View report page

1936
40
(3) Refuse Collection.—A. further three low-loading hygienic horse-drawn vans
have been built to own design by own staff of mechanics and put into service, making
a total of 19 of these vans.
During the year 1936, 83% of refuse was collected by mechanical vehicles and
17% by horses and vans.
(4) Refuse Disposal.—The work of reconstruction at Ashburton Grove
Disposal Depot and installation of handling, etc.: Plant was commenced
in April, and the first half of the programme completed on the 19th December in
time to deal with the Christmas holiday work.
The second half of the programme will be finished about the end of March,
1937, and the whole installation officially opened on the 17th April, 1937.
Before the completion of the first half, certain auxiliary plant was put into
operation, including a small incinerator and fish offal sterilizer, and these have
eliminated the nuisances caused by burning light combustible material in the open
air and the offensive smell arising from fish offal containers.
Also the insanitary sludge lagoons have been abolished and a new structure
built which obviates the use of the lagoons.
All refuse is sent by rail to contractors' dumps and treated in accordance with
the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, as heretofore. The dumps are
frequently inspected by the Cleansing Committee and myself and by the local
Sanitary Authorities.
(5) Generally—Uniforms and Protective Clothing.—All sweepers are now provided
with a blue donkey jacket, legging overalls and sou'wester during the winter, and a
khaki jacket and black soft felt hat during the summer, biennially. Motor Drivers,
Carmen, Dust and Truck Loaders are also provided with a blue serge jumper during
the winter and a khaki jacket during the summer, biennially.
REMOVAL OF DUST.
23 applications were received during the year by the Public Health Department
for the removal of dust.
The applications received for the previous ten years were as follows:—
1926 20 1931 36
1927 25 1932 44
1928 25 1933 21
1929 21 1934 23
1930 40 1935 23
During the year the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee had
considered the question of the provision of dustbins of differing types for different
classes of premises, and asked the London County Council to include in their next
General Powers Bill clauses to enable Metropolitan Borough Councils to (i) supply
dustbins at the cost of the owner of premises ; (ii) supply and maintain dustbins
upon a rental basis, or (iii) supply and maintain dustbins out of the rates. The
Standing Joint Committee also decided that where the Council undertake to supply
and maintain bins on a rental or otherwise, they should be given power to enforce the
scheme throughout their area, that the definition of bins should include storage
containers used in connection with block dwellings, and the existing law relating
to the provision of sufficient refuse receptacles should be simplified, so that the
Council may be in a position to authorise the officer in charge of their cleansing
service immediately to serve the requisite notices, instead of that officer having to
obtain specific instructions from the Council or their appropriate Committee.