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58
SECTION G.
REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL
Mr. Crowe reports:—
I am pleased to report that a regular weekly service of refuse
collection was maintained throughout the year except for the inevitable
disruption of the collections for short periods immediately prior
to and following Bank Holidays.
Following the Bank Holidays, particularly Easter and Christmas,
the work is very heavy as in addition to the loss of working
days, there is a large accumulation of refuse awaiting collection.
Every endeavour is made to make up the arrears and revert to the
normal day of collection and this is achieved by working overtime.
The daily rounds of each refuse collecting team are arranged so
that regular weekly visits are made to premises at about the same
time. This is essential, in my view, if a satisfactory service is to be
given, particularly in a residential district such as this, where many
premises are left unoccupied during the day. Many residents like to
lock their side gates and only unlock them on the day of collection.
The refuse collecting teams are also keen to maintain the regular
collection and working under their foreman have supported me well
during the year. A special word of praise is due to the foreman for
his good work and the excellent example he has shown throughout.
Unfortunately, the regularity of the service has the effect of
giving rise to complaints when the service is disrupted particularly
at Bank holiday times. Numerous telephone calls are then received
at the office but the majority of residents appreciate our difficulties
and endeavours to get back to normal.
Complaints are received regarding the use of skips by the collectors.
A considerable saving in labour is made by this method as
only one visit to each house is normally necessary. This district has
many premises well back from the road and, with wide grass verges
in addition to footpaths, the distance between the refuse vehicle and
dustbin position at the side of the house is considerable.
In addition to the collection of household refuse from some
24,000 premises, collection of trade refuse is made from approximately
236 shop premises and offices. A vehicle with driver and a
collector are engaged on this work and an annual charge is made for
this service.
Frequent collections are made each week from the two large
hospitals and weekly collections from the numerous schools, vehicles
and personnel apart from the normal teams being engaged on this
work.
The Council owns a fleet of sixteen refuse collecting vehicles,
one of which is of the dual-tip rear loading type and as replacements