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1933] 58
SCAVENGING.
Particulars are required in the Annual Report of any extension or improvement
during the year of methods of scavenging or refuse disposal, and a statement
as to the character and efficiency of the arrangements for the removal and disposal
of house refuse.
The Medical Officer of Health on the Kith June visited both the Islington
controlled dumping grounds where the contractors dispose of Islington refuse. On
this visit, in addition to our own Cleansing Superintendent, Mr. F. E. Browning,
there were present Dr. Buchan, of Bradford, Dr. Oldershaw, the Medical Officer
of Health for Hampstead, and Mr. Swindlehurst, the Borough Engineer for
St. Pancras. Photographs were taken on the following Monday. The visit is the
subject of a special report by the Medical Officer of Health to the Cleansing Committee
dated the 22nd June.
Mr. Browning, the Borough Cleansing Superintendent, kindly supplied me
with the following statement :—
Street Cleansing.—-A definite alteration has taken place whereby street cleansing
comes under the " beat " system; this ensures that every road or street
in the Borough is swept at least once daily and that the sweepings are
picked up four times per day. Also that, instead of the obsolete open-type
orderly trucks previously in use, all these trucks have now been fitted with
galvanised sanitary containers and lids.
House and Trade Refuse Collection.—The Council recently adopted a new
policy with regard to the type of refuse-collecting vehicles and have
purchased a large number of "SD" hygienic low-loading freighters (petrol
driven) which, when delivered, will take the place of the old electric
vehicles now in use and which latter will then be completely disposed of.
The remaining fleet of old "SD" freighters have been thoroughly overhauled
and brought up to date so that they will come in line with the new
fleet now in course of construction. It is expected that the whole of the
improved service will be in commission by the end of September next.
An arrangement has been put in operation whereby the whole of the highloading
open type of horse-drawn vans, both for house refuse and gully
work, will be replaced, at the rate of twelve per annum, by low-loading
horse-drawn vehicles on pneumatic tyres with roller bearings. This form
"of construction will permit a single horse to draw a vehicle having an
effective capacity of 6 cubic yards. The anticipated result of these
arrangements will mean that by the end of the year 1935 no refuse of
any kind will be taken through the streets of the Borough except in hygienic
covered vehicles. During the year 1933 85 per cent. of refuse was collected
by mechanical vehicles and 15 per cent. by horses and vans.
Disposal.—Both the house and trade refuse and road sweepings are sent to
the contractor's dumps at Blackbridge and Holwell Hyde, Herts, where
it is deposited in layers of approximately 0 feet in depth, each layer being
covered with 9-in. of soil.
REMOVAL OF DUST.
21 applications were received during the year by the Public Health
Department for the removal of dust.