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20
"Waste Food.—I am afraid that I cannot state the same
facts with regard to Waste Food collection as applied to the
general salvage collection, as the figures have actually dropped by
some 56 tons to a total collection for the year 1946 of 1,470
tons. This fact in my opinion is quite alarming, as we are
repeatedly being exhorted by the various Ministries concerned
to increase our tonnage as much as ever possible, in order to
alleviate the desperate need of feedingstuffs for pigs and poultry.
This downward trend, I feel quite confident, can only be checked
by the institution of further and far reaching methods of Waste
Food collection.
"I am prepared to believe that we are collecting as much
waste food as possible from the communal bins throughout the
Borough, and I would say that the only way to increase this
collection to the needed figure is to provide more convenient
receptacles, and that in turn points to the individual kitchen
waste container for every household.
"Trade Refuse.—The contract system for the collection of
trade refuse from business premises within the Borough is continuing
satisfactorily, and I can hardly expect improvements in
this direction, as once again we have covered practically all
traders, and certainly all the principal trades.
"Refuse Disposal.—Once again I have to report an increase
in the total refuse incinerated, the figure having increased by
2,637 tons to a total of 26,050 tons. This increased tonnage
has, however, placed a very heavy strain on the incinerator, and
breakdowns are becoming more and more frequent. We are,
however, attempting to carry the additional load as well as
possible.
"Street and Market Cleansing and Gully Cleansing.—The
return of many of our pre-war employees has enabled me to
increase the frequency of sweeping in certain areas of the
Borough, and I think I can claim that we are definitely making
headway against the accumulation left by war debris. This
problem of the disposal of debris from bombed sites is proving
quite a serious one, inasmuch as it is not only the initial bomb
clearance debris that has to be dealt with, but I have also to
contend with the resulting filth which finds its way on to the
footpaths and roads almost as soon as they have been cleansed,
and further, I find that the various bombed sites in the town
have had to be cleared time and time again owing to the fact
that many unauthorised persons are using the bombed sites purely
as tipping sites. I have made various representations to the
Authorities concerned regarding the stopping of this practice,
but it is very difficult to stop when all and sundry are implicated.