantial multiple occupation.
Bulk Refuse Collection from Flats.
Refuse Bins
These are mainly 30 cu.ft. steel bins, 3 ft. in diameter and approximately 3'9" high.
The earlier bins were moved into and out of their housings on a trolley supplied with the vehicle,
but the majority of the bins are now mounted on casters and cost £24.2s.6d. per bin plus £3.2s.6d.
for lid where required. They are either housed in the block of flats they serve — in which case
they are fed by chutes — or are free standing with varying degrees of cover. In such cases they
are fitted with lids in which are smaller apertures (of the diameter of a normal dustbin) through
which refuse is fed into the bin.
Unwanted Household Effects.
Since the war there has been a remarkable turnover in the purchase and disposal of
household furniture and fittings and the domestic refuse collection service became embarrassed by
the bulkiness of articles put out for disposal or, alternatively, abandoned on war damaged sites
and even on the highway. After a time the Council started to organise a service for the removal
of unwanted furniture — on payment of modest scheduled charges — but more recently, because
of the clear need for removal as a social service, this has been given free of charge. Last year
nearly 1,000 tons of unwanted furniture was removed in this way and present experience suggests
that this figure will be substantially passed during the current year. Almost anything is accepted
and the service is given on request by individual householders and now normally keeps five
vehicles and their crews of driver and mate fully employed. Older type refuse vehicles or open
lorries are used at present for this work.
Trade Refuse
The Council is required on request to remove trade refuse and well over 10,000 tons was
removed during last year. Some of this is collected on the normal household collection beats
where the material produced is capable of being put in ordinary household bins or alternatively
in bulk containers.
The collection of trade refuse is subject to the payment of the Council's reasonable
costs by the firm seeking the service, and the frequency of collection is based on the requirement
of the trader.
Removal of Derelict and Abandoned Vehicles.
This is a fairly recent addition to the problems of the Cleansing Service but is one that
is becoming more extensive, particularly in the London area where the abandonment of vehicles
on the highway gives rise to much risk of accident and serious offence to amenity. The Removal
of Vehicles (England and Wales) Regulations, 1961, gives the Local Authority power to remove
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