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Municipal housecleaning

Chapter 63: Cost Data
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About This Book

A practical manual surveys municipal methods for collecting and disposing of urban wastes—street refuse, ashes, rubbish, garbage, manure, and sewage—presenting operational practices, organization, equipment, regulations, and cost data. It describes street cleaning techniques, sewer systems and treatment options (sedimentation, septic and Imhoff tanks, filtration, chemical and biological processes, disinfection), and collection systems including districting, receptacle placement, frequency, and enforcement. Disposal technologies such as incineration, reduction, sanitary fills and land dumping are examined alongside possibilities for by-product revenue. The work also outlines public clean-up campaigns, inspection and propaganda methods, and managerial principles for improving sanitary efficiency and municipal economy.

37.  Trade wastes not collected by city.

38.  Depends on quantity and condition.

39.  Ashes and rubbish collected separately in business section.

40.  Cost of labor.

41.  Collected only when requested.

42.  Includes cost of collecting rubbish.

43.  Daily hotels and restaurant.

44.  Part collected by city and part by private collector.

45.  City has 2 teams which take care of central part twice daily all year.

46.  Suburbs collected by contract.

47.  Per man per day.

Table V
 
COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL BY CONTRACT
 
Ashes and Rubbish Ashes Only
Indianapolis, Ind. Mechanicville, N. Y. Cohoee, N. Y. Philadelphia, Pa. Washington, D. C. North Tonawanda, N. Y.
Number of collections each week—            
 Business Section—            
  Winter 1[48] 2 2 1 2[49] 1[50]
  Summer ½[52] 2 2 1 1[49] 1[50]
 Residential Section—            
  Winter 1 2 1 1 2 1
  Summer ½ 2 1 1 1 1
 Outlying Section—            
  Winter 1 0 1 1 1 1
  Summer ½ 0 1 1 1 1
             
Miles, length of haul 6 1 1–2 1.64
             
Cost of collection and disposal per cubic yard       .37 .51  
  Per capita served       .39 .109 .15
  Per ton       .95 .85 .11
             
Where is can collected from and where left Rear. Curb. Curb. Curb. Rear alley or areaway. Curb.
             
Size and type of can Covered barrel. Not larger than flour barrel. Not specified. Can’t weigh with contents over 150 lbs. Metal covered, 5 to 24 gals. Metal.
             
Quantity collected in year—            
 Tons 96,552     676,200 91,070  
 Cubic yards 64,368     1,229,456 151,783  
 Loads 32,184       37,946  
 Size of load 3 ton.       4 cubic yds.  
 Cubic yards per man employed 201       12 in winter, 6 in summer.  
 Cubic yards per capita served 214     .67 .43  
             
Population served per man employed 938       Varies. 4,343
             
Number of men employed—            
 Summer 24 2     12 1
 Winter 50 2     120 3
             
Number of men on each wagon 2 2 2   2–3 2
             
Type of wagon used Steel King. Covered. Covered, Dump. Wooden body, metal covered. Metal body, metal covered. Trucks, metal and canvas covered. Bottom dump, canvas covered. Dump.
             
Number of wagons—            
 Summer 12 1 5   8 1
 Winter 37 1 5   60 2
             
Number of motor vehicles       31 4  
             
Motor vehicles used for short or long haul Both. Both.  
             
Description of collection system 3 districts. City divided into 9 districts. Each district divided into 12 sub-districts; from each of these districts each day ashes and rubbish collected. Ashes placed at curb line and rubbish kept inside premises in readily accessible place. Rubbish card hung at gate and gives evidence that there is rubbish to be collected. Rubbish must be bagged or bundled. Ashes collected in amount not exceeding 400 lbs. from all buildings with certain exceptions. Rubbish collection in unlimited amount from residences and not exceeding 4 barrels from retail business houses. City has experienced difficulty in having ashes and rubbish placed separately in proper container. Unsuccessful attempt was made to facilitate this by having ashes and rubbish collected on separate days. In 1918 both will be collected on the same day. Layout depends upon density and amount to be removed. Large part of city set aside to receive service on certain days. This is subdivided and definite routes assigned each wagon. Both city and contractor maintain inspection forces. 6 districts are arranged according to quantity of ashes collected as ascertained on trial collection of 3 months.
             
Disposal of Ashes Dump. Fill. Dump. Fill.
             
City own or rent dumps River bottom. Free. Free. Mostly privately owned. Some owned. Free.
             
Annual cost to city for collection and disposal   $2,700 $3,900 $710,240   $2,000
             
Average quantity collected daily—            
 Summer 10 tons. 1,565[51] 2½ tons.
 Winter 10 tons. 6,524[51] 15 tons.

48.  Not collected from public buildings or from steam, hot water or power plants, except in private residences or apartment houses of not more than 4 apartments each.

49.  No collection made from stores, hotels, etc.

50.  Not more than 10 bushels collected from any one place in a week.

51.  Collected by 9 contractors, one for each district. Steam ashes collected by private collectors.

Eleven cities report that the number of cubic yards of ashes and rubbish collected a year per capita served was from .46 to 1.72, the average being .89. Four other cities report that the number of cubic yards of ashes only collected a year per capita served was 1.016. The lowest was .73 and the highest 1.33.

Cost Data

An effort to compare the unit cost of collection and disposal in one city with that in another will prove to be most unsatisfactory for the reason that local conditions make necessary different methods, length of haul and systems, and these affect the cost of operation. Also, there are very few cities which keep any accurate and detailed cost data.

Reports from thirteen cities which collect ashes and rubbish by municipal forces show that the average cost of collection and disposal for 1916 was $0.4018 per cubic yard, the highest being $.72, and the lowest $.1025. Five other cities report that the average cost of collecting and disposing of ashes only was $.5596 per cubic yard.

The cost depends upon the cost of loading and the cost of haul.