Refuse Collection

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 12

Refuse Collection

Sir,—This morning 1 drove through a snowstorm! Not surprising, you may say; the weather is changeable. Yet this effect was made by the maniacal intelligence of man; an open refuse truck, draping Colombo Street at 7.40 a.m. Similarly, on cyclonic April 11, another open-truck collection, whirling paper In exquisite patterns that must make the chief litter-maniac of the council wring his wet hands with glee. That time it blanketed Cashel Street west. I don't blame .the intrepid workers; they labour under the worst refuse collection scheme I have seen in over 30 lands. But wait, is there a scheme, a higher unseen anonymous power behind all this? Ring the council and try to find out! “It’s nothing to do with me," you’ll hear. Are we eventually led to believe that the council simply does not realise that wind blows paper?—Yours, etc., LOCAL SLUMMIE.

April 25, 1968. [The City Engineer of Christchurch (Mr P. G. Scoular) replies: “Most of the trucks employed in the collection of city refuse are of the enclosed compressor type,

specially designed for clean rubbish collection. The council has 17 of these trucks, which were either manufactured in England or under licence in New Zealand to English or other designs. Similar models are in use throughout the world. Because of the restrictions imposed by some rights-of-way, because of double collection days at holiday periods, and in the case of plant breakdowns, it is necessary to supplement the fleet with ordinary trucks fitted with high sides. These trucks are provided with covers which the driver is expected to *use. However, even with full use of the covers it is difficult to prevent spillage. The special vehicles cost $13,000 each and it is not considered necessary to hold spare vehicles of this value in the fleet for special occasions. 'Local Slummie’ purports to quote a telephone discussion with council officers. It is a standing instruction that all officers should take messages when the officers concerned with any particular council function are not available.”]