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14
Public Cleansing and Salvage.
The Director of Public Cleansing has kindly provided the following information:—
"The materials dealt with during 1959 were: house and trade refuse, 34,229 tons; street
sweepings and gully slop, 2,242 tons; salvaged materials, 2,137 tons. A sum of £11,113 was obtained
from the sale of salvaged materials. In addition, £1,777 was received for the removal of trade
refuse and cleansing petrol interceptors, etc.
A minimum twice-weekly refuse collection was maintained, and approximately one quarter of
all premises in the Borough received a thrice-weekly clearance. A daily collection was made from
premises where this service is necessary, such as hospitals, restaurants, hotels and blocks of flats.
All street gullies were mechanically cleansed at least six times during the year and all streets swept
at least once daily.
To deal with the removal of portable containers from the increasing number of blocks of flats
and offices being erected in the Borough, two further diesel-powered refuse collection vehicles were
purchased and put into service; six of these vehicles are now in operation. A further diesel-powered
mechanical sweeper was purchased and put into service during the year.
Following introduction of the Litter Act, 1958, consideration has been given to litter problems
in the Borough. Litter bins have been attached to an increasing number of lamp and bus stop posts,
etc., and additional bins are being provided which will bring the total number to approximately
400. Neater and more secure methods of fixing litter bins to lamp columns and bus stop posts
have been devised.
With the aim of further mechanisation of the street cleansing service, experimental work has
been carried out in St. Marylebone, in collaboration with the manufacturers, to produce a
pedestrian-controlled suction footway cleaning machine. Numerous prototypes were built to the
requirements of the Department and a successful model was evolved; two of these machines are
on order for the Department. This project attracted attention in the local and national press."
Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials.
The Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951, is intended to ensure that the fillings for
upholstered and other stuffed articles shall be clean and wholesome. Standards of cleanliness are laid
down in Regulations made under the Act, which also provides for licensing of premises where the
filhngs are manufactured or stored, and registration by the local authority of all business premises
where these materials are used. No premises in St. Marylebone are licensed for manufacture or storage
but eleven premises, mainly those of upholsterers and manufacturers of cushions and pillows, are
registered. Thirteen samples of hair and other filling materials taken during the year complied with
the statutory requirements.
Burial or Cremation of the Dead.
Under section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, it is the responsibility of the Council to arrange
for the burial or cremation of the body of any person who has died or been found dead in the Borough
where no other suitable arrangements for disposal have been or are being made.
Eleven burials and five cremations were arranged during the year.
Mortuary.
Six bodies were received into the Public Mortuary in Chiltern Street.
Transportation of Bodies Abroad.
In certain cases where bodies are transported overseas, the Medical Officer of Health of the district
in which death has taken place is asked, where applicable, to furnish a certificate to the effect that
the deceased did not die from any infectious or contagious disease and that no recent epidemic of
dangerous infectious disease has occurred in the district.
During the year two certificates were issued in respect of bodies being transported to Persia and
Iraq.
Cremation.
The Medical Officer of Health is Medical Referee for the Council's crematorium, which is situated
at the St. Marylebone Cemetery, East Finchley. During the year, 2,050 certificates authorising cremation
were issued and since December, 1937, when the crematorium was opened, 19,249 cremations
have taken place. As a means of disposing of the dead, cremation is increasing in public regard and