Health Inspector Urges Purge Of Insanitary Rubbish Behind Shops

Chronicle (Levin), 23 February 1949, Page 4

Health Inspector Urges Purge Of Insanitary Rubbish Behind Shops

In a lengthy report to the Levin Borough Gouncil, the district health inspector, Mr. W. J. Guinan, on Monday night described as "most unsatisfactor'yF the methods used by shop- ^ keepers in Oxford Street, jyhen*dispo8ing of their garbage. Mr. Guinan recommehded : — A" twiee weekly rpmoval of rubbish from such premises; the enforcement of the use of suitabie containers for fish olfal and its removal three times weekly ; that Friday must be included in such rubbish collectiohs to avoid garbage being left over the weekends; a prohibition on the burning of rubbish in the business area, and the issue of instr.uctions to shopkeepers that they must clear up their yards, removing all rank growth and rubbish which might give cover to rats and vermin, 01* create a fire risk.

Mr: Guinan 's report arose from an instruction from the council last month to institute lan inspection in view of eomplaints received, and" prosecute if necessary. He was accompanied by the town clerk, Mr. H. L. Jenkins. -He reported as^ follows: — "We found the conditions most unsatisfactor.y. Rubbish of all kinds — food scraps, b,ones, vegetables, fruit, fish, offal, tins, paper, bottles and br^ken glass. Some were in containers of various ki'nds and on'the ground." Tne unused poreions of the yards an-d along the roadwayj and under ihe trees are ' covered y/ith rank grass -and weeds, ahd in some places hemlock. This offers ! harbourage for rats and vermin. Some premises attempt to. burn the rubbish. Some. have drums, one a{ brick incinerator and some* burn on the ground. -All these methods not only cause a nuisance from flying' paper ash, but are a dangerous fire hazar'd in such rank growth. "Some of the shopkeepers say that the. Levin borough's once weekly rubbish colleetion is not enough, as some of the garbage such as fruit, vegetables, fish scraps and foods, could not be kept for a week without causing a nuisance. With this I agree," contirued Mr. Guinan. "They also say that it is not always possible to get a carrier to remove it when required. Fish offal is always a problehi. On the morning that we made the inspection we found that a new tin had been left apparently during Sunday night. Although no rubbish had been left in it, it was a mass of maggots when he saw it. "The whole set-up is most difficult and I think that the taking of •prosecutions is not the . solutiob, : although. -it might be necessary in" some -iCases^ . ■ . - , ; , •' - "The- timo has arriyed whep.i one weekly rubbish collec.tion from the business areft is not enough. xThe

question of, say, a twice weekly colleetion should be considered, even to the extent of making a weekly charge for 0 such' a service. Fish offal would have to be moved at least three times a week. "I, therefore, suggest the following: — (a) That the rubbish from the whole business area be removed twice . weekly — say Tuesdays and Friday s; (b) fish offal be" collected three times weekly-— Mondays, . Wednesdays and Fridays, and that those concerned provide suitable containers for it; (c) that whatever days are used for rubbish removals, Friday must be a rubbish day so that the yards can be kept clean over the weekends; (d) that all premises must ' be made to' use standard receptacles, and also such a number as may be necessary for their requirements; (e) that a special weekly charge be made for rubbish refnova1, such charge to cover up to say two receptacles, - and that a, specific charge baknade for any in excessoftwo; (f) that the removal service be extended to all premises in the business area — that is the inner area set out in the borough by-Iaws— and that all kinds of rubbish be removed; (g) that all burhing of rubbish be prohibited in the area; that prior to this service coming into operation each shopkeeper be told that he must clear his yard of rubbish and rank growth which might give cover to rats and vermin, and constitutes • a fire risk; (h) that if these recommendations meet with the approval of the council, they be brought into operation on April 1. As • the result of this report, which was 'read to the eouncillors at their meeting . on Monday night, it was, resolved that .the .rnatter be taken up by the.works 'committee, wliich has been 'asked to report Mek its recommennations stt • an fearly datfe' so that fhey "can bb put into operation by "April 1'.