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13.
(b) Salvage
A record income of £14,570 was achieved for the year and whilst
approximately half of this amount was in respect of the sale of waste
paper, there was also a major contribution from the sale of ferrous
and non-ferrous metals. The result of this achievement not only
had the effect of reducing the net cost per ton for the disposal of
refuse to the modest sum of 3/4d, but also returned to industry many
tons of materials which otherwise would have been completely wasted.
In local government circles, some argument still persists as
to the real value of salvage activities but the criterion by which
any scheme can be judged is the net cost per ton; if this compares
favourably with the national averages, then any scheme can be regarded
as economically sound. Nationally, this country is not yet so well
placed that it can jetison thousands of tons of potential raw
material,
(c) Refuse Disposal
The net cost per ton for the disposal of refuse was 3/4d, as
compared with 5/3d, in the previous year and 5/l0d. for the year
ended March, 1959,
During the year the Public Health Committee gave considerable
attention to the question of an alternate method of refuse disposal.
The scheme ultimately approved for submission to the Ministry of
Health indicated the provision of a Loading Bay for the transference
of all refuse, after sorting, to a tipping site outside the town.
At the time of writing this report the decision of the Ministry
on the matter of loan sanction had not been received, but as the
phasing of the work was such that effective completion necessitated
the works being commenced in April, it is clear that the scheme cannot
proceed during the financial year 1961/62,
The existing works were maintained with a reasonable degree
of efficiency, but, nevertheless, it was inevitable that on occasions
some difficulties were experienced with the emission of charred
paper from the chimney stack at the Works and greater difficulties
can be anticipated in future years,
(d) Collection and Disposal Costs
The net expenditure for the collection and disposal of refuse
and salvage, including loan charges, was £23,089 or 39/5d, per ton
as against £23,079 or 38/6d. per ton for the previous year.