View report page

54
SECTION G.
REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL
Mr. Crowe reports:—
The continued growth of the district with many newly erected
premises becoming occupied, creates problems but I am pleased
to be able to report that weekly collections of household refuse were
maintained throughout the whole of the district with only slight
disturbance after Bank Holidays.
Every effort is made to collect the refuse from premises in each
road on the same day each week and at about the same time.
Following the Bank Holidays, particularly Easter and Christman,
the work is very heavy. At these times there is a large
accumulation of refuse awaiting collection at each of the premises
when the men return to work.
Every endeavour is made to speed the work of collection in
order to revert to the normal day, and this is achieved by the working
of overtime.
Householders can assist by depositing only dry refuse in their
dustbins and keeping the quantity down to a minimum.
The method of operating the collection of household refuse is
the relay system:
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. The divided teams work
in close proximity and when one vehicle proceeds to the refuse
tip with its load, the collectors join forces and complete the loading
of the remaining vehicle. This principle is adopted throughout the
whole day's work with the teams working either with one or two
vehicles. Thus there is no waste of collectors' time as with the
single vehicle system.
Collections are made weekly throughout the whole of the district
from some 24,500 premises.
A weekly collection of trade refuse is made from 290 shop
premises and offices. A vehicle and driver and a collector are
engaged on this work for which an annual charge is made.
Collections of refuse are made each week from the two large
hospitals and also from the numerous schools; vehicles and
personnel separate from the regular refuse teams, being engaged
on this work.
The Council owns a fleet of 16 refuse collecting vehicles, three
of which are of the dual-tip rear loading type. It is the Council's
policy, as replacements take place, to purchase this type of vehicle
which enables the work to be carried out in a more cleanly manner
than with vehicles which are loaded from the sides.