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60
SECTION G.
REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL.
Mr. Crowe reports:—
It was not possible to maintain the regular weekly collection of
household refuse on the same day each week during January and
February owing to the severe weather conditions which prevailed
during that period. The heavy snowfalls which followed immediately
after the Christmas holidays could not have come at a worse time.
Apart from this and slight disturbance at Easter, the regular
weekly collection on the same day each week has been maintained.
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 collector's 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 300 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 from the numerous schools each
week and three times weekly from the two large hospitals. Vehicles
and personnel separate from the regular refuse teams are engaged on
this work.
The Council owns a fleet of 18 refuse collecting vehicles, ten 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-one workmen are employed on the work of collection and
disposal.
All the refuse is disposed of by means of controlled tipping on
low-lying land of poor agricultural value at Budgin's Hill, Pratts
Bottom. The refuse is deposited in layer formation, consolidated,
covered and sealed in accordance with modern principles of controlled
tipping as laid down by the Ministry of Housing and Local