DISPOSAL OF RUBBISH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5033, 29 September 1926, Page 1

DISPOSAL OF RUBBISH.

PROFIT OUT OF TREATMENT. Science provides the k e y to the solution of the problem which confronts Greater London in the disposal of its crude rubbish. Many of the larger provincial communities, Glasgow, Birmingham, Sheffield, and other places, had similar difficulties to face. They found the primitive system of depositing refuse on open “tips” prejudicial to health. The l “tips” were breeding grounds of disease, and came under suspicion from times to time as the source of serious and costly epidemics. Accordingly other methods, moire in accordance with the requirements of modern sanitation, wtere sought, and they, says the “Observer,” we.re found in the adoption of mechanical appliances which sift, soft, ,ajnd grade, and turn to practical account, every scrap of refuse. First, the refuse is passed through' screens. Electro magnets extract all tins and metals. Suction pla,nt takes off the scrap paper. The residue is passed into large furnaces, where it is concerted into, clinker. There; is no such thing as waste. The fine dust, amounting to nearly 50' per cent, of the whole is used for manuria.l purposes. The paper and tins are bundled and sold, but not until the- isolder has been extracted frWn the> tins, while the clinker is used for a variety of ranging from th'e manufacture of concrete blocks for house-building to sundial stands. It is ,a first-class material for road-mak-ing. In the conversion of refuse into clinker great heat is generated, and this is used for driving electric generators. From the same source power is obtained for works purposes, and the charging of batteries of electric vehicles and light for the illumination of depots. The turnover of the salvage, departments df these provincial cities is considerable. Birmingham, for instance, which possesses one of the finest ,and most complete plants of the kind in the kingdom, has an annual turnover of £44,000. It makes an aggregate of £lO,OOO a year in dealing with the waste material from the slaughterhouses and markets. The fats derived from the treatment of condemned offal, by the way, are used for soap making. Much of the rubbis.h that finds its way into' the refuse tins has no business there. It is estimated that at least 30 per cent, might be saved and turned to useful service by the householders, themselves instead of being left for salvage departments to de,al with. If the science of economics were carried to logical conclusion in the home the labour of the dustmen would be considerably lightened and the. householders would be money in pocket.