View report page

60
SECTION G.
REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL.
Mr. Crowe reports:—
Regular weekly collections of household refuse were maintained
throughout the year with only slight disturbance at Bank Holidays.
Following the holidays, particularly Easter and Christmas, the work
is very heavy. At these times, large accumulations of refuse await
collection at practically all the premises when the men return to work.
Every effort is made to speed the work of collection in order to
revert to the normal day, and this is achieved by working overtime.
The method employed in the collection of household refuse is
known as 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 district from some
25,000 premises.
A weekly collection of trade refuse is made from 287 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, four
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.
Fifty workmen are employed on the work of collection and disposal.