DISPOSAL OF REFUSE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22436, 24 June 1938, Page 7

DISPOSAL OF REFUSE

CONTROLLED TIPPING DEFENDED ADDRESS GIVEN BY CITY ENGINEER Strong advocacy of the disposal of refuse by controlled tipping was put forward in an address to the Canterbury centre of the Sanitary Institute last evening, by Mr A. R. Galbraith, City Engineer. Mr Galbraith outlined the improved methods of tipping that had come into use and discussed the measures which were taken to prevent the brc. ding of flies and vermin, the sealing of the tips, and the prevention of outbreaks of Are. “There is still a large body of opinion,” he said, “which regards the disposal of refuse by any form of tipping as certain to give rise to a nuisance, and adheres rigidly to the mistaken notion that the only satisfactory system of disposal is by costly mechanical methods of incineration. This view may be excused in those who are not acquainted with modern development", for it cannot be denied that, in the past, indiscriminate or crude tipping has caused serious nuisances, and that there are still sufficient examples of bad conditions to make persons sceptical of any suggestion that tipping can under any circumstances be a satisfactory form of refuse disposal. “Entire Absence of Nuisance” “There are now, however, many instances where tipping is being done and has been done, not only with, an entire absence of any nuisance whatsoever, but accompanied with valuable land reclamation, and the saving of 1 large sums of money every year to the ratepayers. Therefore it is suggested that those who still doubt should for themselves inspect some examples ».f this method and see for themselves the excellent results that are being obtained without, it may be emphasised, any approach to a nuisance, and often with a noteworthy improvement of local amenities, “It is not only applicable to towns and cities, but is equally suitable for rural areas where dry refuse can be satisfactorily disposed of at a comparatively trifling expense without, as often at present, creating an eyesore or a nuisance. The one particular, to be borne in mind is to avoid any risk of polluting a source of domestic water supply. For this reason it is eminently suitable for New Zealand conditions, where it can be used with every advantage, not only in the larger cities and towns, but also in the closer settlement areas throughout the Dominion.” Considerable Saving Claimed

Mr Galbraith claimed that there was a considerable saving to be effected by the use of controlled tipping as compared with other methods of refu~e disposal. In Bradford, where there had been at one time five destructors, controlled tipping, over which there had been considerable controversy at first, had resulted in a saving of some £72,000 a year, he said. In England it had been conclusively proved that controlled tipping was the cheapest practical method of refuse disposal, and that the margin in its favour was anywhere from Is 6d to 5s a ton. He said that the co-operation of householders would result in a considerable saving. He advised the burning of all the rubbish possible (not in the dustbin), the digging of garden refuse into the soil, and the burning in the kitchen fire of animal refuse, egg shells, tea leaves, bones, trimmings, leaves, paper, cardboard, etc. The bin should I j used for ashes, broken crockery, dust, and tins.