View report page

55
Removal of Refuse.—This is in chargc of the Highways Department,
whose chief officer is the City Cleansing Surveyor, and the following
particulars are supplied by his courtesy. A charge is made for
the removal of other than house refuse from trade premises, such
examples being fruit and vegetables, builders' refuse, etc. There
is a daily collection of house refuse, the removal of trade refuse
being subject to special arrangements; 98,000 tons of the former were
collected during the year and 1,000 tons of the latter. Refuse, after
collection, is disposed of in two ways; in one it is sent down the river
in barges to be finally deposited on waste land in Essex; in the other it is
sorted in a salvage plant at one of the Council's depots. During 1926,
88,000 tons were sent away in barges and 11,000 tons were treated at
the salvage plant.
Certain authorities dispose of their refuse by burning in destructors
either with or without previous separation. Burning of refuse seems,
on the whole, to have certain advantages from a sanitary point of view,
but as a means of producing heat for raising steam, this method heretofore
has not always been found to be a financial success. In view,
however, of the possibilities of very large central power-stations being
developed under the new Electricity Act, it is conceivable that heat
might be efficiently produced if the combustion of refuse were carried
out on a scale sufficiently large to bring down the overhead charges.
By-laws as to Removal of Offensive Refuse.—Three cases were reported
of removal in unsuitable vehicles and in inadequate receptacles. Including
those there were 11 instances of removal during prohibited hours. A
summons was ordered in each case, the proceedings resulting in fines
amounting to £14 5s.
Nuisances.—Intimation notices were served in 1,074 instances and 1,802
letters were sent dealing with those notices or kindred matters. Statutory
notices authorised by the sanitary authority numbered 43 and related
to 39 premises. Police court proceedings were taken in 10 instances in
order to enforce compliance with the requirements of statutory notices.