WASTE MATERIALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24415, 28 September 1940, Page 9

WASTE MATERIALS

METHODS OF COLLECTION HOUSE-TO-HOUSE CANVASS ORGANISATION PROCEEDING Arrangements for the collection of non-ferrous waste metal in Dunedin are now well advanced, and the first effort of the Otago Provincial Board for the Reclamation of Waste Material will be a simultaneous house-to-house canvass of the city and suburbs on the morning of Saturday, November 9. This was decided at a meeting of the board this week, when a report was received from a sub-committee consisting of Messrs J, G. Alexander, J. H. Hinton. F. W. Mitchell and J. L. Passmore, which had been set up to consider methods of organising the collection in the metropolitan area. For facility of control, it is proposed to divide the city and St. Kilda area into 16 districts, and it is suggested that after the first collection there may be similar efforts at intervals of about six months. Collecting will be done by groups of boys allocated to each district, since the co-operation of headmasters and principals has made it possible to count on the help of more than 1400 of the older boys from the colleges of Dunedin and St. Kilda. Storage Arrangements The waste metal is to be taken on the dgy of collection to lock-up stores in each district. In some districts suitable accommodation is available in school premises, while in * the other districts arrangements are being made with the owners or occupiers of convenient premises, although it is not intended to use the district stores for sorting the metals, and their use as stores will, it is expected, extend over a very few days. As soon as practicable, the metals will be conveyed to a central store at the Corporation Gas Works in Anderson’s Bay road, where sorting and weighing will be carried out preparatory to delivery at the Railways Department’s workshops. Motor vehicles are to be used to convey the collected waste to the district stores, from the district stores to the central depot, and finally to the Railway Workshops. It is expected that there should be no difficulty in obtaining for a few hours the loan of a sufficient, number of cars and trucks, as representations have been made to the Oil Fuel Controller in regard to any> vehicle operated under petrol licence. Containers are available for holding the waste during transport. In each district the general control of the collecting parties, the transport vehicles and the district store will be under a district supervisor. Seventeen men have expressed their willingness to act in this capacity, and the services of possibly 28 school masters may also be available. Publicity Methods The committee reported that pamphlets dealing with the conservation of waste had been distributed, and assurances had been given teachers and controlling authorities that addresses would be given to the children on the need for saving scrap metal. The committee recommended that an appeal should be made to the public to help the board in its effort, and suggested that business firms which were regular advertisers in the press should be invited to assist in the publication of an advertisement emphasising the necessity for the conservation of waste and announcing the date of the house-to-house collection. Following the adoption of the committee's report, Messrs Alexander. Hinton, Passmore, Mitchell and G. Crow were appointed an executive committee to carry into effect proposals adopted by the board. The committee was asked to consider additional measures for securing publicity for the collection campaign, and Mr A. Blanc was co-opted for that purpose. It was explained, in fixing November 9 for the day of the house-to-house collection, that this was the first available date that was entirely free for the purpose, since Saturdays before that date was earmarked for school sports. Country Collecting Advice was received from the Railways Department that instructions had already been issued to stationmasters in country districts to assist in the collection of waste materials. They had been asked to seek the cooperation of local committees and, where necessary, to make available space in goodsheds or elsewhere for the assembling and sorting of material. It was decided to pass the information on to local bodies, and the secretary was asked to write to all local bodies in the province to ascertain what steps they had taken to set up their district organisations. Advice was received from the National Council that the Oamaru district was under the control of the Otago board. It was decided to notify the Oamaru Borough Council accordm The likelihood of quantities of waste material, particularly in the form of collapsible tubes, being available at military camps and air training centres was pointed out in a letter from the National Council, and the secretary was instructed to communicate with camp commandants on the SU An offer from the Otago Harbour Board to place storage space at the disposal of the board and to provide some 60 cases for use in sorting waste materials was received with thanks.