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128
Smoke from Rubbish Burning
The reduction in the amount of smoke from industrial boiler plants
and domestic fires has made more obvious the smoke which is produced
from the burning of rubbish and, while incineration is probably the best
way to deal with unwanted waste material, either thoughtlessness on the
part of persons disposing of rubbish or their complete disregard for the
feelings of neighbours is often the cause of considerable annoyance and
inconvenience.
Shopkeepers and tradesmen, too, who have bonfires in small yards
can also cause annoyance to persons occupying adjoining premises, though
in their case, it must not be overlooked that the disposal of trade waste
often presents a trader with problems. The only answer to the trade waste
issue, apart from removal from the premises, is the use of carefully sited
purpose-made incinerators and more and more of these appliances are now
being installed.
Garden bonfires, too, often give rise to complaints. Here again, a
little thought could obviate much of the trouble as most garden refuse and
kitchen waste can be composted to provide a very useful garden material,
while even in quite small gardens a suitable site for a compost heap can
nearly always be found.
FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, 1955
Much of the work undertaken by the Health Inspectors pursuant to
the various Acts and Regulations that relate to food and the hygiene of
premises where food is prepared, sold or stored is in the field of "consumer
protection." With this in view, 1,147 samples of foodstuff were taken for
examination either within the department or by the Public Analyst and
2,585 visits were made to food premises. Many of these were at the
request of individuals seeking advice or guidance about improved methods
of hygiene or production. Requests of this kind are particularly welcome,
for the raising and maintenance of standards of hygiene is only achieved
through co-operation by management, employee, consumer and local
authority.
Similarly, complaints are welcomed from the public whenever foreign
matter is found in foodstuff as the enquiries often enable action to be
taken which either prevents or assists towards reducing the number of
these incidents. The number received during the year was 97. Details are
referred to later in this report, while in other sections information is given
about various aspects of the work undertaken in connection with food
and food supplies.
Sampling
The following is a summary of the samples taken. In every case where
an adverse report was received, follow up enquiries were made and action
appropriate to the circumstances was taken.