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68
Council under the City Cleansing Surveyor. There is a daily collection of
house refuse throughout the City. The figures relating to collection and
disposal of refuse during 1932 are as follows:—
Tons.
House refuse collected 92,392
Trade refuse collected 1,417
93,809
Refuse barged away 92,734
Refuse dealt with in Salvage Plant 1,075
The salvage plant at Gatlifi Road, which had been in operation since
1920, was closed down in January. The main reason for closure was the
rapidly diminishing market for the product of the plant—separated and
pulverized refuse. At the end of the year the whole of the City refuse
was being dealt with by controlled tipping in Essex and in Middlesex.
Some years ago it was mentioned in this report that the method of tipping
then in vogue in Essex had given rise to well-deserved criticism. Since
then conditions have improved enormously; controlled tipping is insisted
upon in the Council's contracts, and although the methods in use do not
come up to " Bradford " standards, yet progress towards that end is
steadily being made and the possibilities of nuisance are gradually being
overcome.
Combined dust shoot and incinerator.—The only instance in the city
was reported upon last year. It continues to operate satisfactorily ; no
complaints have been received and no nuisance has been observed. There
is no more hygienic or rapid method of dealing with house refuse in blocks
of flats. The economic advantages are at once apparent when it is stated
that instead of a daily collection of house refuse the dustman requires to
call only once a month at the flats where this incinerator is installed.
To maintain such an apparatus in an efficient condition requires
experience and intelligence on the part of the person responsible. It
ought to be practicable to instal shoot incinerators in industrial dwellings
and thus to do away with the haulage of dust bins up and down stairs,
and the noise, litter and general unsightliness which accompany such
operations.