SCRAP METAL SALVAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24775, 27 November 1941, Page 13

SCRAP METAL SALVAGE

BOMBED BUILDINGS LONDON’S SMART EFFORT RUGBY, Nov. 24. With the clearance of over 100.000 tons o£ valuable scrap metal from London’s bombed buildings in the last three months one of the speediest site-to-consumer transports of the war is nearly finished, states the Ministry of War Transport. Various departments have co-operated in this large scale “ quick turn round ” effort, involving delivery to foundries and furnished by lorry, barge, ship, and rail. As a result of the exceptionally quick turn round of road vehicles, for instance. 450 made an average of over 500 journeys a week. In 12 weeks enough urgently needed metal to make over 300 tanks had been delivered.

The London County Council was responsible for pulling out, sorting, and cutting assorted debris consisting of girders, bedsteads, baths, and miles of piping. Many thousands of tons of scrap had been cleared from London’s blitzed spots before the present scheme began, but with the new urge behind tank production the Ministry of Supply last August took over all the remaining scrap metal from the bombed buildings.

The Ministry of Transport Department drew up plans with a target of 12.500 tons to be cleared per week. The road haulage branch of the Ministry of War Transport got to work with 88 lorries, which were quickly increased to five times that number as more material was pulled and cut out of the ruins. By close liaison with L.C.C. officials on many sites the vehicles were switched so as to cut waiting time and speed up the turn round. The target figure was reached in the fifth week. In the sixth week it had been exceeded by 3000 tons, and this rate was maintained until supplies fell off. Special loading facilities were organised by the Port of London Authority.