View report page

40
tipping in the Council's gravel pit in Carterhatch Lane.
Some dissatisfaction has been expressed at the method of disposing
of refuse by means of controlled tipping, and the Council has
given very careful consideration to the problem of refuse disposal.
It might be well, therefore, in this Report, to consider some of
the advantages and disadvantages of the methods that have been
and might be adopted in Enfield.
It is interesting to remember that eight years ago refuse was
disposed of in Enfield by dumping it on a field abutting on Hoe Lane.
One man was employed to take care of this refuse, but he was only
paid a part-time salary, as he was expected to eke out a living by
means of collecting saleable materials from the refuse, or, in other
words, by "totting." The total cost to the Council was, therefore,
about thirty shillings per week. The Council realised, however,
that this economy was purchased at a very high cost. Complaints
were continuous, the refuse was on fire and had been so for many
years.
The Council determined to deal with the matter seriously.
The fire was put out and Enfield's "flaming disgrace," as it
was commonly known, ceased to exist.
Controlled tipping was instituted and carried on not only there
but in various parts of the District. The cost of refuse disposal
rose to about two shillings per ton, or between £1,500 and £2,000
per annum. This two shillings per ton which is the cost to-day is
low compared with the cost elsewhere of refuse disposal by a similar
method, but the fact remains that, except for complaints arising
from an outbreak of crickets, there have been few complaints during
the last eight years concerning nuisance from refuse disposal in
Enfield. I do not think I have had one serious complaint during
the last two years.
There is another side of the question, however. Refuse can be
disposed of satisfactorily by controlled tipping, provided suitable
land, and preferably excavated land, can be purchased at a cheap
price, where the haul will not be far, and yet where the site will not
be surrounded by many houses. In addition to that, covering
material must be available in plenty and ample labour supplied.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain suitable sites in
Enfield, and it has always been difficult to find a satisfactory,
continuous and sufficient amount of covering material.
Under these circumstances, one necessarily turns one's mind
to the provision of a Destructor.
The advantages of a Destructor are that refuse is either completely
destroyed or brought to such a temperature that it becomes
inoccuous, that once erected, unlike a pit, it does not get used up,