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54
SECTION G.
REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL.
Mr. Crowe reports: —
The regular weekly collection of household refuse was maintained
throughout the year (excepting the rural parts of the district where the
service was at fortnightly intervals), with only slight disturbance at Bank
Holidays. At these times, every endeavour was made to revert to the
normal day of collection as quickly as possible. Experience has shown
that it is better for the householders to know the day of refuse collection
in their particular roads and only by being regular each week are
complaints kept down.
The foreman and the collecting teams have been most enthusiastic
in their work and by the working of overtime following the Bank
Holidays, the normal rounds were quickly restored.
The Council own a fleet of 12 side-loading refuse collecting
vehicles.
The number of workmen engaged on the service was 41 (including
the foreman).
The method of operating the collection of household refuse is the
relay system. Briefly, each team of collectors works with two vehicles
and drivers, and at the commencement of the day's work they divide
into two collecting teams with a vehicle and driver each and work in
adjoining roads. It is arranged that one vehicle takes its load to the
disposal tip before the other is full, and whilst this is being emptied,
all the collectors concentrate on-the remaining vehicle. This principle
is adopted throughout the whole day's work.
In this district the length of carry from the dustbin position to
the refuse vehicle is often considerable, and on the grounds of
economy, the Council have given instructions to use skips so that only
one trip is normally required. If the bin were emptied direct into the
vehicle and then returned to its position at the rear of the premises,
the number of bins emptied daily would be greatly reduced.
Approximately 15,000 tons of refuse are collected annually from
the 20,000 premises in the district.
During the year, the number of premises visited increased by
approximately 1,000, and at the end of the year considerable building
was still in progress.