NOTHING WASTED IN LONDON

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 16 March 1927, Page 2

NOTHING WASTED IN LONDON

_ Science provides the key to the soiufcion of the problem which confronts Greater London in. the disposai of its crude rubbish,: Many of the Xarger' provincial communities. Glasgow, Birmingham, Sheffield, and othei places, liad similai difficulties to face. They found the primitive eystexn of depositing refuse on open "tips" prejudicial to health. The "tips" were breed-ing-grounds of diaease, and came under suspicion from time to time as the source of sfcrious and oostly epidemics. Accordingly otheiv methods, mere in &c-co-'danca with th© requirements of mcdern sanitatic-n, were sought, and they, says the "Observer," were fotrnd in the adoption of mechanical appliances which sift, sort, and grade, and turn to practical account, every scrap of refuse First, the refuse passed through screens.' Electro magneto extvacp all tins and metals. Suction pl'ant takes off the scrap paper .The residue ia passed into large furnaces, where it is ccnverted into clinker. There is no such thing as waste. The line dust, amounting to nearly 50 per cent. of the whole, is used for manurial purposes. The paper and tins are bundled and sold, but not until the solder has been extracted from the tins, whilo the clinker is used for a variety oi' purposes, ranging from the manufacture of ooncrete blocks for house-buildmg to sundial stands. It is a firstclass materia] for road-making. 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 obt'ained for works pur-pos-es. and the charging pf batteries of electric vehicles and lisht fcr the iHumination of depots. The tnrnover of the salvage departments of these provincial cities is considerable. Birmjngham. for mstance, which possesses one. of the finest and most complete plants of the kind m the ltingdom, shows an annual turnover of £44,000. It xnakos an aggregate of £100,00 a yenr in dealing with the waste materiai from fche slaughterliouses and marliets. The fats derived from the treatnient of conclenrned offal, by the way, are used for soaprnaking. Much bt the rubbish fchat finds its way into the refuse tins has uo business there It is estimated that at leas© 30 per cent. might be saved and turned to useful service by the householders themselvea instead of j being left for salvage departments to I deal with, Tf t-he science of eeonomies were carried to logical conolusion 111 J the home, the labour of the dustinen j would be considerablv lightened and t-he | J eouseholders would be mcney in pocket | i ■ . . t • A 4