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Waste Refuse (Salvage)

Volume 360: debated on Thursday 9 May 1940

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70.

asked the Minister of Supply whether any representations have yet been made to local authorities whose refuse collection is carried out by private contractors; and what steps are being taken to induce these contractors to take part in the national salvage campaign?

As has been explained in previous answers, representations urging the organisation of salvage work have been made to all local authorities throughout the country, including those whose refuse collection is carried out by private contractors. I am informed that in a number of these cases, including the five Metropolitan Boroughs who have collection contracts, the local authorities have arranged with the contractor to salvage the more important materials and to report the figures to the Ministry of Supply. Where this is done they are included in the total salvage returns.

Is the Minister aware that there are still many thousands of tons worth of saleable refuse being deliberately dumped or burnt and that many people who have taken an interest in this matter are not satisfied with the progress which is being made?

I am not at all sure that I am entirely satisfied myself, but we are doing our best to urge on local authorities and we are getting week by week more collections by that means. Every effort is tried to persuade local authorities to co-operate.

Is not the difficulty that some contractors get a matter of 7s. a ton for taking refuse away and merely dumping it and that it is, therefore, of no interest to them to recover anything?