WEALTH FROM WASTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19454, 9 October 1926, Page 2 (Supplement)

WEALTH FROM WASTE.

LONDON'S REFUSE BINS. COST OF COLLECTION. As a result of an investigation that is being made into tho problem of London refuso by Mr. J. C. Dawes, the Inspector of Cleansing at the Ministry of Health, it is oxpected that before long the dumping of crudo rubbish in somo of tho country districts on tho fringes of Greater London will be stopped. This insanitary practice has aroused many protests. Of recent years it. has been discovered that by treating refuso properly a considerable income can be obtained for the relief of rates. For example, the accounts for the City of Sheffield show that in 1924 the income derived from the sale of salvaged materials alone amounted to £12,000.' t Various schemes are boing experimented with at Glasgow, Falkirk, and Halifax with a view of eliminating dust, and then utilising to tho best advantage the materials contained in household refuso thrown away. Thero is a suggestion, for example, that in timo briquetted fuel may be sold to tho Continont made out of such refuse, and it, is said that Sheffield is already selling to Portugal. Tho cost of the collection and disposal of house and trade refuse in England and Wales is over £6,000,000 a year, and it is believed that many savings aro possible. The elementary schools have been asked to assist in educating tho public regarding tho necessity of reducing tho amount of rubbish thrown away. It. is estimated that if only each householdor would burn two pounds of rubbish each week instead of putting it into tho dustbin, thero would bo a saving of over a quarter of a million pounds on tho amount spent on public cleansing in a year.