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Industrial Pollution
Your officers have carried out 177 observations on factory
chimneys to watch for contraventions of the Public Health Act, 1936,
and Smoke Byelaws. There were 26 contraventions during the year.
Details are shown on page 00.
In one instance a number of complaints were received concerning
smoke from a factory in which coal was being used to raise steam in a
Cornish boiler. The services of the National Fuel Efficiency Service
was enlisted and a thorough examination of the plant was carried out.
As a result of the Engineers report the Company changed their method
of operating the furnace and remedied defects in the boiler setting and
installation which resulted in an abatement of the nuisance.
There is a certain amount of pollution arising from installations
other than boilers fired with coal. The most notable are the furnaces
which are fired with wood waste of which there are several in the
Borough. In one case as a result of representations made by your
officers concerning wood ash emission, alterations were made to the
plant and all the boiler house staff attended a course of instruction in
boiler house practice. The employers paid expenses and wages for the
time spent on the course.
In another case, a firm using sawdust as a fuel, undertook to instal
a dust extractor to prevent the emission of wood ash from the chimney.
Another common source of pollution is the reclamation of scrap
metal. Copper and lead are reclaimed from insulated cable, usually
by burning off the insulation. This process gives rise to black smoke
production due to lack of air supply to the fire. The air supply is
restricted so that the temperature of the fire does not become high
enough to oxidise the metal.
Several firms are carrying on this process extensively and will need
to instal some means of consuming the black smoke before discharging
the gases to the atmosphere.
Fume Emission
Following the service of a Statutory Notice by the Corporation,
a firm engaged in neutralizing acid which caused nuisance from the
evolution of pyridine, re-organised its installation. This has included
the erection of a metal chimney 100 feet high through which all fumes
evolved are discharged to the atmosphere.
The process is registrable under the Alkali etc. Works Regulation
Act, 1906, and your officers co-operate with the Alkali etc. Works
Inspectors in its supervision.
The Company concerned are being pressed to make further improve
ments in its plant which will result in still less noxious fume emission.
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